Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-06-25
From the Nashville Daily Press, of the 18th.
Execution of Conf derate Officers at Franklin

From the Nashville Daily Press, of the 1lth
The Execution of Confederate Officers at Franklin.
DETAILED FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE TWO SPIES
HEAD QUARTERS Posi-,
FRANKLIN, Tenn, June 8, 1868.
Last evening, about shutdown, two strangers rode
into camp and called at Colonel Bands headquarters
who presented unusual appearances. They had on Cit
liens overcoats Federal regu laton pants and caps
The caps were covered with white flannel havelocks-
They wore side arms and showed high intelligence
One claimed be Colonel in the U. ). A, and cal
ed himself Col Austin the other called himself Major
Dunlap and both representing themselves as inspector
Generals of the u S. A. They represented that they
were ct now on expedition in this department, H.
oecting the oupcsts offences and that day before yes
eday they had been overhaued by the enemy and lost
their coats and purses They exhibited official papers
from Gen. Rosecrapz, and also from the War Depart
ment at Washington, confirming tLer rank and husl-
ness These all right to Col! Baird, and at INST
satisfied him of their honesty They asked the Col to
loan them $50 they had coats and no money to
buy them. Col. Baird loaned them the money, and
took Colonel Austins note for it. Just at DARK they
started saying they going to Nashville, and took
that way. just as soon as tEer horses heads were
turned the thought of their being spies struck Colonel
Baird he says, like thunderbolt, and be ordered COL
Watkins CT the 9th Kentucky cavalry, who was near
by to arrest tSem immediately But they were gong
a lightning speed. .
Col Watkins ha 40 time to call guard, and with
only his orderly he set out on the chase lie ordered
the orderly 10 unsiDg his carbre and II when ne Inc
|
t0ps to fire on them without waiting Tor an order -
Tteg e2e overtakan about one third OF a mile from
here. Col. Watkins told them that Col Baird wanted
to make further Inquiries OF them, and asked them
20 return. This they politely consented to do after
some nOrstranCe account OF the ateness or the
hour and the distance they bad to travel and Col at
kins led them 10 bis tent aud placed strong guard
over them. 1t not until of them attempted to
pass the guard the door that they even suspected
they were prisoners. Coloue Watkins Immediately
brought them to Col. Baird under a strong guard
They at manifested great uneasres', and pretend
ed Indignation at being thus treated Col Baird
frankly told them that he had. his suspicious of their
tue character and that they should, loyal, object to
necessary caution. They were hard to satisfy and
were in great hurry to get of. Col Baird told them
they under arrest, and that he should hold them
prisoners until he FULLY satisfied that they were
what they purported to be. He Immediately telegraph
ed Gen ROsecranz and received the that be
knew nothing Of any such men, that there were no such
men in his employ, or had his pass.
Long before this dispatch received, however, ev
cry who had opportunity of hearing their con-
vecsat0n well satisfied that they spies Smart
they were, they gave frequent and distinct evidence
of duplcity. After this dispatch came to hand, which
it did about midnight search of their persons was
ordered 10 this the Ma or consented without opposi-
ton but the Colonel protested against it, and even put
bis hand to his But resistance useless, and
Doth submitted. w hen the Meior's sword drawn
from the ecabbard there found etched upon 1t
these words, Lieut.. W. q. Peter, c S. A. At this
discovery Col Baird remarked Gentlemen, you have
played this id we'll Yes, said Lieut.. Peter and
it being perfect success They then con-
essed the whole matter and upon further search Var-
Gus papers showing their guilt were discovered upon
their persons. Lieut.. Peter was found to have on a
rebel cap, secrced ty the white flannel havel0ck
Col Baird Immediately telegraphed the facts TO
Gen. RosencraDs. and asked what he should do and in
s3ort time received order :" to try them by a
drun-head court martial and found guilty, hang them
Immediately. The court convened and before day
light tue decided, and the prisoners Informed
Iin+o hJI
ing
At daylight men were detailed to make a scafod.-
The prisoners visited by the chaplain of the 18th
Illinois, who upon their request administered the sd
crament to them. They also wrote some letters to
their friends. and deposited their ewery, silver cups
and other valuabIes for transmission to their friends
The galows constructed by wild cherry tree
not far from the depot, ard in very public place.
Two ropes hung dangling from the beam, reaching
within eight feet of the ground little after nine
O'Clock, A. NJ, the whole garrison marshaed
around the place OF execution in solemn sadness Two
> poplar coii1s were lying few feet away. Twenty
minutes past the guards conducted the pri
> to the scadoId--they walked firm and steady, il
unmindul OF the fearful precipce which they were ap
preaching. The guards I'D them the honor to march
with reversed:
Arrived at the place OF execution, they stepped upon
the platform of the cart and took their respective
places The Provost Marshal, Capt. Alexander then
tied linen handkerchief the face of each and ad
used the ropes. They then asked the privilege of bid
ding last farewell which being granted, they tender
o ly embraced each her. This over the cart moved
+ from under them, and they hung in the air. What
fearful penalty. They swung eff at 9:30-n two min
utes the Lieutenant ceased to struggle The Colonel
caught hold OF the rope with both hands and raised
himself up at three minutes, and ceased TO struggle al
!, five minutes At six minutes Dr. Forester, Surgeon
9th Kentucky Cavalry, and DIR. Mess, 18th Illinois in.
tantry and myself who had been detailed to examine
the bodies, approached them and found the pulse o.
both full and strong. At seven minutes the COIone
shrugged his shoulders. The pulse Of each continued
signs of life had ceased. The bodies were cut down
at thirty minutes and encof1ined in full dress. The
Colonel buried with gold locket and chain or
0 his neck. The locket contained the portrait and
braid of hair OF his intended wife-hcr portrait was
also in bic vest pocket-these buried with him al
4 his request Both buried in the same grave
companions in life, misfortune and crime companions
: in nfamy, and companions in the grave.
should have stated in another place that the prison
ers did not want their punishment delayed, but vel
knowing the consequences of their acts even before
their trial. asked to have the sentence be it by hanging
or shooting quickly decided and executed But they
depr Gated the idea Of death by hanging and asked
Y a commu;ation OF the sentence to shooting.
The elder and leader Of these unfortunate men was
e Lawrence Williams, of Georgetown, d. g. He was
fine looking as | have ever seen about six feet
r high and perhaps thirty years old. He sou oil
Captain Williams who killed at the battle OF Moo
terey. He Of the most intellectual and &C.
complisEed men that have ever known have never
kuown any one who excelIed him talker. He was
member of the regular army with the rank Of Cap
ao of cavalry when the rebellion broke out and that
time aid-decamp, and private secretary to Gen
Winfield Scott. From this confidence and respect
his education and accomplishments. He was q
, first cousin of General Lee commanding the CIon.