The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-09-14
Where Morgan Surrendered

Capt John Yeates Bean 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 1t capture the war steamer, Mich
igan, side-wheeer armed with If guns and
use 1t to attack Fort Johnson on Johnson island
In Sandusky bay, where than 1000 Con-
federates most OF them officers. were held as
prisoners OF war. II the plot successful
the Confederates would have control Of the
Great Lakes and could cause incalculable 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 1t to 60 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 Bealls 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 party of men desiring
to 60 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
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 fiourished 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
relinquish 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 chivalry, Beall and Ross
ordered a banquet to be spread and the Con-
federates entertained the women passengers as
BETTING southern gentlemen.
While these festivities were going on the
Island Queen, with ITO Federal soldiers on
board, pulled up alongside the Philo Parsons
This was just what Captain Beall wanted ri
was all very well to impress noncombatants with
his prowess, but the enemy In uniform and fully
accoutered promised more excitement
II never will be known, perhaps why the I'm
ion soldiers did not make short work OF this
handful or Confederates. At any rate Beal and
Ross, leaving few men to guard the Philo
Parsons took the rest of their command and
after firing a few shots into the Island Queen
sDrang on board and captured the crew, who
were too astonlshed at this unexpected sally
even to fire shot In return
With the Island Queen and the ITO 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
Beall and his men had scuttled the Island
Queen and taken their prisoners aboard the
Philo Parsonspreparatory to attacking the Mich
igan When the commander OF the latter vessel
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 1t is evil
dent that the Confederates took the only wise
course In heading for safety.