Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-28

g MorEaa's Asaassination..His Betrayer.
Z, TIE Lynchburg Republican publishes with plea
sure, the fellowing communication from IN officer
of the Confederate army, relative to the circum'
stances attending the death of the lamented Nor
gan. The elder Mrs. Williams stands vindicated
before the world from any completely in this foul
deed of assassination and We sincerely trust for the
honor of woman that the linear relative Of the same
name" may also be ableto clear her skirts Of tho
damning charge, which, if true will send her name
far down the tide of time loaded with the excavations
of every patriot in the land. s.,sg..r-se=f
BRISTOL, Sept 9Th, 1864.
EDITORS LYNcHBURe REPUBLIcAh:-In the &C.
count Of Gen. Morgan's death, given in your paper
Of the 7th instant you say that Gen. Morgan, with
his staff had his headquarters At the house Of Mrs.
Williams in Greenville, and on Saturday night she
determined to betray her guest, and have him muir
dered With this view, she left the house at an
early hour in the night and rode to Bulls Gap to
inform the enemy of Morgan's position, dc"
You also say that Mrs. Williams' husband 10 on
Burnside's staff $50. .es ) ~ -.
This statement does cruel injustice to Mrs. Viii
Hams who is an old lady and widow-who has ex-5
tended as much warm hearted hospitality to our
officers and priyates as any one in the Cenfederacy
who has ever been ready to synpathize with our
soldiers in their suffering and to relieve their
wants.
She is a heightened Southern woman, true pa
trot and the last person in the world to betray.a
gu.s+ She has herself son, IN. officer, IN our
cavalry, The FIRST intimation Mrs. Williams had of
the enemy was after they were on her premises.
She atonce aroused Gen. Morgan from his Sleep and
urged and aided his escape from the house. No one
in the land has been struck with grief and hor
TOR at the occurrence than she. ..,..-s,-s
Unfortunately there was staying with Mrs VIII
liams the wife Of relative of the Same name,
whose husband is at Knoxville though he has never
I-n,~ I'D L. I--AL No.
both Of whom have been in our SERVICE both of whom
are true and loyal to the south, and one Of whom is
nova most gallant cavalry officer in Northern Fir
ginia- Morgan arrived on Saturday evening and
this younger Mrs. Williams left the house soon
after. She was frequently absent at other times,
having asister in.l,w in the place whom she often
visited she may have absented herself simply to be
out of the way while The Confederate officers were
at the house, sharing doubtless in her husbands
sentiments. Gen. Morgan was apprized of her ab-
sence and suspected at once that she had gone to
communicate with the enemy. have seen no
evidence that she did so. She may or she may not
have done So 1t was not like her to do so. Nor
was it necessary for her to give the information.
There were enough Others to do it. All around in
full view of the house and grounds throughout the
town, bitter tories AT the foot of the lot in
the house adjoining, lived the wife of David Fry,
now prisoner in our hands. 80 ---
Had Morgan been encamped on Boston Common
he would not have been more really in an enemy's
country. Dozens of eyes were on his every move.
mept from the moment Of his arrival Instant informa-
ton was doubtless sent to the enemy by surer
senger than feeble woman and the way opened and
prepared by willing hands for their approach
1t was the younger Mrs Williams who was sus-
pected, whether truly or net Of betraying Morgan.
She was herself guest in the house. The iden-
THY Of names has Jed you and your informant to lay
this charge the door Of the generous and Kind old
lady whose honored guest Gen. Morgan was.
knew her well-she would have freely laid down
her own life before she would have conce, ted her
| hospitality into trap even for an enemy-much
mere rather than have betrayed one to whom and
to whose cause she was really and truly friend.