Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/61

 UNDER THE CONFEDERACY

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Beall, John Yates, born at Charlestown, Jefferson county, Virginia, January i, 1835. He was a member of a highly respectable family, and said to be heir apparent to the English Lord Egelby. He was educated at the University of Virginia, and trained for the law, but never practiced. He was the owner of a large plantation and more than one hundred slaves. He entered the Con- federate service in Company G, Second Vir- ginia Regiment, was wounded in action, and went to Canada. While there he conceived a plan for the liberation of the Confederate prisoners at Johnson's Island, and, return- ing South, was commissioned acting master in the navy, but was not assigned to a ves- sel. On his own initiative he engaged in privateering operations in Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac river, and in November, 1863, was captured and put into irons at Fort McHenry, Baltimore. This led to re- prisals, and he was exchanged in May of the following year. Resubmitting to the Con- federate authorities his plans for the John- son's Island project, and after meeting with approval, he returned to Canada, and set about the undertaking in his own way. On September 28, 1864. with three chosen men, he boarded the steamboat Pliilo Far- sens, on Lake Erie, ostensibly to take a pleasure trip. In the afternoon, when the boat had nearly reached Kelly's Island, about six miles from the Ohio shore, the men drew revolvers on the officers in charge of the boat, and, imprisoning them in the cabins, took possession. They threw freight overboard, examined the ship's papers, took the money from the clerk's offices and ran the boat to Middle Bass Island, where the passengers were put ashore. Soon after this, a freight and passenger steamboat, the

Island Queen, came alongside, and was promptly seized and sunk. As soon as the news reached the outside world, officers were sent to arrest Beale and his party. He escaped capture for a time by taking up his residence on the American side of the Sus- pension Bridge, and by disguising his per- sonal appearance. He made observations on the defences of the frontiers, and was the instigator of a foray in St. Albans, Ver- mont, which was accompanied with incen- diarism and loss of life. He had many S3mpathizers in the South, with whom he was in communication. He was finally ar- rested on December 16. 1864, at Suspension Bridge, New York. The charges against him were violation of the laws of war by seizing the Philo Parsons and the Island Queen, for "undertaking to carry on irregu- lar and unlawful warfare as a guerrilla, without lawful authority and for unlawful purposes," and for acting as a spy. Oi these he was found guilty and was sen- tenced to be hanged. An eft'ort to save Beale was made by President Davis, who issued a proclamation assuming responsi- bility for the act, and declaring that the seizure of the vessels had been effected by his authority. But this could not help one v;ho had ventured into the enemy's coun- try and made war while wearing no badge of service. He was hanged on Governor's Island, New York, February 24, 1865. His courageous bearing at his trial and execu- tion were admired even by his judges and executioners.

Bledsoe, Albert Taylor, born in Frank- fort, Kentucky, November 9, i8og, son of Moses Bledsoe and Sophia (Taylor) Bled- soe, his wife. He was graduated, 1830,