Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-06-17

mined the Confsdarata army, and bis subsequent
history I have not been able to learn much
about BE was awhile on Gen. Bragg's ststf as
chief of artillery, but st the time OF his death
was his inspeetoF- general. When he Joined the
Confederate army be altered his name and now
si pns il thus: " Lawrence W OrtOu, Col. Cav,
PA. G. s. A" provisional Army Coniede-
rate States of America Sometimes he WrlLes
his name "Orton" or 'Auton, according 70 me
object which he had in view. Thisiwe learn rom
the papers found on him These facts IN reia-
tiov e the nersonal history Of Col Orion, l
have gathered from the Colonel himself ana
from col. Watkins, who knows him well, they
having belonged to the same regiment OF the
regulsr army-2I us. cavalry. Col. Watkins,
however did not recognizs Col Orton until
after he had made himself known, and now
mourns his spostacy and tragic fate.
The other victim of this delusve and reckless
daring. was Walter G. Peters, a lieutenant ID the
rebel army and Col. Odon's sdjutant. De was
q tall handsome young man Of about twenty
five years, that gave many signs OF educatloh
and refinement.
OFbis history. I have been unable to gather
ANYTHING He played but second part. Col
Orton was the leader, and did ali the taking
and managing. Sach is a suecinct account OF
one of the most daring enterprises that men ever
engaged in. Such were the characters and the
men who played the awful tragedy.
History viii hardly furnish its parallel IN Ene
character aad standing Of the parties, the bold
ness and daring Of the enterprise, and the
swiftnesg with which discovery and punishment
were visited upon them. They came into our
camp and went ali through It, minutsiy inspect
ing our position, works and forces with por-
ton Of their trsitoroUs insignia upon thsm' ana
the boldaeas of their conduct made their himsey
suhteTfuges almost successful
To the last, however, they denied being spies.
They claimed that thsy were endesvonng TO
get Though our lines in order to visit taenGs IN
the North and in Europe. But this story was
so poorly matured, that when either told Il, It
would not hang together, and there was Little
resemblance between the accounts which the
two gave. The arrest so completely coRiounded
them. that they were never afterwards able to
recover from it,
Ths unfortunate men made no complaint at
the severity Of their punishment, except they
deprecated the ignomy Of being hung; they
were too well informed not to know that upon
conviction Of being spies they must suffer
death, and hence they expected 1t and msde no
cOmpl ints.
Col. Ortou, who recognized Col. Watkins as
soon a. be saw him, told him that be barely es-
capped his life when the arrest was made-that
he had his hand on his pistol to kill him and es-
cape, that had it been any one else here, he
would have done So.
Col Orton delivered his sword and pistols to
Col Watkins, and told him to keep and wear
them he also presented him his horse, be
valued at s. 600, and asked him to tTeat it
kindly for his sske.
We are all sad over this event. There is a
gloom upon every face. Although we are fully
satisfied that the mission of these men vas to
plan our destruction, and that even they recog
k0 the
accepted rules of war among 81 nations, still,
TO see such men suffer such . penalty, has
filed cur garrison with sadness.
W Il, Surgeon Ssh Indiana.