Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-26
Il CHAPTER OF UNWRIIIEN
HISTORY.

Tn the United Service Magazine, Col.
William +. Prosser has remarkable
paper, containing an account Of hith-
crto unwritten chapter in the history OF
the late war. The article itself is an
extract from q volume soon to be pub
lished, entitled: "Andre and Williams |;
A Strange Historic Parallel Of Treason
in Two Wars" And it derives addi-
tiOnal interest from the manner in which
President Garfield was connected with
the incidents described. In brief, it is
the story of the capture and summary
execution of two rebel spies, one of
whom was n lineal descendant Of Mrs.
George Washington. The writer traces
q parallel between the case Of Maj. An
Dire and that Of Col. Williams, and re-
CARDS it as being at least singular coin
dence that eighty three years after the
hanging Of Andre, by order of Gen.
Washington, lineal descendant of the
wife OF the latter should have
boon hung for the same offense.
The story, in the periodical re-
ferred to, is exceedingly well told,
but is too long for reproduction here.
Az briefly as possible we will attempt to
give an idea of the leading points in
this hitherto unpublished narrative.
Col. William Orion Williams and
Lieut.. Walter G. Peter, Of the Confed-
crate army, were arrested, tried and ex-
ccuted as spies by Col. Baird, United
States army, commanding Fort Gordon
Granger, near Franklin, Tenn, in the
month of June, 1863. Col. Williams
was the son OF brave officer who was
mortally wounded at Monterey during
the Mexican war. His mother was Miss
Peter, of Georgetown, D. O., o daughter
Of Martha Parke GUSTS, who was o
grandchild Of Mrs. George Washington.
Lieut.. Peter was cousin Of Col. Will
inns. The latter had obtained an ap-
rointment as Lieutenant in the Second
United States cavalry, and OF the
time the war began was an Aide on
the staff Of Gen. Winfield Scott Col.
Robert E. Lee was SCOTS Chief-oi
staff, and Lieut.. Williams was much at
tacLod, and subsequently became
bctrothed, TO Col. Lees daughter
Agnes. He was in the habit OF visiting
this lady after her father had resigned
lis commission, until his visits were for
hidden by the Commandor-in-C Chief and
the Assistant Adjutant General. But
love laughed at military orders. He
continued his clandestine meetings, and
was arrested and imprisoned on Govern
or's island for several weeks. On being
released he resigned his commission,
was appointed Colonel Of cavalry In
the Confederate States army, and as.
signed to duty with Bishop Gen. Polk,
then commanding in Kentucky, with
! .alnuarters at Columbus Shortly
after he was transferred TO Gen. Bragga
command in Tennessee and placed upon
his staff. The cause Of his transfer was
his having killed soldier with whom
he had some difficulty.
After the battle of Murfreesboro or
Stone river--an indecisive battle, but
in which the national troops retained
possession Of the field-Gen. Rosecrans
disposed his forces in the form of tri-
angle Of which Nashville was the apex,
while Franklin and Murfreesboro occu-
pied the other angles. Headquarters
were at Murfreesboro, opposite the little
town OF Franklin, and on high bluff
commanding the town and its ap-
proaches was fertilization Of consider
able strength called Fort Gordon