Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-12-07

with heavy irons. captain 6ealI sent
note to Secretary Mallory, stating
his case, and the Secretary Of the Con-
federate Navy forthwith placed the
same number of General B. F. But
ler's soldiers in close confinement. II
had the desired effect, and General
Butler soon granted an exchange.
Captain BealI yearned to release
the Confederate prisoners on johnson
Island. September l9, 1864. he and
several Confederates boarded the
Philo Parsons at Sandwich, Mich.
When the vessel arrived at Amherst
burgh, sixteen men boarded her with
one trunk, containing arms. Very
soon Captain Beall exclaimed: 81
take possession of the boat in the
name of the Confederate States. Resist
at your perill" Quite commOtiOn
prevailed, but when Captain Beall
explained matters, the prisoners be-
came reconciled to the situation. They
were soon released, and not one cent
taken from them. Another vessel,
the Island Queen, met the same fate.
Thirty federal soldiers were aboard,
and all of them were paroled. One
vessel was deemed sufficient for the
purpose in view, consequently the
Island Queen was scuttled and sent
adrift.
The United States gunboat Mich
igan guarded Johnson's Island, Lake
Erie, and its capture was necessary
before Captain Beall could release
the Confederate prisoners. So it
was arranged with Captain G. b. Cole
to have the officers of the Michigan
at banquet in SanduskY, Ohio, on
the night of the proposed attack and
a signal rocket was to be exploded to
inform Captain Beall that the officers
of the Michigan were absent. There
were more than 5000 Confederate
officers on Johnson's Island, where
they received bad treatment. Prop
er food and water was denied them.
Several rods from the main prison
were dungeons, each little larger
than an ordinary coffin, in which
were confined Confederate soldiers
who had leen sentenced to death by
drum-head court martials.
They were chained hand and foot,
with an additional iron ball, weigh.
ing aixty pounds, chained to their
ankles.
On the night Of September 10, 1854,
Captain Beall steered the Philo Par
SONS within distance to observe the
signal when given for his attack on
the Michigan. An1iously he stood
upon he deck of the Philo Parsons,
looking for the signal rocket. But
in vain he looked for an hour-no
signal. Yet he may still win, though
the rockets red glare failed to beck
on him onward, and he bore on his
course cautiously until the lights of
the Michigan were seen marking her
length on the placid lake. Voices Of
msn could be distinctly heard upon
the Michigan's deck, and the contour
of her fourteen guns could be seen in
the moonlight. But at this critical
moment a new danger beset him
where least expected-his men mutt
MED. Lieutenant Burley and two 9TH
ers only stood by him. The remain
der positively refused to go farther,
alleging that the signal failed to ap-
pear as agreed upon, and that the en-
terprise must have been detected.
Captain Beall pleaded, argued, and
threatened in vain. Then he order
ed them to go to the cabin, and ex-
acted their resolution to be reduced
to writing as a vindication of himself
and Lieutenant Burley and two men
who were faithful to the last. This
being accomplished, he took possession
of the document. There was no 9TH
er alternative but 10 retreat. and Cap
tain Beall returned to Sandwich,
where the Philo Parsons was scuttled
and sent adrift, the Confederates re-
tiring to Canada. Captain Beall was
of the opinion, had it not been for the
mutiny at the critical moment of the
adventure, he would have been sue.
cessful in releasing the Confederate
prisoners on Johnson's Island.
Whether Captain Beall was betraY-
ed or the plot otherwise discovered,
it has never been definitely ascertain
ed. Captain Cole was arrested BY
the Federals on the afternoon Of the
day when the proposed attack was to
have been made. He was imprisoned
at Fort Lafayette until February,
1866, when a Brooklyn judge released