USA > Ohio > Ohio in four wars, a military history > Part 13
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WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS
Born in Kingston. Delaware county, Ohio. September 5. 1819; was graduated from the United States Military Acad- emy, 1842; early in the Civil War was appointed Colonel of an Ohio regiment: Major General of volunteers (March, 1862), and Brevet Major General of the regular army (March, 1865); resigned from the army, March 28. 1867; declined Democratic nominations for Governor of California (1867) and Ohio (1869); Minister to Mexico, 1868-69; member of Congress from California, 1881-85; Register of the Treasury, 18×5-89; died near Los Angeles, California, March 11, 1898.
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closing Plans for Establishing a Northwestern Confederacy," edited by Benn Pitman (Cin- cinnati, 1865). In these publications may be found the fullest details acquired by the Gov- ernment through spies, detectives, witnesses and seizures, of the gigantic conspiracy to erect a new nation in the Northwest by secession.
The Confederate Government at Richmond - was fully advised of the movements and pur- poses of the "Sons of Liberty." As early as March, 1864, President Jefferson Davis of the Southern Confederacy determined to send North some of his officers to organize a move- ment to release the Confederate prisoners, and these, with their allies, were to seize Northern cities and establish a new confederacy. .
In September, 1864, at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, there were 5,140 prisoners; at Camp Chase, near Columbus, there were 4,778; at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, 884; at Springfield, Illinois, 7,240; and at "Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay, 2,662 officers were confined. The plan to simultaneously release all these prisoners, and, with the aid of the "Sons of Liberty", in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, occupy Chicago, Indianapolis and Columbus. Out of this general "rising" was to grow a new republic in the Northwest. Jefferson Davis selected to
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organize this movement Captain Thomas H. Hines of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry (Mor- gan's Division). He had escaped with Morgan from the Ohio Penitentiary in November, 1863. In the Southern Bivouac, Louisville, Ky., (Vol- ume II, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 11 - 1886-1887), Captain Hines has written a complete history of the Con- federate negotiations in Canada relative to the Northwestern Conspiracy. With the commission of James A. Seddon, the Confederate Secretary of War, Hines proceeded to Canada to commence operations and to confer with Jacob Thompson, the Special Commissioner of the Confederate States in Canada. Mr. Thompson had established himself in this capacity at Montreal on May 30th, and had deposited a large amount of money for his purposes in the Bank of Ontario in that city.
The prime object of the Confederate Com- missioner's Canadian mission was to endeavor to bring influence on President Lincoln with a view to peace between the North and South. He thought he could negotiate better in Canada and be closer to prominent Northern men, as well as be more easy of access. All efforts at peace failed because they were conditioned on the in-
dependence of the Southern Confederacy. He next turned his attention to utilizing the feeling engendered and represented by the "Sons of
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gates to the Chicago National Democratic Con- vention was in session. To this body he deliv- ered his first speech after more than a year of exile, and was received with marked feelings of enthusiasm. In this speech he referred to the Order of which he was the head, denying that it was a conspiracy, . unpatriotic or treasonable. "This is," said he, "the sole conspiracy of which I know anything; and I am proud to be one of the conspirators. If any other exists, looking to unlawful armed resistance to the Federal or State authorities anywhere in the exercise of the legal and constitutional rights, I admonish all persons concerned that the act is treason and the penalty is death. But I warn also the men in power that there is a vast multitude, a host whom they cannot number, bound together by the strongest and holiest ties, to defend by what- ever means the exigencies of the_time shall de- mand, their national and constitutional rights as freemen, at all hazards and to the last ex- tremity."
July 20 was the date first fixed upon for the re- lease of the Confederate prisoners and the uprising of their allies in Illinois and Indiana. Commissioner Thompson, in his first report to the Confederate Cabinet at Richmond, thus out- lined what was sought to be accomplished:
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"Though intending this as a Western Confeder- acy and demanding peace, if peace be not granted then it shall be war. There are some choice spir- its enlisted in this enterprise, and what is needed for success is unflinching nerve. For our part it is agreed that Captain T. Henry Hines shall command at Chicago and Captain John B. Cas- tleman at Rock Island. If a movement could be made by our troops into Kentucky and Missouri it would greatly facilitate matters in the West. The organized force of the Federal Government would thus be employed, and this would give courage and hope to the Northwestern people." Awaiting patiently these military movements, action was postponed, and on July 22 the Ca- nadian Commissioner and Captains Hines and Castleman met at St. Catherines, Canada, for further consultation. Delegates from the "Sons of Liberty" urged the revolt for August 22. All parted with the understanding that there would be another meeting on August 7th, when dele- gates from the State and county organizations should be present. On that date, accordingly, such a meeting was held at London, Canada, at which August 29, the day of the assembling of the Democratic National Convention at Chi- cago, was settled upon as the day of action. It was urged that the immense and excited crowds
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of that occasion would prove a dense cover un- der which a large body of Confederates and their Northern allies could be concentrated.
During the two days preceding the Conven- tion the Confederates detailed for leading the dangerous and important service began to ar- rive in Chicago. They traveled in small parties, and to all appearances were in attendance to participate in the political proceedings. By ar- rangements made in advance, most of them stopped at the Richinond House. These leaders were sixty in number, and Captain Hines in his narrative gives their names. He says: "The men chosen for this work were no mere adven- turers; they had enlistd in an enterprise where they knew success was doubtful and that failure meant probably death; and these men have since shown by their success in civil life that they were men of no ordinary capacity." However, he does not speak so highly of the "Sons of Liberty." "For notwithstanding," he says, "that Mr. Vallandigham's representatives were fur- nished means of transportation and had ample time to make proper distribution and explana- tion to the more faithful and courageous county commanders why the rank and file should come to Chicago and resist any further attempt upon the liberties of the citizens, it must
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be confessed that events fully justified the belief that some of the principal agents employed were lacking either in fidelity or courage, or both."
The story of the collapse of a movement that in the secrecy of lodges and on paper assumed gigantic proportions, can best be given by Cap- tain Hines himself, who could truly say, "All of which I saw and part of which I was."
. Of the prospects of success, he says: "Men commended to us by Mr. Vallandigham had been intrusted with the necessary funds for perfect- ing the county organizations; arms had been purchased in the North by the aid of our pro- fessed friends in New York; alliances offensive and defensive had been made with peace or- ganizations, and though we were not misled by the sanguine promises of our friends, we were confident that with any sort of cooperation on their part success was reasonably possible. Dur- ing the excitement that always attends a great political Convention, increased as we supposed it would be by the spirit of opposition to the Administration, we felt that we would be freer to act unobserved, and that we could move with promptness and effect upon Camp Douglas. With nearly five thousand prisoners there, and over seven thousand at Springfield, joined by the dissatisfied elements in Chicago and
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throughout Illinois, we believed that at once we would have a formidable force, which might be the nucleus for a much more important move- ment. Everything was arranged for prompt ac- tion, and for the concentration and organization of all these bodies. It was, as we felt, the first step that was the most difficult and the most se- rious. Success was only possible by prompt and concerted action during the Convention. The Confederates were ready."
Of the preparations for action, he says: "Arms were ready and information had been conveyed to the prisoners of war of our inten- tion. Chicago was thronged with people from all sections of the country. And among this vast crowd were many of the county officers of the secret organization on whom we relied for resistance. Most of these present at our Chi- cago conference were from Illinois; men well known in their own localities, whose influence, once they ivere committed to our plans by some overt act, would be of vast service. It was es- sential to the success of any undertaking for us to know definitely what armed forces the rep- resentatives of Mr. Vallandigham could pro- vide. For this, a meeting of the officers of the organization was held at the room of Hines and
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Castleman at the Richmond House the night be- fore the Convention, August 28, 1864."
The finale is thus described: "The evening of the twenty-ninth of August came, but on the part of the thnid, timidity became more appar- ent, and those who were resolute could not show the strength needed to give confident hope of success. The reinforcements sent by the Ad- ministration to strengthen the Chicago garrison had been vastly exaggerated, and seven thou- sand men was the number rumor brought to the ears of the 'Sons of Liberty.' Care had been taken to keep informed as to what troops came to Camp Douglas, but the statements made by Hines and Castleman to the effect that only three thousand were present did not counteract the effect produced by the rumor that the Fed- eral forces numbered more than double that number. When, therefore, a count was taken of the number of the 'Sons of Liberty' on whom we could rely, it seemed worse than folly to at- tempt to use them. There were not enough to justify any movement which would commit the Northwestern people to open resistance, and not even enough to secure the release and control the organization of the prisoners at Camp Douglas as the nucleus of an army which would give pos- sible relief to the Confederacy."
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With all hope of success abandoned, Captain Hines and Castleman, together with their asso- ciate Confederate officers, left Chicago. The celerity of their departure was increased when they became aware of great vigilance and ac- tivity on the part of the agents of the Govern- ment.
During all this time Vallandigham was in Chicago as a delegate to the Convention from the Third Congressional district of Ohio. He opposed the nomination of General McClellan for the Presidency and was defeated for the po- sition of Chairman of the Committee on Res- olutions.
Notwithstanding the fiasco at Chicago, it was determined to attempt to release the prisoners at Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay, and at Camp Chase, near Columbus. It was a bold and daring project and came perilously near suc- ceeding. This was undertaken by Captain Charles H. Cole, a Confederate officer of Gen- eral Forrest's cavalry, and Captain John Yates Beall of the Confederate Navy. The plan was to capture the gunboat Michigan, carrying eighteen guns, the only armed vessel on the Lakes, and thus give the Southern Confederacy practical supremacy on those waters. If this was accomplished the cities in New York,
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Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were upon the Lakes, would be at the mercy of and under tribute to the Confederates. As a sequence to this, it was planned to release the twenty six hundred prisoners at Johnson's Island, seize Sandusky, and by train pour these forces into Columbus and release the prisoners, nearly five thousand, at Camp Chase.
The whole plot was daring to the point of rashness, but the men engaged were fully equal to their task and save for treachery they would probably have succeeded. The story of the con- spiracy and the remarkable effort to consum- mate it, reads like a chapter from a novel, and, with the thrilling adventures of the "Andrews Raiders," it ranks as one of the romances of the Rebellion.
Captain Cole came to Sandusky in the early summer of 1864, ostensibly from Philadelphia, as the secretary and representative of the Mount Hope Oil Company of Titusville, Pennsylvania. His genial bearing and gentlemanly accom- plishments soon won him friends. His oil com- pany was successful and the investors soon re- ceived dividends which gave him a creditable standing as a business man. He maintained a respectable deposit in a Sandusky bank, and while not reckless or dissipated he dispensed his
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hospitality in a way consistent with a well-bred gentleman. Gradually, he attained a social standing and in time became the friend and as- sociate of the officers of the Michigan. Indeed, he was a guest of the officers in a tour around the Lakes, during which he acquired much knowledge, which he reported to the Confed- erate Commissioner, Jacob Thompson. Captain Cole in return wined and dined the officers with magnificent but not ostentatious hospitality. Similar social relations were developed with the Federal officers on Johnson's Island, and so close did they become that Captain Cole, in a sym- pathetic way, was permitted to hold free con- verse with the Confederate officers imprisoned on the island .. In fact, his genial and generous nature soon made him a privileged character on lake and land. These congenial associations he did not fail to turn to account. He secured the enlistment of ten Confederates as members of the Federal Regiment doing duty on Johnson's Island, and two more of his "friends" were kindly taken care of by being enlisted as sea- men on board the Michigan.
Finally all the plans had been laid, and the time arrived for action. In The Firelands Pio- neer (New Series, Vol. I, June, 1882), Captain Cole graphically describes his part in this en-
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terprise. Of the purpose, he says: "Our plans were finally matured, and it was decided to make the attack on Monday, the nineteenth day of September. The intention was, the moment the Michigan was captured and the Confed- erate officers released, to cut all the telegraph wires leading out of Sandusky, seize a railroad train, run down to Columbus, assist in releas- ing the prisoners there, then run back to San- dusky and establish temporary headquarters of the Confederate Department of the Northwest. General Trimble of Maryland, who was the ranking Confederate officer confined on John- son's Island, was to be made Commander-in- Chief, and I had in my pocket a commission from the Confederate Government, appointing him to that position the moment he was released. I was supplied with other commissions in blank, all properly signed and attested, to give to all other men who enlisted in the Confederate Army for this service. This was done to make them regular Confederate soldiers, so that their, services would be legitimate acts of warfare as long as they obeyed orders."
A few days before action, Captain John Yates Beall met Captain Cole at the West House in Sandusky, and the details were all gone over. It was then decided that Beall, with twenty Con-
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federates, should go to Detroit and at that place board the passenger steamer Philo Parsons, take possession of the boat, put the passengers ashore at some convenient point, and then steam ahead as if bound for Sandusky. The Michigan lay in the bay, and when near her the Philo Parsons was to run alongside and capture the gunboat. The preparation for this capture and the arrangements at the Sandusky end were to be taken care of by Captain Cole, who was to send a messenger to Bass Island to notify Beall of his progress.
These arrangements were changed so that Beall, on September 19th, boarded the vessel at Sandwich, a small town on the Canadian side. When Malden, on the same side, was reached twenty-five men came aboard; they were dressed roughly in citizen's attire. The only baggage of this party was an old trunk, which, as de- veloped afterwards, contained revolvers and hatchets. The Philo Parsons proceeded on her
way to Sandusky. She stopped at Kelley's Island to unload freight and take on passengers, and after leaving that point, when about four miles off the Ohio main shore, Beall and his com- - panions took possession of the vessel in the name of the Confederate States. They then made for Middle Bass Island and put the passengers
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ashore. While the Philo Parsons was lying there the Island Queen, a passenger boat plying be- tween the Islands and Sandusky, same alongside to land, when she was immediately boarded by Beall's men and her crew and passengers made prisoners. On board the Island Queen were thirty-five members of Company K, One Hun- dred and Thirtieth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, who, having been mustercd out, were un- armed. These, with the passengers, were per- mitted to go ashore. The boat was then lashed to the Philo Parsons, which quickly got under way and stood out for Sandusky. When about three miles out, the Island Queen was scuttled and drifted on a reef. Steaming in the direction of Johnson's Island, the daring young Confed- erate proceeded to carry out the vital but the most dangerous part of his programme. This was to lay within sight of the Michigan until he received the agreed signal from Captain Cole, and then steam alongside the gunboat and, with his band, board her, and thus open Ohio to Con- federate invasion.
In the placid waters of Sandusky Bay Beall, with strained anxiety, viewed the outlines of the Michigan in the moonlight, but there was no signal from Captain Cole, whom he supposed was aboard and in possession of the gunboat.
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To add to his misery, he was confronted with another and more serious danger. Out of his crew of twenty, seventeen mutinied. In a for- mal writing, while expressing admiration for their commander for his skill and courage they said: "But believing and being well convinced that the enemy is already apprised of our ap- proach, and is so well prepared that we cannot by any possibility make it a success, and having already captured two boats, we respectfully de- cline to prosecute it any further." Left in this helpless position, and unable to enforce his or- ders, Beall steamed for Sandwich, where he dis- charged his crew and destroyed his boat.
While the work allotted to Beall was being carried out successfully, Captain Cole was pre- paring to do his share. This was to secure pos- session of the Michigan, or at least put her in form so there would be the least resistance when Beall lay to with the Philo Parsons to board. Cole arranged for a champagne supper on the evening of September 20th, to be given to the officers. A few of Cole's friends, "Sons of Liberty," were also to be present. At about mid- night he expected the Philo Parsons in the bay within hailing distance. The wine was to be drugged and by this means, at the appointed time, the officers would be incapable of resist-
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ance. With the assistance of his secret allies aboard he expected to gain control of the vessel and notify Beall to finish the plot. The dinner came off as planned, "There was a sound of revelry by night," and joy was unconfined. The Captain saw as in a vision the important con- sequences of his plans. But alas! for the best laid plans of men. He was in the midst of the drinking and was just making an excuse to go on deck to give the signal to the Philo Parsons. What then happened let the Captain tell in his own words: "An officer from Johnson's Island `stepped aboard the Michigan, and, approaching me, said: 'Captain Cole, you are my prisoner.'
"'Captain of what?' I asked, with a laugh; 'certainly no man will accuse me of being a sol- dier.'
"'No,' replied the officer, whom I knew well, 'but here is a telegram saying you are a Con- federate spy, and are in a conspiracy to capture Johnson's Island. It orders your arrest. We must at least take you into custody.'
"'Oh, that's all right,' I answered, although I felt it was all up with us. A moment later, however, and it would have been all up with then.
"'Sergeant, search him!' ordered the officer.
"The Sergeant began his work, and almost
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the first thing he found was my commission from the Confederate Government. Of course, that was enough. I was put under arrest and closely guarded."
Captain Cole was taken to Johnson's Island and was afterward removed to Fort Lafayette. He made an ineffectual attempt at escape, but finally was released on a writ of habeas corpus February 10, 1866, at the instance of Jacob Thompson and other Confederate leaders. He escaped to Canada and thence to Mexico, where he fought under Maximilian. When the war was over he was pardoned by the President and . returned to the United States. Captain Beall was captured December 16, 1864, in the New York Central station at Niagara Falls. He was tried by a court-martial in New York City, and by its sentence he was hung as a spy February 24, 1865, on Governor's Island. In the "Trial of John Yates Beall by a Military Commission" (New York. D. Appleton & Co., 1865), may be found all the testimony relating to his daring raid, as well as the arguments of counsel.
While the stirring events that we have been recording were eventuating, the domestic af- fairs of the State were receiving decided atten- tion from its citizens. Governor Brough and his Administration were under a perfect storm
EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, December 19, 1814; admitted to the bar, 1833, was reporter of the Ohio Supreme Court, 1842-45; Attorney-General of the United States under Buchanan, December 20, 1860; appointed Secretary of War by Lincoln, January 15, 1862, and continued throughout Lincoln's administration and a part of Johnson's; appointed by Presi- dent Grant Justice of the United States Supreme Court, December 20, 1860; died in Washington, December 24, 1869.
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of criticism. He believed in the arbitrary ex- ercise of power and in assuming the fullest per- sonal responsibility in the performance of his duties. In his temperament he was naturally domineering, and he did not hesitate to display this attitude to those with whom he transacted business. It was just the same whether it was President Licoln or the humblest captain. He was in continual disputes with army officers. He treated all inferior officers as if they were subordinates on his railroad. Nevertheless, he had great ability in comprehending the necessi- ties of the hour. He was equal to all emer- gencies, incorruptibly honest, zealous in the ser- vice of the State and Nation and he was par- ticularly the friend and guardian of the private soldier. Most of his quarrels with the officers were in their behalf. For the two years of his term he kept personal supervision of the hos- pitals, and watched the treatment of the sick soldiers by the surgeons and the Sanitary Com- mission until his vigilance became to those care- takers of the ill and wounded a nuisance. He possibly erred in a hundred ways on the side of mercy and benevolence, but no man was more beloved in those day by the private soldiers than Governor Brough.
Defying all criticism, he kept steadily in view
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the position Ohio should maintain toward the Government and did everything in his power to supply troops. We have seen how his influence organized the Hundred Days' men. He had great trouble, however, in recruiting. Opposed to him was the secret influence of the "Sons of Liberty" and similar organizations. With all this Ohio responded to the President's calls for troops a's they were made in 1864. Under the call of February 1st, her quota was 51,465; under that of March 14th, it was 20,595; under the call of July 18th the quota was 50,852 and under the last call of 1864, December 18th, it was 26,- 027, making a total of all quotas of 148,879 men. This demand of the Government was loyally met, so that up to December 3, 1864, the State of Ohio had furnished 346,326 men to the service of the United States.
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