Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-06-29
UEADQUAETEKs Posr,
FRANMIN, Tenn, June ., 1868.

Bairds headquarters, who presented unusu- {
al appearances. They had on citizens over
coats, Federal regulation pants and caps
The caps were covered with white flannel
hayelocks. They wore side arms, and show
ed high intelligence. Ono claimed to be a
Colonel in the L. S. A., and called himself
Col. Austin the other called himself Major
Dunlap, ana both representing themselves
as Inspector Generals of the u. :. A. They
rel resented tn they were nO# out on ar
expedition in t,,s department., inspecting the
outposts and ucioncos, and that day before
Yesterday they had been 0verh2uied by the
enemy and lost their coats and purses. They
exhibited official papers from General Rosen-
crans, and also from the War Department at
Washington. cortrmiGr their rank and bust
ness These were all right to Colonel Baird,
auG at first Satiseed h!ln Of their HONESTY
They asked the Colonel to loan them $50, as
they had no coats ana no money to baythem.
Col baird loaned t4l1 The money, ana took
Col. Austin's note for it. Just at dark hey
started, saying they were gong TO Nashville,
and took Chat Way. Just 50 soon as their
htIs2S }el1> we're tulued, TIE thought ST
thcir being 3l,ee struck G0i. Baird he says,
lk = thuud rJot, and he ordered Col. W at
kins OF tAc J-h kentuc1y cavalry, who was
standing by, to arrest them Immediately
But they were going at lightning speed. Col.
Watkins had no time 10 call n guard, and on
ly with has orderly ne Ut ouc on the chase.
lie ordered the orderly TO unsling his ear
bine, and if wner he lne Colonel halted
them they showed any suspicious motions,
----A-.l:G ~ tic a'withoUJ waiting for an order.
Ihev Sess cssrvases.s -. &. s,a .bira e.fa
mile frou he~e. C0. WatkIns. eSla the.a
thas Col I}&itu wanted tG make onle aurthar
tn sssAs a&s. Apa gss 49, .2is-lAg-
j hi- they Ioilte y c0nstntao to do, after soIAe
remonstrarce on account Of tb3 latenesS OF
the hour aud tire distance they had to travel
and Col. Watkins I'D them to his tent, where
he placed a atrong guard over them. 1t "aS
not until one Of them attempted to pass The
guard 1T the door that they even suspected
they W ere prisoners. Col Watkins imnedi
ateiy brought them to Col Baird under
strong guard They at once manifested great
uue3sncss, ana prcJcu-ea great indignation
at being thus treated. Col Baird frankly
told them that re had his suspicious OF thelI
true character and th-t they shoud, II 10y
al. object to 10 rec sS2ry caution. IheJ
were very hard to >H,stS aud were IN grea
hurry to get Of. Col Baird toid them tina
they were under arrest, and hat ne shoult
hold them prisoners until he dHS ally salts
ficdthat theywere what they Pprported TO be
He Immediately tole5raphed TO cen Rosen
Grams. aad received the answer that he knew
mothinq oJ auy srcb men, that there wer
no such men in his cmrlop,or had his pass
Long before this despatch was recelve'
however evc.v one v 40 nad an 0pportunlt
of hearing Their convorsltloE was well satls
fed thai they were sPles; smart as the.
were, they gave ffcQuentand dlSt'Fct evldencc
Of dupl!~ity. Atter this despatch came
hand, which it old about II o'clock (mid
nirnt,) Q search Of their persons was order
ed 10 this the Major consented wlthou
onnositIon, but tb9Colonel protested again
ii. and even put his hand to bis arms. Bl
resistance was useless, and both submitte'
When the Mqjo5s sword " @as drawn from tt
scabbard there were tsnnd etched upon
these words " 1t W. G. Peter, c. s. \
At this discovery Col Baird remarked, Ger
temcn. you have played this id we'll
"Yes," said Lieut.. Peter, send 1t ca02e neC
5c;ng q ytJec} Su2eess." They then COZ
fesstd the whole matter, and upon furth
search various papers showing their GU
were discovered upon their pe.sons. Lieu
peter was found to have on a rebel cap, S
cretcd by the white flannel haveock.
co.. Bard lmmculalely teleSfaPheG 7
facts to Gen. Rosencrans, and asked what
should do, and in a short time received
order "to try them by 4 drum head co,
martial, and if found guilty, hang them ina
ditsy. The cour, was sOnvened, and b
fcra daylight the case was decided, and t
nIjsoneTs Informed that they must prep:
for immediate death by hanging
At daylight men were detailed to max
scaAold The prisoners were visited by |
chaplain of the 18th Illinois, who, upon IN
request, administered ths sacrament to the
They also wrote some letters to their tFlen
and deposited their jewery, silver cups, a
other yaluables for t tansmission to IN
friends.
The gallows was constructed by "