The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-17

WASHINGTON, March 10.-An inyestiga-
ton of the case OF William Orion Williams
and Walter G. Peters, respectively a
colonel and lieutenant in the confederate
army, who were hanged as spies, is under
way. From time to time the subject has
had attention, but no entire and accurate
publicity, owing to the fact that the rela-
tives of the unfortunate men did not care
10 exploit them. Now the scattered and
separately brief official records have been
searched out by your correspondent, and
one of the most remarkable tragedies of
the war may be told concisely and accu-
rately.
The first record encountered was a brief
dispatch from Col. Baird. post commander,
dated Franklin, Tenn, June 9, 1868, and
addressed to Gen. Garfield, then chief Of
the staff in the department of the Cumber-
land, announcing that Col. William Orion
Williams and Lieut.. Walter G. Peters of
the confederate army had been tried as
spies, found guilty, and executed on that
morning, IN compliance with orders from
departmental headquarters. Being in
formed that sentence :. death had been
pronounced against them, the two men had
petitioned, as dying request, that they be
shot. But Garfield, bearing in mind the
precedent established by Washington in the
Andre case, reluctantly refused the re-
quest, and they persisted on the scaffold on
the day named.
Who were the two men who met with
such an ignominious DEATH and what was
the crime they had committed2 William
O. Williams, a direct and lineal descendant
Of Mrs. George Washington, was in the
early part Of the year 1861 an aide on the
staff of Gen Winfield Scott. Gen. Lee was
the chief of staff. Young Williams was
not q graduate of West Point, but his
powerful family connections and many
graces Of body and mind had secured for
him lieutenancy in the regular army
Williams was devotedly attached TO
Eleanor Agnes, the daughter of Gen. Lee,
and although his brother, Maj. Lawrence
A. Williams, and numerous relatives
were firm in their adhesion to the union, he
did not hesitate to follow Lees example and
go over to the south. His fine military
bearing and varied accomplishments secured
him commission at once as colonel of ar
tillery, and be was assigned to duty with
Bishop General Polk, then commanding in
western Kentucky. A disciplinarian of the
strictest sort, he became involved in q diff
Guilty with private soldier, which resulted
in the latter's death. His courage and gal
lantry at the battle of Shiloh could not re-
store him to popularity, and he was trans
l6II6l W bIl6 Sbtlll VI Oeu. LuSu III
command of Tennessee, where he remained
till June l, 1868.
In the summer of 1862 Gen. Buell. re-
treated with his army across the states of
Tennessee ard Kentucky to the Ohio river,
at which the confederates were greatly
elated. Gen. Rosecrans took command of
the army Of the Cumberland, recruited its
depleted forces, aud marched south to
Nashville in the latter part of the year.
Gan with tho HNvzoT. nf ha
army, was at Murfreesboro, about thirty
miles utheast of Nashville. Both sides
were determined to give battle, and the
conflict promised decisive results. Rose
Grams began the fghing on the last day of
December, 1862. At the close of the day
the advantages were most decidedly in
favor of the confederates, but the union
general held his ground, and on Jan. 2
Bragg was driven back with great
slaughter.
Nevertheless the battle of Murfreesboro
was indecisive. The national troops re-
tanned possession of the field, while the con-
federates retired about thirty miles south
but their cavalry vexed the whole surround
ing country with raids and incursions.
Rosecrans fixed his headquarters at MUIR
freesboro, and made ready to follow up the
enemy. The forces under his command
were disposed in the form of a triangle, of
which Nashville was the apex and Murfrees-
boro and Franklin the other angles. Oppo-
site Franklin. which was located on the
Harpeth river, there was a fertilization of
considerable strength ON the river bluff,
not only commanding Franklin, but the
surrounding country in every direction.
This post was called Fort Granger, and was
at this time in charge of Col. Baird Of the
Eighy-ffth Indiana Volunteers. The i'm
portance OF Fort Granger may be readily
estimated. If captured and large con.
federate force interposed between Nashville
and Murfreesboro the destruction of Rose
Grams army was inevitable.
Such was the situation when Col. Will
Jams conceived the daring enterprise which
cost him his life ard the life of his cousin,
Lieut.. Walter G. Peters From his expert
epce in Washington, Williams knew how
business was conducted and orders issued
at the war department.. Disguised in
federal uniforms, Williams and his cousin,
whom he had induced TO join him in the
hazardous undertaking, presented them
selves at the entrance to Fort Granger and
demanded admission late III the afternoon
OF June 8, 1863 They rode fine horses and
presented orders in regular form from the
Secretary of War s'to inspect
infinitely the departments of the
Ohio and Cumberland" Williams was
described as Col. Lawrence w. Anton, and
Peters as Maj. George Dunlop. Their ar
TlVHl OCcdblOueQ no liDLl6 SURPRISE, ICT GQe
fort was practically invested by the enemy.
Across the face of the envelope containing
the various forged orders was written pass,
which bore the forged signature of Gen
Garfield, chief of staff. Williams and
Peters represented thai they had been sur
prised by a party Of confederates while
taking dinner at Eaglesville, near Murfrees-
boro; that their orderlies, overcoats and
baggage had been captured, and that they
themselves had barely escaped with their
lives. After they had given the fort q
thorough inspection, they borrowed $50 of
Col Baird on the plea that they were d. sti-
tute of many necessary articles and that
they desired to go to Nashville that night.
Just as the two spies were passing out of
the fort, Col. Louis D. Watkins entered,
followed only by an orderly. As he rode
by Williams he caught glimpse of his side
face, and a consciousness OF recognition
came over him. Riding up to Col. Baird,
he inquired who the two men were he met
as he came into the fort
''They are inspecting officers Of the United
States army" replied Baird, 'and have
just been making US visit"
"There must be some mistake" remarked
Watkins. II think recognize one Of these
men as an old army officer now In the con-
federate service.n
After moments consultation Watkins,
with his orderly, started in pursuit Of Viii
liams and Peters, though they were riding
rapidly toward Nashville. As Watkins