The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-15
Where Morgan Surrendered

Columbus, but four months later he and six
others dug their way out and made their way
across the country to safety within the Confed-
crate lines. In his cell he left the following
note: "Cell N. 20. Nov 90 1868. Commencement
Nov. 4, 1863 Conclusion, Nov. 20, 1863 Tools,
two small knives. La patience est amere mails
son fruit est doux (Patience is bitter, but its
fruit is sweet) By order of my six honorable
Confederates."
Even if Morgan failed to water his horses in
Lake Erie" it remained for two other Confed-
crate leaders, John Y. Beall and David 81. Ross,
to enjoy a spectacular, though brief career, on
that body Of water and to create almost as much
CONSERVATION in Union hearts as had the bold
Kentuckian.
At the outbreak of the Civil war Ross was an
eighteen-year-old cadet in the Macon Guards,
the pride of Georgia Captured at the battle of
Knoxville, Tenn, Ross was sent to Union pri-
son camp on the shores or Lake Erie from which
he soon escaped and made his way to Toronto
where he became acquainted with Jacob Thomp-
son, formerly secretary of the interior in Presi-
dent Buchanan's cabinet, but now agent for
the Confederacy in ensting Southern sympa-
thizers among the Canadians and in aiding Con-
federate sympathizers to escape
Thompson sent Ross to Windsor to report to
Capt John Yeates Beal another Confederate
agent, who had plan which had been turning
over in his mind for some time. 1t was to raise
a crew of refugee Confederates in Canada, take
possession of the Philo Parsons, one of the lake
steamers plying between Detroit and Sandusky,
Ohio, and with it 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 incaculable 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 conspirators. 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 a 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
q 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 Kellys
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
the newcomers The trunk had yielded its stock
of firearms hatchets and other formidable wea-
pons. The captain of the boat was persuaded to
relnquish command and the crew and the male
passengers were given temporary Judgment 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 banquet to be spread and the Con-
federates entertained the women passengers as
BETTING southern gentlemen.
While these festivities going on the
Island Queen, with 10 Federal soldiers on
board, pulled up alongside the Philo 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 IN
ion soldiers did not make short work OF this
handful of Confederates AT any rate, Beall ana
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 q shot in return.
With the Island Queen and the 40 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