During the American Civil War, USS Michigan kept up with her yearly patrol against smugglers and other criminals.
At that time the gunboat was still the only American warship in those waters, other than six revenue cutters, which were largely ineffective in their operations against crime.
Because the Civil War had such a high mortality rate, the government enforced a military draft.
There were draft riots by working-class men who resented being sent to war when wealthier men could buy their way out.
The most notable one was in New York City, where largely ethnic Irish attacked African Americans as the scapegoats for their anger.
A race riot took place in Detroit in 1863, also about labor and economic competition issues at bottom, and another in Buffalo, New York.
The USS Michigan spent much of the war patrolling back and forth between those urban areas.

By 1863 Johnson's Island in Lake Erie was used as a prisoner of war camp for Confederates.
The Southern government knew of the camp.
In 1863 Lieutenant William Henry Murdaugh of the Confederate States Navy suggested to President Jefferson Davis a plan to gain control of the lakes by capturing the Michigan.
Ultimately Murdaugh's plan was never implemented.
But in 1864 Davis authorized Captain Charles H. Cole of the Confederate States Army to go to the Great Lakes with Captain John Yates Beall and organize the escape of prisoners from Johnson's Island and Camp Chase.

Captain Cole had been a prisoner at Johnson's Island before his escape, so he knew the area and the people well.
With Beall, Cole collected thirty-five volunteers to take over the Michigan.
He cunningly befriended several of the gunboat's officers.
Cole also contacted with the Sons of Liberty, a secret society that sympathized with the Confederate cause.
The captain organized the successful infiltration of the 128th Ohio Infantry Regiment which guarded the prison camps.
Ten of his volunteers posed as Union troops, with orders to assist in the capture of Johnson's Island after the Michigan had been secured.

On September 19, 1864, the rebels launched their attack.
That night Captain Cole went aboard the Michigan at Sandusky to dine with his 'friends" while waiting for Captain Beall and the volunteers to arrive in a captured merchant ship.
The Union knew all about the plot from a Confederate colonel at Johnson's Islands, who had learned of the Cole's plan and informed the prison guards.
The colonel did not know when the attack would take place, but the men of USS Michigan were ordered to stay on high alert.

While Coe was gaining access to the Michigan, Captain Beall was preparing to take over the ferry Philo Parsons.
The ferry cruised between American and Canadian ports on Lake Erie.
Beall separated his men into small groups who boarded the Philo Parsons as passengers in Canada.
When all of the volunteers were aboard, Captain Beall waited until after the ship had left Kellys Island, Ohio to take over the ship.
He accomplished this without bloodshed.
Beall allowed the passengers to leave, including several recently discharged men from the 130th Ohio Infantry.
A little later, as the rebels were sailing to meet with Captain Coe and the Michigan, a steamer named Island Queen came alongside the Philo Parsons.
A sailor tied the two vessels together.
When the rebels realized this, they attacked the Island Queen, and a brief gunfight erupted between Beall's men and the steamer's crew.
One man was wounded in what was the northernmost naval skirmish of the war.
The rebels tried to sail the ship with the Philo Parsons on to Sandusky.
But, at a position three miles off Middle Hull Island, Captain Beall ordered the Island Queen to be run aground on a reef and burned.

About the same time, seventeen members of the Confederate boarding party became convinced that the Union knew what they were up to, so they refused to participate any further.
As result, Beall abandoned his cruise.
Thus the plot to capture the Michigan and liberate the prisoners on Johnson's Island failed before it really began.

Rebel activity in the North did not
During the American Civil War, USS Michigan kept up with her yearly patrol against smugglers and other criminals. At that time the gunboat was still the only American warship in those waters, other than six revenue cutters, which were largely ineffective in their operations against crime. Because the Civil War had such a high mortality rate, the government enforced a military draft. There were draft riots by working-class men who resented being sent to war when wealthier men could buy their way out. The most notable one was in New York City, where largely ethnic Irish attacked African Americans as the scapegoats for their anger. A race riot took place in Detroit in 1863, also about labor and economic competition issues at bottom, and another in Buffalo, New York. The USS Michigan spent much of the war patrolling back and forth between those urban areas.
By 1863 Johnson's Island in Lake Erie was used as a prisoner of war camp for Confederates. The Southern government knew of the camp. In 1863 Lieutenant William Henry Murdaugh of the Confederate States Navy suggested to President Jefferson Davis a plan to gain control of the lakes by capturing the Michigan. Ultimately Murdaugh's plan was never implemented. But in 1864 Davis authorized Captain Charles H. Cole of the Confederate States Army to go to the Great Lakes with Captain John Yates Beall and organize the escape of prisoners from Johnson's Island and Camp Chase.
Captain Cole had been a prisoner at Johnson's Island before his escape, so he knew the area and the people well. With Beall, Cole collected thirty-five volunteers to take over the Michigan. He cunningly befriended several of the gunboat's officers. Cole also contacted with the Sons of Liberty, a secret society that sympathized with the Confederate cause. The captain organized the successful infiltration of the 128th Ohio Infantry Regiment which guarded the prison camps. Ten of his volunteers posed as Union troops, with orders to assist in the capture of Johnson's Island after the Michigan had been secured.
On September 19, 1864, the rebels launched their attack. That night Captain Cole went aboard the Michigan at Sandusky to dine with his 'friends" while waiting for Captain Beall and the volunteers to arrive in a captured merchant ship. The Union knew all about the plot from a Confederate colonel at Johnson's Islands, who had learned of the Cole's plan and informed the prison guards. The colonel did not know when the attack would take place, but the men of USS Michigan were ordered to stay on high alert.
While Coe was gaining access to the Michigan, Captain Beall was preparing to take over the ferry Philo Parsons. The ferry cruised between American and Canadian ports on Lake Erie. Beall separated his men into small groups who boarded the Philo Parsons as passengers in Canada. When all of the volunteers were aboard, Captain Beall waited until after the ship had left Kellys Island, Ohio to take over the ship. He accomplished this without bloodshed. Beall allowed the passengers to leave, including several recently discharged men from the 130th Ohio Infantry. A little later, as the rebels were sailing to meet with Captain Coe and the Michigan, a steamer named Island Queen came alongside the Philo Parsons. A sailor tied the two vessels together. When the rebels realized this, they attacked the Island Queen, and a brief gunfight erupted between Beall's men and the steamer's crew. One man was wounded in what was the northernmost naval skirmish of the war. The rebels tried to sail the ship with the Philo Parsons on to Sandusky. But, at a position three miles off Middle Hull Island, Captain Beall ordered the Island Queen to be run aground on a reef and burned.
About the same time, seventeen members of the Confederate boarding party became convinced that the Union knew what they were up to, so they refused to participate any further. As result, Beall abandoned his cruise. Thus the plot to capture the Michigan and liberate the prisoners on Johnson's Island failed before it really began.
Rebel activity in the North did not
Great Lakes Patrol