Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-06-29

ghng from the beam, reaching within eight |
fest OF the ground. A little after nine o'clock |
a. IL, the whole garrison was marshaled
around the place of execution in solemn sad
ness. Two poplar cofips were lying few
feet away. Twenty minutes past nine the
guards conducted the prisoners to the scaf-
toll-they walked firm and steady, as # un-
mindful Of the fearful procipice which they
We're approaching. The guards did them the
honor to march with arms reversed
Arrived at the place Of execution, they
stepped upon the platform Of the cart and
took their respective places. The Provost
AaIshal, Captain Alexander, then tied a
linen haakerchief over the face Of each and
adjusted the ropes. They then asked the
! privilege of bidding last farewell, which be-
/ ing granted, they tendegly embraced each
other Ihis over, the cart moved from un-
der them, and tney hung in the air. What
fearful penalty. They swung off at $50
! III two minutes the Lieutenant ceased to
struggle. The Colonel caught hold of the
rope with both hands and raised himself ap
at thres minutes, and ceased to struggle at
five minutes. At six minutes DR.. Forester,
Surgeon 9Th Kentucky cavalry, and DIR. Moss
18th Illinois infantry, and myself, who had
been detailed to examine the bodies an
full and strong. At seven minutes the Col
onel shrugged his shoulders The pulse Of
each continued to beat seventeen minutes and
iSt twenty minutes all signs Of life had ceas
cd The bodies were cut down at thirty
minutes and encofined III full dress The
f Colonel was buried with gold locket and
chain ou his neck. The locket contained the
portrait and a braid Of hair of his intended
; Wife-uer portrait was also in his vest ooci eft
these wee ouged with him at his request.
Both men we're buried III the same grave
: compans.s in life, misfortune and crime.
compauions in infamy, and now companions
= in the grave.
] / should have stated in another place that
. the prisoners did not want their punishment
delayed, but well knowing the consequence
!. Of their acts, even before their trial asked te
nave TIE Seq tance. he it by HANGING or shoot
r<' Ing, quickly deelded and eAeeufedse gui
Is. - rs. A asss a = j ! "A A - 4 ! - ! s &C. Z
# tence to shooting.
The elder and io1der Of these unfortunat
e men, was Lawrence Williams, of George town
IS d. c. He was fine looking a man as hav
g ever seen, ABOUT six feet high and perhap
4 thirty years old. He was a son Of Captain
: Williams who was killed at the battle G
r Monterey. He was one Of the most intellec-
# tual and accomplished men that nave eve
n known. [ have never known any one VIII
Y excelled him as a talker. lie was membe
r. of the regular army with the rank of captain
- Of cavalry when the rebellion broke out, an
= at that time was abide camp and priyat
,r secctary to Gen. Winfield Scott From thi
,t confidence and respect shown him by so dis
d tinguisod a man, may bejudged his educa
!, ton and accomplishments He was a frs
e cousin Of Gen. Lee, commanding the Con
n federate army on the Rappahannock. 500
- after the war began he was frank enough t
re- inform Gen'l Scott that all his sympathit
: were with the South, as his friends and in
VI terest were there, and that he could not fgf
tv against them. AS he was privy to all Of Ger
s. SCOTS plans for the campaign, it was NJ
" thought proper to turn him loose, hence /
% was sent to Governors Island, Where he re
n mained three months After the first Blu
J. Run battle he was allowed to go South, whel
r he joined the Confederate army, and his sui
Mt sequent history have not been able to leal
st much about. lie was awhile on Gen. Bragg
ut staff as Chief Of Artillery, bat at the time
d. his death was his Inspector General. Nht
he he joined the Confederate army he altert
it has name and now signs it thus, "Lawren
J." ". Orton, Col. Cav. p. A. c. S. A." pr
N visonal Army Confederate States Of Amer
l." ca. J Sometimes he writes his name 'Orto1
,ar and somtimes "Auton," according to t
NJ object he Las in view. This we learn fro
1er the papers found on him. These facts
lilt relation to the personal history Of Col. Ortc
ut, | have gathered from the Colonel himself a
Sc from Col. Watkins, who knows him We
they having belonged to the same regime
the Of the regular army-2d U. s. Cavalry.
he Col Watkins, however did not recogn
an Col. Orton until after he had made hims
urt known, and now mourns his apostacy a
me- tragic fate.
be- The other victim OF TINS deiuSlVe and re-
the less daHnS, was waiter y: Peter, Laeute
are ant IN the reoel army ana Col Ortons
jutant He was a tall, handsome you
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