The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-28

ana enQeQ IL on tno eallOWS, All Tor love. ~
1t IS a matter Of astonishment when one
| thinks Of it that intelligent men should
deliberately place their necks in deadly
moose by taking up the role of q spy. The
laws Of war edmit OF no evasion A soldier
found in the opposing lines in disguise, no
! matter what his errand, has forfeited his
life. The actions Of Williams and Peter,
and for which they suffered the full pen
atty, were of the boldest and most reckless
known in military history
While RosecTans' Army of the Cumber-
land was lying ia central Tennessee in the
spring Of 1853 the advance lines extended
from hurfreesboro', on Stones river, to
Franklin, on the HaTpeth, thus covering
Nashville, which was the Union base of
supplies. At Franklin the extreme right
was guarded by Fort Granger, a large forti-
fcation on a bluff 200 feet above the river
and town, and commanding al the bridges
In the vicinity. In front of this fort in
May, 1863, was stationed a force of Con-
federate cavalry, under Gen. Earl Van
Dorm, while Wheeler, Forrest and Morgan
were circing about the Union fanks, seek
ing loose joint in Rosecrans' harness to
thrust a column between his main army
and his base at Nashville
At Fort Granger, especially, the out
posts were wary, aud in fact there was
constant diminishing between Union
picI1ets and mounted Confederate scouts
ct this point. It was therefore with con-
siderable surprise that the videtteS before
the fort one evening saw two men in the
uniforms Of Union officers riding boldly
up from the direction of the Confederate
camps. On examination it WAS found
that they bore orders from the Union
secretary of war and from Rosecrans'
headquarters, and they were admitted and
sent before the commandant, Col John ?.
Baird, of the Eighty-ffth Indiana volun-
teers. The official papers presented to
Col Baird were as fellows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, a. G. O.,
WASHINGTON, D. O., May o. 1868
Col Lawrence w. Anton, cavalry, United States
army, and acting special inspector general, is
hereby relieved from duty along the line of the
Potomac. He viii Immediately proceed to the
west and minutely inspect the department of
the Ohio" and the department Of the Cumber-
land" III accordance with special inspectors in
structions Nos 70, SO and 10, furnished him from
this Office and that Of the paymaster general
Maj. George Dunlop, assistant quarterrnaster,
is hereby relieved from duty in this city. lie
will report Immediately to Col. Anton for duty.
By order Of the secretary Of war
E. D. TOWNSEND
Assistant adjutant general
Col Lawrence W. Anton United States Army,
special Inspector general
WAR DEPARTMENT. A. G. O.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 25, 1868 (
Maj. George Dunlap assistant ouarterInastey, Il
hereby relieved from duty In this city. He viii
report Immediately TO Col. Anton, special inspec-
tor general, for duty.
By order Of the secretary of war
Z. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant adjutant general
Maj. George Dunlap, assistant quartermaster on
special duty.
HEADquAREERs DEPT. Of THE CUMBERLAND,
hUsFREEsBoSO', Tenn, MRy 30, 1883. {
CoLoNEL-The major general commanding de-
sires me TO say 70 you that he desires If you can
spare the time at present, that you will inspect
his eutposts before drawing up your report for
the war department at Washington City
All commanding officers of outposts viii aid you
in this matter 10 the best of their ability.
The general desires ne 20 give his respects to
you.
am, very respectfully, your ebedient servant,
J. A. GARFIELD,
Volunteer chief Of staff and acting adjutant gen
eraL
Col L. W. Anton, cavalry special inspector gen
eraL
The envelope containing these papers
bore on It's face the following:
HEADQUARTERs DEPT OF THE CuaDERLAND
MURFESEsBoRo', May 30 1858
An guards and outposus will Immediately pass
without delay Col. Anton and his assistant, Mai
Dunlap
BY command of Maj. Gen. Rosecrans
J. A. GARFIELD
Volunteer chief os staff and assistant adjutant
general
These documents were all forgeries. The
bearers We're Maj w. Q. Williams and
Lieut.. ". G. Peter. Of the Confederate
army, and they had como direct from the
enenay's lines. The papers, however, were
skilfully prepared to account for the pres
ence of strangers at that time and place
The first and second in order gave a reason
for new inspectors in the west They had
Just been relieved from duty east The !
third would show thes the commander of |
the department accepted the detail and as
signed duties according to the spirit of in |
structions from army headquarters. The |
fourth wss intended 20 facilitate access to |
forts and camps. The author of these !
papers Col. Williams. had been an officer |
Of the United States army when the war |