The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-02-09

land Queen, shared the same
fate. Thirty Federal prisoners
we're aboard, and all of them
were paroled. One vessel was
deemed sufficient for the purpose
in view, consequently the Island
Queen was scutIlcd and sent
adrift.
The United States gunOoat
Michigan, guarded Johnson'S
Island. Lake EIie, and its capture
was necessary before Captain
Beall could release the Coined
ate prisoners. So it was arranged
with Captain e. ii. Cole to have
the officers OF the Michigan at IA
banquet in SanduSkY, ONO, on
the night Of the proposed attack
and a signal rocket was to be
exploded to Inform Captain Beall
hat the officers Of the Michigan
were absent. There was more
thar 5000 Confederate officers on
Johnson's Island, where they re
ceivrd bad treatment. Proper
food and water was denied them
Several rods from the main
prison were dungeons. each a
little larger than ain ordinary cot
fiji, in which were confined Con
federate soldiers who had been
Sentenced 20 death by drum head
court maItlaIs.
They we've chained hand ana
foot, with an additional iron bali,
weighing sixty pounds, chained
10 their ankles.
On the night of September 10,
1864. Captain Beali stcered the
PmlO Parsons within distance to
observe the signal when given
i0r his attack upon the Michigan.
AnXiousIy be stood upon the deck
of the Pnllo Parsons, looking fer
the signal rocket, But in vain
he looked for an h0ur-uo signal.
Ytt he may still win, though the
joc!irj'S led glare failed to becllon
h4m onward, a0d he bore on his
course cautiously until the lights
Of the Michigan were seen mark
iug her length upon the placid
Lake. Voices Of men could be
distinctly heard upon the Micf-
iGau's deck, and tie contour of
her fourteen guns could bc seen
III he moonlight. But at this
critical moment new danger
beset him when least expected
his men mUtinied. Lieutenant
Burley and TWO Others only stood
10y him. The remainder posi-
lively refused to go farther, aiieg
Ing that the signal failed as
agreed upon, aud that the enter
prise must have been detected.
Captain Bcall pleaded, argued
and threatened in vain. Then
tie ordered them to go to the
cabin, and eXacied their reSolu-
ton TO be reduced to writing as ii
vindlcatlOn Of himself and Lieu.
tenant Burnley aud the two men
who were faithful to the last.
This being accomplished he took
possession Of the document.
There was no other alternative
but to retreat, and Captain Beall
returned to Sandwich, where the
Phllo Parsons WAS SCuttled and
sent adrift, the Confederates
retiring to Canada. Captain
Beall was Of the opinion, that
had 1t not been for the mutiny at
the critical moment of the ad
venture, he would have been sue.
ceSsful in releasing the Confed
crate prisoners on Johnson'S Is.
land.
Whether Captain Beall was
betrayed or the plot otherw ise
discovered, it has never been def
nltely ascertaiued. 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.
1916, when Brooklyn judge re
leased hlm on a writ of habea>
corpus, and since then nothing
has been heard about him.
War Department records show
that the number of Federal pris.
onerS in Confederate hands were
2'O,OOO during 1S6l-'65, and the
number of COnfederates in the
Northern prisons, many of whom
were shot on slight provocation.
During the same time there were
put 22,750 deaths OF Federal
prisoners in Southern hands, that
Is to say, more than II per cent.
OF the Confederate died in North
ern prisons, and less than nine
per cent. of Federal prisoners in
Confederate hands died in South
ern prisons. The North had I'm.
limited means for medical aid.
but the South was badly in need
OF medicine and comforts. The
Federal government de Jared
medicine a cOntraband of war.