John Yates Beall-- Part 2: Privateering, Johnson's Island, Hanged

In the meantime, he began a series of privateering missions along the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.  he was captured in November 1863, and imprisoned at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  This led to reprisals by the Confederate government.

On May 5, 1864, he was formally exchanged.

With Beall's own initiative and without government support, he returned to Canada with his original aim of liberating the prisoners held at Johnson's Island.

On September 18, 1864, Beall and a small group of men captured the steamers Philo Parsons and Island Queen.  However, he was unable to get to Johnson's Island because of a mutiny in his followers.

Wearing civilian clothing, he was captured in civilian clothing at Niagara, New York, on December 16, 1864,   Tried a a guerrilla, he was found guilty and hanged at Governor's Island, New York, on December 24, 1864.

--Old Secesh