The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-12-23

GEN. LEES DAUGHTER:
I Dramatic Episode Iptertwiaea VIII tho NAME
and Life Of Elassr Agnes Lee:
Washington Letter: The inhabit.
ants in and about Lexington arb. Of
Scotch Presbyterian stock: Thefarm:
ing population are of a type truly
primitive. Lexington il redolent Of
the two names, Lee and Jackson. It
goes without saying that those names
are revered among the simple folk Of
town and country. Here Lee Is buried
in the rear of the pulpit in the college
chapel. Here, too, is to be seen Valen-
tines greatest, latest and most ambi-
tious effort-the recumbent statue of
Lee:
Beside the dead General are inferred
the remains OF his wife, and his daugh.
ter, Eleanor Agnes Lee.
Intertwined with the name and life
OF Eleanor Agnes Lee is Il dramatic
episode that has never found it's way
INTO the newspapers of the country:
At the utbreak Of the civil war, there
was serving on Gen. Scott staff Lieut.:
William Orion Williams, son of that
Capt. Williams &. Williams who
was killed at the battle of Monterey.
Young Williams mother was q grand
child of Mrs. WASHINGTON, and sister
OF George Washington Parke Curtis.
ert E. Lee. Young Williams was in
love with Miss Lee and both before
and after Gen. Lee resigned as chief of
SCOTS staff was in the habit of visit
ing Arlington. Some time in months
of April and May, 1861, Gen. Scott
ordered Williams to cease his visits.
He, however, still clandestinely con.
tinued to call on Miss Lee, and it
coming to the attention of Gen. Scott
and the Federal authorities Williams
was arrested and sent to the Gov
ernor's Island, New York. He was
released sometime in the follow
ing June, and resigning his CON-
mission in the Federal army in
company with cousin, Walter G.
Peters. also adescendent of Mrs. Wash.
ington, joined the Confederate army.
Williams subsequently joined the staff
OF Gen. Bragg, but having become in
voived in d difficulty with d private
soldier in which the latter was killed,
he was transferred to the staff of Gen.
Wheeler, present member of congress
from Alabama.
In 1868, few days after the battle
/ OF Stone River, two mounted men
in Federal uniform rode into Fort
Granger, commanded by Col. J. P.
Baird, OF the Eighty-fifth Indiana
Volunteers. They presented the usu-
al letters, passes and orders. One of
the orders was to the effect that they
were to inspect the department of the
Ohio: After remaining at the fort some
hours they mounted their horses and
started in the direction OF Nashville.
AS they were passing out of the forti-
fication Col. Louis D. Watkins, of the
Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, and an Of
ticer OF the old army, entered, followed
by an orderly. AS he passed he
caught O glimpse Of the profile of one
OF the horsemen. He was convinced
that he had seen the person somewhere
before. Inquiry OF Col. Baird re.
vea]ed the supposed nature of their
visit. Watkins replied that he thought
there must be something wrong; that
one Of the horsemen resem0led an Of
ficer of the old army, now in confed-
crate ranks. Watkins started at once
pursuit, followed by his orderly, and
soon overhauled them, as they rode at
a leisurely pace and did not show the
least alarm. Both of the pursued Off.
GERS returned without betraying ner-
vousness; and dismountine, entered
Watkins tent, which was near by.
Without their knowledge guard was
thrown around the tent. Soon they
became impatient at their delay. On
looking out of the tent they saw they
were entrapped. They denounced their
detention an outrage and threatened
to report Baird and Watkins to the sec.
rotary Of war. Baird asked to see their
papers, letters and orders once more.
Turning to one of the officers Baird
asked to see his sword. It was hand.
ed over after many protests and
threats. On being drawn from the
scabbard the sword displayed the
words, 'Lieut. w. G. Peters, G. S. A.
Peters cap was nextexamined and his
initials found on the lining: Thecom
panion of Peter was next examined
and the identity of William Orion
Williams revealed. This led to con:
fession. Gen. Rosecrans was com
municated with. He denounced them
as spies, ordered them tried by drum.
head courtmartial and hanged before
morning without fail. The prisoners
pleaded for their lives. Rosecrans
was obdurate. Williams then made
a. special and touching appeal for his
cousin, Peter, whom, he said, was led
into it by himself personally. It was
useless. Rosecrans' order was that
they must both die. The condemned
men were given the consultations oi
religion, placed in a cart and driven
under a cherry tree. Peters was over.
come with grief and terror. Williams
exclaimed: "D1y those tears and dle
like MANI They embraced. The
cart was moved from under them. In
seventeen minutes they both were
dead and Elanor Agnes Lee died Of q
broken heart.
The Dear Old-Fashioned Barn.
The Attleboro (Mass.) Chronicle
talks about the old-fashioned barn
just as all of us old farmer boys re-
member it:
There is nothing on earth that just
fills the niche in the human affections
like the old-fashioned, wide-doored,