Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-19

| inst Two officers of our army, Col Lawrence w.
| Orton and Lieut.. Walter G. Peter were captured at
Franklin under most peculiar circumstances, tried under
the charge Of being SPIES by drum head Court Martial
and by Rosecrans' order, sentenced and hung from
scaiold erected in the suburbs of the town. The Nash
vile Press of the On contains what purpors be
detailed statement Of the facts. with history Of the
two officers executed as pes. The correspondence is
deeply interesting and lends prominence to the event
which has no parallel in the annals of the war. The
| following is the account from the Nashville paper:
| HEADQUAarERs Posi- J
| FRAEKIIs TENN, June o, 1868.
Last evening about sun down two strangers rode into
camp and called al Col Bsrd's headquarters, who pre-
sented unusual appearances They had on citizens
coats Federal regulation pants ard caps. Tie caps
were covered with white flannel haveocks They wore
| side arms and showed high intelligence. One claimed
to be Colonel in the U. 5. A., and called himself Col.
Austin; the other called himself MAJOR Dunlap, and
both representing themselves Inspector Generals CT
the U. S. A. They represented that they were nov
cut expedition in this department, inspecting the
ouposs and delences and that day before yesterday
they had been overhauled by the enemy and lost their
coats ard purses They exhibited official papers from
General Rosocrans and also from the War Department
| AZ Washington confirming their rank and business
These all right to Col Baird and at first satisfied
him of their honesty they asked the Colonel to loan
them Col Baird loaued them the money, and took Col
Austn's for it. Just at dark they startel saying
they going to Nashville and took tia. way Just
their horses heads turned the thought OF
| their being spies struck Col. Baird, he says, like
/ thunderbolt, and he ordered Colonel Watkins Of
| the 9th Kentucky cavalry, who was standing by, To
! arrest them Immediately. But they we're going az
lightning speed Colonel Watkins had no time TO call
guard and only with his orderly he set out on the
chase He ordered the orderly to unslng his carbue
.atNl Id a..
any suspicious notions u FIRE them without waiting
for order. They overtaken about oue-third OF
mile from here Colonel Watkins told them that Col
Baird wanted to make further inquiries of them
aud asked them to This they politely consented
20 do sitter remonsrnce on account OF the lite
ness of toe hour and the distance they had to travel
and Colonel Watkins led them TO his tent, where he
placed 4 strong guard over them ltWas nogun one of
them attempted pass the guard at the door that they
even suspected they were prisoners. Colonel Watkins
Immediately brought them Colonel Baird under strong
guard. They at once manifested great uncasness, aud
pretended great indignation being thus treated Col
Baird frankly told them that he had his suspicious of
their rue character, and that they should, loyal OBJ
ject to necessary caution. Taey were very hard
satisfy and were in great hurry TO get of Col Baird
told them that they under arrest, and he should
hold them prisoners until he fully satisfied that they
were what they purported TO be. He Immediately tele
graphed TO Gen. Rosecrans, aud received the answer
thai he knew nothing Of any such men, that there were
Long before this despatch was received however,
| every who had an opportunity OF hearing their
conversation well satisfied that they spes.-
Smart as they were they gave frequent and Distinct
idenee of duplicity. Aer this despatch to hand
which it did about IL O'Clock (midaght) search OF
heir persons WAS ordered To this the Major consent
ed without opposition but the Colonel protested against
it, ard eve put his hand to his arms. Bat resistance
| was useless ard both submitted Wten the asior's
sword was drawn from the cabbsrd there were found
| "a had IL those Il A -
At this discovery Col. Baird remarked Gentlemen,
| you have played this id we'll" Yes," said Lieut..
Peter and u being perfect success" They
then confessed the whole matter, ard upon further
search various papers showing their guilt were dscov
| cred upon their persons. Lieut. Peter found TO
have on rebel cap secreed By the white fame! have
| lock.
| Col Baird immediately telegrsphed the facts to Gen.
Rosecrsns and asked what he should do and in short
time received an order 'tO try them by drtm-head
courtmartal, aud ii found guilty, hang them nlmsdi-
0tely. The court convened, and before daylight
the case was decided, and the prisoners informed thai
they must prepare for immediate death by hanging.
At daylight men we're detailed to make a scailOld-
TIE prison we're visited by the chaplain OF tue sh
| Illinois Who upon their request, administered the
sacrament to them. They also wrote letters TO
their friends and deposited their ewery, silver cups
and other vauabes for transmission to ter friends.
The gallows constructed by wild cherry tree
not fer from the depot and in very public place Two
ropes hung dangling from the BEAM reaching within
! eht feet of the ground little after nine o'clock
A. NJ the whole garrison was marshaled around the
place OF execution in7 solemn sadness. Two poplar
cofIins were lying few feet away. twenty minutes
past nine the guards conducted the prisoners to the
scaiioid-they walked firm and steady, as if hnmiud
fn of the fearful precpice which they approach
Ing The guards did them the honor to march with
arms reversed.
Arrived at the place OF execution they stepped upon
the plltform Of the cart and took their respective
/ mi. D. NJ -aol al.
tied linen handkerchief the face of each and Dd
iusted the ropes They then asked the privilege of bid
ding lat farewell which being granted, they tenderly
embraced each other This over, the cart moved from
under them and they hung 10 the air. What fearful
penalty They swung off at s:S0in two minutes 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 at five minutes
Az six minutes DR.. Forester Surgeon 9th Kentucky
cavalry and Dr. Moss 18th Illinois infantry and myself
who had been detailed to examine the bodies approach
ed them and found the pulse of both full and strong
At seven minutes the Colonel shrugged his shoulders
The pulse OF each continued to beat seventeen minutes
and az twenty minutes all signs Of life had ceased. The
bodies we're cut down at thirty minutes and enconed
in full dress The Colonel buried with gold ocket
and chain on bis neck TIE locket contained the por
trait and braid OF hair Of his intended wfeher por
trait was also in his vest pockethese were buried with
him at his request Both buried in the same
grave companions in life misfortune and crime, CON-
panions IN lnamY, ana now companions III ue grave
should have stated ia another place that the prison
ers did not want their punishment delayed, but we'll
knowing the consequences of their acts before
their trial asked TO have the ssnence be it by hanging
or shooting, quickly decided and executed But they
deprecated the idea Of death by hanging and asked for
a communication of the sentence to shooting.
The elder and leader OF these unfortunate men was
Lawrence Williams, of Georgetown, D. q. He was as
fine looking have seen, about six feet high,
and, perhaps thirty years old He son of Captain
Williams who was killed at the battle of Monterey. He
was one of the most intellectual and accomplished men
that have ever known. Ihave never known any one
who has excelled him,a talker. de was member oil
the regular army with the rank of captain Of cavalry
When the rebellion broke out and atone time was aid
de.camp and private Secretary to Gen Winfield Scott.