The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30
HOW TWO SPIES DIED.
Il Tragic Event at Franklin, Tenn, in
June, 1863.

! " AT IS cruelty, ana you cannot IeLHs II.
Each soldier who bore the hardships and
fought the battles Of that long and bloody
war will recall events that impressed them
selves wildly on his mind as peculiarly sad
OF horrible
The execution Of two rebel spies at Frank
lin, Tam, viii be fresh in the minds of those
who witnessed it so long as memory lasts.
On June 4, 1868, a grand review Of the
troops at Triune, Tenn, took place. Two
strangers occupied the reviewing with
the officers. Toward dusk on The evening
of June s two officers presented them
| selves 10 the officer commanding the Union
forces at Franklin, Tenn, Col. J. I. Baird, J
and exhibited an order purportIng to be
! from the Secretary Of War, signed by l.. D..
| Townsend, Assistant Adiutant- General, di-
| rcCting Col. Lawrence Auton, Acting Special
! Inspector General, to proceed to the West
and minutely inspect the Department Of the
| Ohio and Department of the Cumberland ;
also assigning Maj Geo. Dunlop to duty
under Col. Auton.
Accompanying this was a request from
| Gen ROsecrans to Col. Auton that he inspect
! his outyOsls before drawing up his report TO
! the War Department.; and an order of the
same to all guards and outposts 10 pass Col.
! Autou and Maj. Dunlop without delay.
/ These two were signed by Brig. g.-Gen. j. A.
| Garfield, Chief of Staff an6 Assistant Adj
| tant-General.
They were cOurteouslY received by Col.
Baird, to whom Col Auton stated that they
had lost their way in coming from MurTees-
boro, and near Eaglevile had run into the
rebel pickets, who bad shot his Orderly.
He had also lost his coat containing his
money, and he desired to borrow some
money and be given a pass to Nashville,
whittier he was anxious to proceed at once.
Col. Baird loaned him $50 and the two Off
GERS started, ostensibly for Nashville.
Just outside the fort they passed Col.
Watkins, of the 9Th KY. Cav. AS Col. Wat
kins saluted them something in their ap-
pearance gave him suspicion; he also felt
quite certain he had met the older one some
where.
At the fort he inquired of Col. Baird who
they were. His uneasiness was not allayed.
Riding after them with his Orderly, he in
formed them that he had very reliable in
formation that the road to Nashville was
unsafe, and urged them to return to the fort,
remain over night, and resume their way in
the morning with escort.
Naturally, they were reluctant to return,
but Col. Watkins pressed them so they
| could not well persist in their declination.
He took them to his tent, and had refresh
ments prepared for them.
In the meantime be had communicated
his suspicious to Maj. Stafford, of his regi-
ment. The Major after chatting with them,
also felt convinced something was wrong.
A guard was placed around the tent, and
Col. Watkins charged them with spies.
They Indignantly denied this, aud threat
ened that he should be made 10 suffer for the
insult. He replied that if they were officers
of the Union army they could certainly
readily prove it, and should not Object TO
being asked to do so. They, however, in
great Indignation, rose to leave the tent, but
found they were surrounded. They were
escorted to the fort as prisoners.
While this was taking place, Col. Baird
had teiegraphed to Rosecrsns's Headquarters,
asking if there was such an Inspector-Gen-
eral as Col. Lawrence Auton, or such AS
sisiant az Mai. Dunlop. Gen. Garfield re-
piled no, and asked why.
In answer, Col. Baird telegraphed, giving,
briefly, the circumstances of their coming to
the fort, their papers, and Col Watkins's
suspicious, and stated that they had been
arrested.
The two men were searched. Their
names, Col. William Orton Williams, G. S. A.,
and Lieut.. Walter G. Peter c. S. A., were
found etched on their swords. They then
admitted that they were Confederate officers.
Col. Lawrence w. Orton, or William OrtOn
Williams, as his name appeared on the u. ).
Army rolls, had formerly belonged to the I'd
U. S. Cav, served on Scott's staff in Mexico,
and was he son of the Capt. Williams who
ell at Monterey. He was also cousin of
Gen. r. L. Lee, and had been Chief of Ar
tillery on Bragg's staff. 1t was also stated
at the time that he and Lieut.. Peter were
cousins and were descendants of Martha
Washington.
Col Williams said that he had recognized
COL Watkins when he first met him and,
when he came back after them on the Nash
vile pike, could and would have shot him,
but had not the heart to do it, on account of
the many recollections of their association
in Washington before the war; that he had
come into the Union lines knowing his fate
if taken, but asked for mercy for Lieut..
Peter.
In pursuance of an order from Gen. Rose
Grams a drum-head court-martial was imme-
diately convened. The detail for the court
was: Col Jordan, 9th Pa. Cav, President;
Iieut.-Col. Van Week, 18th H.. Lieut-Col.
Hobltzell, 9th Ky. Cav; Capt. Crawford,
So h Ind; and Lieut.. Wharton, of Gen.
Granger's staff, Judge Advocate.
TIL. prisoners We're found guilty of being
spies and under the order of Gen. Rosecrans,
sentenced to execution by hanging.
At the request of Col. Watkins, Col. Baird
telegraphed Gen. Rosecrans asking that the
officers might be sent somewhere else for
execution He also sent for Orton a note
to Gen Garfield, under date of June 8, 1863,
asking: "Will you not have any clemency
for the son of Capt. Williams, who fell at
Monterey, Mexico? AS my dying speech 1
protest our innocence as spies. Save also my
friend" This was signed: Lawrence W.
Orton formerly w. Orton Williams" Col.
Baird's incosing letter read 8 send this
as q dying request. The men are con-
demned and we are preparing for execution.
They also prefer to be shot. If you can
answer before | get ready. do"
These requests not being granted, the exc
cution took place at 10 a. III. June 8, Capt.
j. h. Alexander, 7th Ky. Cav, Provost
Marshal of Franklin, carrying out the SEN
tence
The execution occurred on q level piece of
ground between Fort Granger and the Nash
vile pike, where stood an old cherry tree
with one limb reaching out like an arm from
its trunk From this limb were suspended
two lariats furnished by the 9th Ky. Cav.