The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1869-11-06
A Huge Canard Exposed.

Special dispatch to the Courier Journal
New ORLEANS, Oct pa gentleman
who arrived In this city last night on the
brig Rosas, from Del Rey, states that regi-
>ment OF black horse cavalry has been re-
Gently organized under Gen. jordan and
that 1t is creating havoc among the Spaniards
1t is commanded by Col Lawrence orion
Williams, who has been for the last six wears
believed to have been executed as a snv at
franklin Tennessee, in 1863, by a United
States drumhead court martial. II seems
that he was not executed, having been smug
gled out of the country by old army friends
and conveyed to Cuba, where he settled and
married a wealthy creole, and has since lived
in attiuence. His regiment Of patriots is
made up OF negroes, mounted on black
horses, and is said to be not inferior to
FORESTS original squadron.
Col Williams Is known as Don Emmanuel
Orton. His rank is Brigadier General He
sent his wife to Europe in September, and
has enlisted for the war, contributing his
entire fortune, which is very large.
For SIX years he has lived on a rancho
near Santa Malo, which his wife inherited
soon after her marriage.
The editor of the Franklin Weekly Re
Uieao takes the wind out of the above as
follows:
The above is certainly hoax. We were
present at the execution of Col. Williams
and Adjutant Peters; saw them after they
were dead, and attended their burial. The
circumstances are, briefly. as follows In
the month Of June, 1868, Col. Williams and
Adjutant Peters entered the Federal lines
(tranklin being at that time the outpost
of the Federal right wing) IL full Federal
uniform having in their possession forced
papers from U. s. War Department, author
lzIng them to inspect the u 5. forces at
Franklin and Nashville. They had thor
oughly canyassed and examine the whole
camp at this place and had nearly perfected
their schemes, when they accidentally rode
up to the marquee of Col Watkins. of the
y. >. A. who had been a class-mate and
room mate of Col Williams while at College
and was an old friend and intimate acoulint
ance. This quixotic accident proved "a fatal
stumbling block; for, though Col. Watkins
ala not at first suspect that they were spies
at the suggestion of one Of his comrades, he
sent squad of cavalrymen after than and
arrested them after they had passed through
the lines and were on their wav to Nash
vile. Thinking that their plot had been
discovered, Immediately on their arrival in
camp they divulged the whole scheme to
Col Watkins.
At this unexpected revelation, Col. Wat
kins, knowing what their fiste would be, burst
into tears, they trying to console him by
saying they knew what would be the ir fate
but were ready to meet it. They met their
last end most heroically. Stepping upon
cart which was driven under a large wild
cherry tree, they put the ropes over their
own heads, one of them remarking, L" We
have lived like soldiers, and can die as
such" After they were dead, Col Wat
kins, with fearful eyes and trembling voice,
said: Boys you see what kind of metal
you have to contend with"
Their bodies were inferred in the New
Cemetery in this place, and were removed
two months afterwards The whole occur
renee was as romantic as it was sad.