The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-15
Where Morgan Surrendered

Capt John Yeates Bean another Confederate
agent who had a plan which had been turning
over in his mind for some time. 1t was to raise
possession of the PhiIo Parsons. one of the lake
steamers plying between Detroit and Sandusky
Ohio, and with 1t capture the war steamer Mich
igan, side-wheeler armed with II guns and
use it to attack Fort Johnson on Johnson island
in Sandusky bay, where more than 1000 Con
federates, most of them officers were held as
prisoners of war. If the plot were successful
the Confederates would have control of the
Great Lakes and could cause incalcuable dam
age TO Union shipping and the Union cause be
fore they could be suppressed.
The intelligence department Of the Union
forces in Michigan learned of the plot but al
lowed it to go forward in the hope of capturing
the ringleaders before any serious damage could
be done. So on the morning of September 10,
1864. when the Philo Parsons left Detroit with
40 passengers on board, among them were sew
eral of Beals consplrators. One Of these asked
the boats clerk, Walter o. Ashley, who was
also part owner Of the boat to stop at Sand
wich, Ont. to take on party Of men desiring
to go down the river. Accordingly this was
done. The new passengers were well dressed
and gave every appearance of being prosperous
travellers. At Maiden, about twenty miles below
Detroit twenty more came on board. These had
a trunk with them as their only piece of bag.
gage The Philo Parsons continued on her way,
stopping at North Bass, Middle Bass and South
Bass islands and finally reached Kelly's island,
where four more men Joined the passengers
Then, soon after the Philo Parsons left Kelly's
island. on its way to Sandusky the officers, crew
and the rest of the passengers found themselves
looking into the barrels of pistols fourished by
tho VII re
of firearms, hatchets and other formidable wea-
pons. The captain of the boat was persuaded to
relinquish command and the and the male
messengers were given temporary lodgment in
the vessels hold. Beall took command Of the
boat as captain and Ross was first mate.
With true southern chvalry, Beall and Ross
ordered a banquet to be spread and the Con-
federates entertained the women passengers as
befttng southern gentlemen.
While these festivities were going on the
Island Queen, with 10 Federal soldiers on
board pulled up alongside the Phlo Parsons.
This was just what Captain Beall wanted 1t
was all very well to impress noncombatants with
his prOwesS, but the enemy in uniform and fully
accoutered promised more excitement
1t never will be known perhaps, why the Tn
ion soldiers did not make short work of this
handful of Confederates At any rate Beall and
Ross. leaving a few men to guard the Philo
Parsons took the rest of their command and
after firing few shots into the Island Queen
sprang on board and captured the crew, who
were too astonished at this unexpected sally
even to fire a shot in return.
With the Island Queen and the 10 Union
men in tow the Philo Parsons set her prov
toward Sandusky to capture Fort Johnson there
and seize the Michigan, at that time the fastest
steamer on the lakes.
The commander of the Michigan had, however
been warned that daredevil band was making
things uncomfortably warm for lake shipping. The
commander, therefore, carefully laid his plans
and got his men ready for the pirates" He had
the fort at his back to help him in the event
matters threatened TO get out of hand.
Bea and his men had scuttied the Island
Queen and taken their prisoners aboard the
Philo Parsons preparatory to attacking the Mich
igan When the commander of the latter vesse
sighted the enemy he set out in chase and the
Philo Parsons turned about and fed. '"The Mich
igan," as Ross explained years later "had twelve
guns We had only our pistols" So it is evi
dent that the Confederates took the only wise
course in heading for safety.