Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-25
THE WO SPIES.

The special correspondence of the Detroit . Press"
from Franklin Tenn details the following facts and his.
tory of the two spies executed there june 9th 1863
Last evening June 8th) about shutdown two strangers
rode into camp and called at Col Bairds headquarters
who presented unusual appearances They had citi-
zeps overcoats Federal regulation pants and caps The
caps were covered with white Tanner havelocks They
wore side-arms and showed high intelligence One claim
ed to be Colonel o. s. Army, and called himself Col
orion the other called himself Major Dunlop, and both
representing themselves as Inspector Generals U 5.
At dark they left Col B. and started for Nashville
They had proceeded about quarter of mile when they
were oyertaken by Col Watkins and his orderly. CoW
told them that Col wanted to make some further in
auries of them and asked them to return This they po
ltely consented to do, after remembrance
count ateness of the hour and the distance they had
to travel Col W. led them to his tent where he placed
strong guard over them. Col b then told them that
they were under arrest. Col b. telegraphed to Gen
Rosecrsns aud received reply that no such in
After this despatch came TO hand which it did about
II o'clock (midnight) search of their persons
dered To this the Major consented but the Colonel pro-
tested against it, aud put his hand to his arms Re-
sistaoce was useless, and both submitted. When the
Msiors sword drawn from the scabbard there
found etched upon it these words, Lit W. G. Peter G 3.
A. At this discovery Col Bard remarked Gentlemen,
you have played this ID we'll Yes, said Lieut..
Peter and IL came being perfect success" They
then confessed the whole matter and upon further search
various papers showing their guilt were discovered
their persons
recpiyed an order to try them by drum-head court
martial and if found guilty hang them Immediately" The
court was convened before daylight the
cded and the prisoners informed that they must prepare
for immediate death by hanging.
The prisoners we're visited by the Chaplain of the
18th Ilrois, who upon their request administered the
sacrament them They also wrote letters to their
friends and deposited their ewery silver cups and other
valuables, for transmission to their fiends.
. The galows constructed BY a wild cherry tree
not far from the depot Two ropes hung dangling from
the beam reaching within eight feet Of the ground.
little after O'Clock A. NJ the whole garrison
shsed around the place of execution in solemn sadness
Two poplar collins we're lying few feet away. Twenty
minutes past nine the guards conducted the prisoners
the scsfod They walked firm and steady as if unmnd
full Of the fearful precpice which they were approaching
The guards did them the honor to march with arms
yersed Arrived at the place Of execution they stepped
upon the plstform aud took their respective places
They then asked the privilege OF bidding last farewell
which being granted they tendery embraced each other
In two MINUTES the Lieutenant ceased 10 strug
gle and the Colonel ceased in FIVE. At twenty
minutes all sgns Of life had ceased The bodies were
coffined in full dress Both buried in
the same grave-compaDions in life, misfortune and
crime; companions in infamy and now companions 10 the
The elder and leader Of these unf rtunate men was
Lawrence Williams, Of Georgetown, ID. c He as fine
a leaking man have ever seen. He one
Of the most intellectual and accomplished men that
have ever known have never known any hoexceed
him ts talker He member Of the regular army
at that sde-de camp and private secretary to Gen
Scott He was awhile on Gen Braggs staff az
chief Of artillery but the time Of his death his In
spector General When he entered the Confederate army
he chang cd his name to Lawrence W. Orion.
The other victim of this delusive and reckless daring
was Walter g. Peter lieutenant in the rebel army, and
Col Orton's adjuant He tall handsome young mar
Of about twenty-five years who many signs Of educa
ton and refinement OF his history have been able +
get nothing
an,ero,ises that men ever engaged in. History
,y hardly ts parallel ia the character and stand
~; ~ the pares the bolduess and daring Of the enter
r,.e and the swtuess with which discovery and punish
800 mara visited upOn them. Col. o., who re
.oon;ssd Col Watkins as he saw him, told hu
that he barely escaped his life when The arrest made
that he had his hand his pistol to kill him and escape
that had il been sny else he would have done so
We are ali cad this event There is gloon
uuoo very face Although are fully satisfied that tn
mission Of these men TO plan our destruction and ina
even they recognised their punishment Ju't according
the accepted rules Of war among sill nations still 10 SEE
such suffer such penalty has filed our garrison wit
sadness"
GNoTE Col, L. W Orton, G. s. A., Formerly w Or
ton Williams and Lieut. w Gibson Peter G. 3. A., wer
both sons Of officers Of the IT, s Army. The former tn
son Of Capt Williams who f. at Monterey. The latte
WAS son Of the late Msjor Geo Peter Of Maryland Col
rtop was in his 25th year and Lieut. Peter was 10 hi
2od.]