The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-05-19

escaped with their lives. which account
ed for the fact that they had at the
time strapped to their saddles citizens
overcoats. They represented them
selves as being destitute for tha5 reason
of many necessary articles a. well a.
money: that they desired very much to
90 to Nashville tha night, and request
ed of Colonel Barr. a loan Of 500, which
he advanced ID Williams at once. TAX
ing his note for hat amount. After
p~artaking of some refreshments, and
apparently in the most cheerful man
ner. they ~startal in the direction OF
Nashville. Just "a they were passing
out of the fort Col Lewis ID. Watkiu-,
Of the 9Th Kentucky Cavalry, entered
on horseback. f,!l ,wed by an orderly
As he passed Williams he caught Il
glimpse If the siie of his face, ami a
consciousness of recognition came over
hun. though ne CO I'D not at once lie
termine or locate the individual who
had attracted his attention. Riding up
to Col. Baird, who was near at hand, he
inquired who the men were he met as
he came into the fort. Col. Baird re-
piled They are inspecting officers OF
the United States army who have Just
been making usa visit. Col. Watkins
remarked that ''there must be some
mistake about this. think | recognize
one of those as ali old army officer.
After a moments consultation. Tor
there was no time to be lost, Col. Wat
kins, with his orderly, Immediately
started in pursuit. determined to over
take Williams and Peter, though the
latter were riding rapidly toward Nash
vile. Giving his orderly instructions
to unsling his carbine as they rode
along, and to fire on the men they were
pursuing it they refused to return with
them, they overlook the ~self-constl-
tuted inspecting officers about 650 yards
from the fort. Without ~betraying any
excitement, in a bland and pleasant
tone of voice. Col. Watkins rode up to
them and politely requested them to
return, as Col. Baird desired to see
them again before they went to Nash
vile, and suggested that perhapsan es-
cort should be furnished them for their
protection on the way. just as Andres
pretence Of mini fursoOk him at the
supreme moment, when he was brought
face to face with a tremendous danger,
81 luoCC uItu tdllCO " du luStdul W Z
their doom was sealed. Williams, dur
ing the when their destinles
hung in the balance, had some miSgiv-
ings, put his hand upon his pistol and
almost determined to fire upon Watkins,
put spurs to his horse, and probably he
could have made his escape without
much difficulty; but lulled into security
by the easy tone and manner of Col.
Watkins, seeing no others in pursuit
but the two [ have mentioned, and con
6dent that his own adroitnesS and skill
would find a way out of any trouble, he
courteously consented to return to the
fort. This was al the more remarkable
as they were well armed and mounted,
and their escape were almost certain if
they made the attempt. But fate had
decreed otherwise. and they retprned to
the inevitable destruction. Ga their
way back Col. Watkins remarked
"Gt ntlemen, | will not trouble you to
ride back to the fort, but if you will
halt at my quarters, which are near the
turnpike, | will send for Col. Baird and
he can come and sec you" To this
they consented, AMI having ~dismounted
entered Col. Watkins tent, where i
guard without their knowledge instant
ly and quietly surrounded them. They
soon became nervous and manifested
Impotence at the delay caused by the
arrival of Colouel Baird, Presently one
of them looking cut of the door of the
tent saw that they were prisoners.
What does this mean, Col. Watkins?'
they instantly asked. 1T means" re-
piled Col Watkins that you are sus-
pected, and for the time being you are
prisoners. If you are what you repre-
sent yourselves to be, you will only be
detained a short time; but we must be
convinced of the fact before you are re-
leased They Stormed and raved
greatly, and threatened to denouace
Coloaels Watkins and Baird to the Sec
rotary Of War for the outrage they
were perpetratin9 III delaying officers on
special duty from Washington, but the
cool demeanor Of Col. Watkins was
proof against such demonstrations.
While the conversation was in progress
Col. Baird entered. Let me see your
papers again, please said he to Col.
Williams. The papers, letters and or
ders were glanced over and returned.
Tuning to Lieut. Peter he said: LET
me see your sword, please" Realizing
the peril of their situation and becoming
greatly alarmed, they both protested
against what they called an insult but
finding resistance useless they submit
ted. The sword was drawn by Col.
Baird from its scabbard; and upon its
blade the tell tale words were etched
Lieut.. w. G.. Peter, G. S. A." Let
me look at your cap. please Col. Bairu
said again. The cap was removed,
the white haverlock lifted, and again
the same characters appeared on the
facing. The same article worn by Col.
Williams were examined, aud similar
revelations made. They were almost
overcome with confusion for a moment,
but quickly rallied. and preserved their
GOODNESS ever after. "Gentismen,'
said Col. Baird this is a very bold
game you have been playing" Yes.
replied Col. Williams, and it came
neal being q perGe It success" From
this moment their guilt was neither
doubted on the d side nor denied on
the other. In the meantime, while
Col. Watkins wen. in pursuit of the So
called inspecting officer, Col. Baird sent
the following dispatch to Gen. Rose
"Franhlim, Tenn, ,Iunes, 1881. To
Brig. Gen. Garfield, Chief Of Staff: Is
there any such Inspector General as
Lawrence w. Anton, Colonel United
States Army, and Assistant Major Dun
lop? IT 50, please describe their ap-
pearance, and answer immediately.
u. p. BAIRD,
"CoiOna C6MmanHip0 Post"