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CHAPTER, XIII.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
EARLY in 1862, the Government leased of L. B. Johnson, a portion of the Island in the Bay, opposite Sandusky, for use as a depot for Rebel officers held as prisoners of War. The number of these there during that year ranged from 444 in April, to 1,452 in August, and 209 in December; in 1863, the numbers varied from 308 in January, 40 in May, to 2,623 in December; in 1864, from 2,603 for January, and 2,441 in July, to 3,209 in December. These included every grade of officers, from Second Lieutenant to Major-General, and enough of these for an army of 80,000 men. From the opening of the prison, April 9, 1862, to February 10,1865, there were received 7,771 prisoners, of whom 210 only, or less than 3 per cent. had died, which was only about one-tenth of the number of Union Soldiers reported as dying in the Rebel prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, alone, in one month. The daily rations allowed at Johnson's Island were 10 ounces flour or soft bread, or 10 ounces hard bread in lieu thereof, or 16 ounces corn meal, in lieu of bread ; 14 ounces salt or fresh beef, or 10 ounces pork or bacon in lieu thereof; 121 pounds beans or peas, or 8 pounds rice or hominy to 100 rations, 2 pounds soap, 2 quarts vinegar, and 2 pounds salt, with occasionally potatoes, onions or other vegetables. The sick upon the Surgeon's order were entitled to coffee, tea and sugar. With all which was allowed whatever the prisoner might receive or purchase. Some of those who came from the long siege at Port Hudson, Mississippi, had cultivated such taste for rats, that they unhesitatingly expressed a relish for such food, as preferable to squirrel.
A Masonic Association was organized, which attended upon all members requiring care. Such ample provision of heathful food and such freedom in action, are in strange contrast with the experience of Union Soldiers in Rebel prisons.*
* In this connection the following statement by Mr. A. M. Davidson (believed to be reliable) of the rations issued by the United States Government to
The prisoners at the Island May 12, 1865, consisted of two Brigadier Generals, 42 Colonels, 49 Lieutenant Colonels, 60 Majors, 627 Captains, 1,919 Lieutenants, 2 Surgeons, 17 Assistants, 8 Chaplains, 44 Navy officers, 96 enlisted men, 7 citizens, and 2 deserters. Of these upon their discharge, finder order of President Johnson, but three refused to take the oath of allegiance. The proximity of the Island to Canada, together with the strong sympathy existing there toward the Rebel cause, encouraged the prisoners and their friends to plans of release, and also stimulated efforts on the part of the Confederate authorities toward fermenting collision between the United States and Great Britain. Beside these sources of hope, were the known interest and activity in behalf of the prisoners on the part of the " Knights of the Golden Circle" and the " Sons of Liberty," secret organizations of disloyal citizens of the North and chiefly in the Western States. These different influences kept the prisoners constantly busy in devising ways and means for escape, and their guard as vigilant in watching
Rebel prisoners of War, and of rations issued by the Confederate Government to Union prisoners, will be found fitting, as showing the difference in the same, to-wit
One ration issued by United One ration issued by Confed
States Government per day, crate Government per day,
to Rebel prisoners of War: to Union Prisoners of War:
Hard Bread . . . . . . . .14 oz, or
Soft Bread . . . . . . . . 18 oz, or
Corn Meal . . . . . . . . 18 oz. Corn Meal, unbolted. .. . 9 oz.
Beef . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 oz, or Beef . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 oz. or
Bacon or Pork. . . . . . 10 oz. Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 oz.
White Beans . . . . . . . 1-16 qt. Peas . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .1-16 qt.
Hominy or Rice. . . . . 17-25 oz. Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 oz.
Sugar. . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-4 oz.
Rio Coffee . . . . . . . . 1 1-8 oz.
Tea .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3-4 dr.
Hard Soap. . . . . . . . . 2-3 dr. Soft Soap . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32 dr.
Candles, Adam't .. . . . .1-20 or
Candles, Tallow. . . . .. 1-16
Salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-50 qt. Salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-100 qt
Molasses .. . . . . . .. . . 1-100 qt. Molasses . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-300 qt
Potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 lb.
Vinegar . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-100 gl.
Clothing issued by the United Clothing issued by Confeder-
States to Rebel prisoners at ates to Union Prisoners in all
Fort Delaware from Sept. 1, places from September, 1863,
1863, to May 1, 1864: to November, 1864:
overcoats . . . . . . .. . .. 2,680 None
Jackets and Coats . . . . 1,094 "
Flannel Shirts . .. . . . . . .6,260 "
Pants .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,310 "
Drawers . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7,175 "
Pairs Woolen Socks . . . . 8,807 "
Pairs Bootees . . . . . . . .. 3,840 "
Woolen Blankets . . . . . . 4,387 "
272 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
their movements. Several alarms occurred, in apprehension of attempts by prisoners or from outside, for the liberation of the Rebel inmates. November 11, 1863, Mayor Dorr, of Toledo, received from Secretary Stanton a dispatch, to the effect that Lord Lyons, the British Minister at Washington, had given warning of an alleged plot on part of Confederates and refugees in Canada, to invade the United States and destroy the City of Buffalo-that they proposed to seize Steamboats, liberate the prisoners on Johnson's Island, and with them attack Buffalo. Upon receipt of such information, a meeting of the Toledo Board of Trade was held, with Harry Chase, President, in the chair. The Secretary's dispatch being read, on motion of Almon Hopkins, a committee, consisting of the Mayor, General J. B. Steedman, C. A. King, M. R. Waite, Matthew Brown, M. D. Carrington and D. B. Smith, were appointed to make arrangements for such police regulations as might be found necessary. This committee recommended a special meeting of the City Council, that provision might be made for a battery for the protection of the harbor ; that 10 or 12 policemen patrol the docks in the City during the exigency, and that Colonel C. B. Phillips take measures to have his Regiment in readiness to act at a moment's notice. The City at once made provision for chartering "a fast tug to patrol the Bay and the head of the Lake," and for special police service. The apprehended invasion did not take place.
The most serious movement toward the liberation of the Confederates on Johnson's Island culminated on the 19th September, 1864, when a desperate attempt was made by outside parties. The scheme is shown in the following statement: The steamer Philo Parsons, Captain S. F. Atwood, left Detroit on her regular trip for Sandusky, at 8 A. M. At Sandwich, Canada, a number of' passengers got on board, and more at Malden, making in all, 35 or 40. They had more or less of baggage. Nothing occurred to attract attention to these men, until the boat had left Kelley's Island (some three miles from Johnson's Island), when they went to their rooms and soon returned, dressed in long coats, completely concealing their persons. Under orders from a leader, they were so stationed as to command the Boat, and then the officers and crew were notified that they were prisoners of War, and that the Boat was in possession of Captain Allen, of the Confederate Navy. The disguise of the men being now removed, revealed them armed with two Navy revolvers, a bowie-knife and a hatchet each. It was also found, that they were provided with grappling irons for scaling vessels. The Captain and his men were told that on any attempt at resistance, their brains would be blown out, while two of the pirates stood by the wheelsman with four pistols drawn, directing him in what direction to steer. After getting possession, instead of entering the Bay, the pirates passed on down the Lake some five miles from the Island, when they turned around, and passing Kelley's, went back to Middle Bass Island. The Steamer Island Queen, Captain Orr, had left Sandusky at 3 P. M. for Toledo, and stopped at Kelley's Island for 30 or 40 men of Captain Webb's Company, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio, just returned from their 100-days' service in Virginia. They were without arms. The Queen stopped at Middle Bass, alongside of the Parsons, and commenced getting out her plank, with the view of passing freight across the Parsons to the dock, when she was suddenly boarded by 20 armed men, who notified all on board, that they were prisoners of War, and were ordered on board the Parsons, the ladies and children being allowed to go on shore. The Soldiers were all paroled as Confederate prisoners of War, and the balance of the passengers of both Boats sworn to secrecy for 24 hours, when they were permitted to land. The two Steamers were then lashed together and started for Sandusky. About five miles below Put-in Bay, the pirates broke off the water-cock of the pony-engine of the Queen, leaving a hole of about four inches in her side, when she was cast off, and left to sink. The Parsons then passed on and cruised about the mouth of Sandusky Bay for some time, as if watching for a signal inside, and then took the course for Detroit River. While hovering about the Bay, the pirates were heard discussing earnestly among themselves the probability of their being able to capture the United States Steamer Michigan, lying at Johnson's Island-some claiming it could be done, and others that it would be utter madness to attempt it. Captain Orr, who yet remained on board, was of the opinion that the scheme was embarrassed by lack of expected co-operation on the part of accomplices in the
JOHNSON'S ISLAND. - 273
Bay. The Parsons, on reaching Detroit River, took the British channel and stopped at Fighting Island, where Captain Orr, Wm. Hamilton, Clerk, and Mr. Haynes, Engineer of the Queen, and part of the Parsons' crew, were landed. She then passed on to a dock up the River. The Queen was stripped of everything deemed of value to the pirates, and all movable articles on the Parsons were gathered ready for removal. Subsequent information left no doubt that the plan was for the Parsons to arrive off the mouth of the Bay about the time the trains were due on the Southern Railroads, each of which to bring co-operating forces, when a signal from Sandusky was to indicate that everything was in readiness for operations; and it was the failure of such signal, that led Allen to give up the attempt, return to the Detroit River and abandon the whole enterprise. The incoming trains were examined and more or less of the passengers arrested. A suspicious character, named C. H. Cole, who had been boarding at the West House, Sandusky, was arrested. He was said to have received remittances of gold from the Confederate authorities, and it was the common belief, that he was relied upon for organizing the land co-operation with Allen. Revelations made by Cole, led to the arrest of several citizens of Sandusky. An examination took place before United States Commissioner White, from Cleveland, resulting in the holding for trial of Cole, and J. B. Merrick and F. Rosenthal, of Sandusky, and a man named Robinson, found on board the Michigan, and the discharge of others. The cases never came to trial. On the night of December 12, 1864, by concerted arrangement, a rush was made by 24 prisoners upon the center of the guard-line on the Northwest side of the prison. The prisoners had improvised eight scaling-ladders, by attaching cleats to boards and strips, being light and easily carried. The rush upon the guard at once occasioned alarm, but the movement was so sudden and desperate, that four of the men were enabled to escape. One, Lieutenant John B. Bowles, son of the President of a Louisville Bank, was shot and killed. One of the raiding party, Bennet G. Burley, was subsequently arrested in Canada, returned to this State, and tried in the Common Pleas Court at Port Clinton, on the charge of robbery, in forcibly taking the watch of W. O. Ashley, the Clerk of the Steamer Parsons. In bar of proceedings, was pleaded the fact that defendant was the authorized agent and acting under the directions of the Confederate Government, in all that he did, and that he did nothing not warranted by the laws and usages of War. Judge John Fitch, presiding, held that the Confederate States were, at the time named, a Government de facto, exercising sovereignty, and being in a state of War with the Federal Government ; and hence the defendant could not be held amenable under the civil laws for acts performed under authority of the Confederate Government. The Court cited, in support of such opinion, the fact that the United States had uniformly recognized the Confederate Government as belligerent, and treated its Soldiers and agents as prisoners of War. The Court, however, held, that in case the jury should believe that the taking of Ashley's watch was for the personal benefit of defendant, and not in the interest of the Confederate Government, lie was punishable under the State laws. The result was a disagreement of the jury, which stood, eight for guilty and four for not guilty. The case was understood to be without precedent, and the result was accordingly of general interest. The ruling of Judge Fitch was generally accepted as correct.