Winchester daily bulletin. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn) 1863-1863, 1863-06-16

cI ArUAefy, ous at the time OF ms death was
his Inspector General. When be Joined the
Confederate Army he altered his name, and
now signs II lnus: Lawrsnce W. Orton, Col.
Cav. ?. 4 C.S. A provisional Army Con.
tederate States of ArmericH y Sometimes he
writes his name "Orton,' and sometimes
"Auton,' according to the object which he
had in view This we learn from the papers
found on him These facts in relation to the
personal history Of Col. Orton, I have gathered
rom the Colonel himself and from Colone!
Watkins, who knows him well, they having
belonged to the same regiment Of the regular
Army-2d U. s. Cavalry Col Watkins
however, did not recognize Col Orton until
after ne hel made himself known, and now
mourns his apos,acy and tragic fate.
The other VIC i'm Of this deluslve and reck
less daring, was Walter Il. Peter q Lieuler ant
in the rebel army, and Col Orton Adiutan..
lie was tall handsome Young man, OF about
25 years, TINT gave many signs Of education
and refinement
Of his history I have been able to gather
nothing. He played but second part Col
Ort0n WAS the leader, and did all the talkiu
and managing, Such Is q succinct account o.
one Of the most daring enterprises tina. men
ever engaged in. Such were the characters
and the men who played the awful tragedy.
History will hardly furnish its parallel in
the character and standing Of the parties the
5oldness and daring Of the enterprise, and the
sw fitness with which discovery and punish
ment we're visited upor them, They came in
to our camp and went all through il minutelv
inspecting our position, work, and forces
with portion c, their tgaitorous insignia upon
them; and the boldnese Of their conduct made
their flmsy subtcrfuges almost successful.
To the last however they denied being
sples. They claimed that they were cndenv.
oriug to get through our lines IN order to yist,
friends IN the North, ana in Europe But
this story Was so poorly maturea, that whsu
either told it, it would not hang togetner
and there was little resemblance between the
accounts which the two gave The arrest s..
completely confoUnded them, ,hat they were
never afterwards able 70 recover from it.
The unfortunate men made no complain. AZ
the severity Of their punishment, except they
deprecated the ignominy of being hung; they
wero too we'll informed not to know that upon
conviction Of being spies they mast uder
death, aid hence they expected it, snd made
no con. plants.
Col Orton vino recognized Col. Watkins ~
soon as ne sew him, tod nm iR7t hr barely
escaped his life whom the arrest was made
that he had his hand on his pistol 10 kill j. IN
and oscare--that had it been any one else, he
would have done 80.
Col Urton delivered his sword and pistols
to Col Watkins and told him to keao and
woar them. lie also presented him his horse
which he valued at S. 000 and asked him .o
treat it kiudly for his sake.
We are all sad over thia event, Tha-c e
gloom upon every face. Although ", ere
fully satisfied that the mission Of these nou
was to plan our destruction snd that even
they recognized their punishment just. Sc
cordirg 70 the accepted rules Of war among
all nations stil. to see such rnen suii1r such "
penalty, haa filed our garrison With sadness
W. H.,
Surgeon 35tA Indiana