The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-06-30

ai once eoilirN,ea theH "" i.A'"5fl
rank and position.
The Colonel acknowledged himseh
10 be Colonel Lawrence Williams, o.
the Second Regular Cavalry, a1 DE
breaking ou, Of this war, and was rec
opniaed by cacncl Watkins IS fal.
Iow.soldier Of that regiment he he'd
entered the Confederate service and
was now Chief Of Artillery on Gen.
Braggs staE Thas he entered upon
this mos, hazardous enterprise fuzzy
aware Of his fate Il detected, but re-
fused 10 disclose the nature of bis basl-
ness. The younger maa said be was
Lieutenant Waller @. Peters, Of Gen.
whcelers STAFF, and showed some ex.
element, but Colonel Williams was
perfectly cool after the FIRST moment
Of detection.
Colonel Baird now telegraphcd the
1 facts TO General Rosecrans, aud re-
ceived the laconic reply to tryishepris-
oners by court-martial, and il found
guilty, hang them at once, to prevent
all possibility Of Forrest proiiiing by
their information. Now came the se-
we're struggle--the prisoners had con-
fessed their guilt, but TO hang two
such men OF their rank was n terrible
task, but Colonel Baird was equal TO
the emergency, and knowing The exi.
gencies Of the service, proceeded
promptly TO obey General Rosecrans
order.
A court.martial was called by Col
one Baird to sit al once. The follow
ing was the detail: Colonel Jordan,
9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, President |;
Lieutenant Colonel Van Yleck, 18Th
I Illinois Infantry: Lieutenant Colonel
Hobliizell, 9th Kentucky Cavalry !;
Captain Crawford, Sj;h Indiana In
fntry and Lieutenant Wharton, u.
S. Engineers, Judge Advocate.
The charges and specifications were
duly presented, and the Court thus sit
ting at the dead hour of night, after
carefully and patiently hearing the
confessions and other evidence. per-
formed the sad and painful duty Of
finding the prisoners guilty Of being
spies, and Colonel Baird, under Rose
Grams order, approved the finding, and
sentenced Colonel Williams and Lieut.
enant Peters to be hung by tie neck
until dcad.
At o'clock this morning, Colonel
Baird informed The prisoners of their
awful fate, and could not refrain from
shedding tears a. he announced it to
them. Colonel Williams received his
sentence with The most perfect cool
ness, but begged that, as bis father
had fallen IN our country's service at
Monterey during the Mexican war, he
be shot, and asked mercy for Adju-
tant Peters, but "a the order from
Gen raj Rosecrans was imperative, no
clemcncy could be shown. /.
After the sentence Of tie prisoners
was announced, they began to pre-
pare TO meet their fate. They made
their wills aud wrote letters TO their
friends, full Of the deepest affection
and tenderness Of manly nature. A
Chaplain was called and the prisoners
partook Of the sacrament, and joined
in prayer with great fervency. They
did not attempt TO sleep, but spent the
whole time in either writing or con.
yersing. At the request Of Colonel
Williams, Col. Watkins took charge
Of his effects, which consisted Of elev.
en- hundred and seventy five dollars
IN Confederate money, fine watch,
ond some private papers Lienten-
ant Peters had very few effects about
his person--the only one Of impor-
tance b, ing gold locIlet, containing
the portrait Of bis wife, with fine
gold chain attached He requested II
buried wiki him which was faithfully
done.
AT . o'clock A. NJ, to-day, Captain
Alexander, who had taken charge Of
the execution, reported the scaffold and
gallows ready.
The Infantry Cavalry were formed
in a hollow square about The place Of
execution at half past nine The pris-
oners we're brought forward by the
guard. They marched with firm
tread and mounting the scafold, took
an efectionaie kiss aud leave Of each
other. when the halter was placed
nho.,t tEn;r nncLs ...L ther .nnro