The National tribune., 1902-07-24

Gen. Rosecrans replied: ''The men are
no doubt spies. Call a drum-head court
martial, and if found to be spies hang
them without fail before morning."
In a brief time the entire camp had
knowledge of the arrest of the spies, and
all sorts of runners were ON the wing. Ex-
citement in the vicinity Of Fort Granger
was intense.
The court was promptly convened and a
fair trial accorded the accused. They
wore their overcoats buttoned tightly up
to the chin. When unbuttoned there were
exhibited the dress coats of the Confed-
crate army. The caps they wore were the
ordinary fatigue caps of the United
States army with eagle buttons. Their
overcoats were of navy blue, with large
capes, lined with orange-cOlored material,
as were prescribed for our Regular Off
GERS. Their pantalOons, also of navy blue,
with an orange cord down the outside
seams, completed their attire. On the
hits of their swords were engraven their
names, rank, and service.
During the trial they made no defense
except that they were not ordinary
spies" The evidence against them was
complete, and being caught 'red-handed," +"
the court could do nothing less than ad-
judge them guilty of being spies, and at
once sentenced them to be hanged by the
neck until they are dead"
Williams's father was Captain in the
Regular Army, and was killed at Mon
terey, Mexico, and was native Of New
York.
Early in March, 1861, after Mr.. Lin
coin was inaugurated President, the
younger Williams was commissioned a
Lieutenant in the Regular Army and was
appointed Confidential Secretary to Gen.
m m q nd
Of the army. At first, it is said, he was
arrogant and domineering in his manner,
especially toward those who were in SYM
pathy with the South, for the purpose,
there was afterward no doubt, to make
himself secure with the National au-
thority, so that he could the more sue
cessfully gather in the secret work Of the
management of the war, but in brief
time, however, he publicly declared his
sympathies with the South, and upon an
nouncing his intention to go South he was
put OF Governors Island until after the
first battle of Bull Run, because of fear
that he would unfold Gen. Scotts plans
to the authorities at Richmond. After
going South he changed his name to
Lawrence w. OrtOn.
The morning of June 8, 1868, was the
opening of a beautiful day. 1t was in
deed one of the "rare days. of June. The
probation of very soldier in blue. The sol
diers somehow felt that if the plans of the
spies had not miscarried the garrison
would likely have been overwhelmed with
disaster, yet they manfully resisted all un-
seemly demonstrations in the faces of the
condemned men and in the presence of
impending death. There was no exultant
demonstration.
The gallows was constructed by wild
cherry tree not far from the depot and in
very public place. Two ropes hung pen
feet of the ground. A little after 8 O'Clock
a. m. the whole garrison was marshaled
about the place of execution. Two
poplar coffins were near by. At 9:2C
O'Clock a. m. the guard conducted the
prisoners to the scaffold. Arriving at the
place Of execution they stepped upon the
| platform of a cart. The Provost Marshal
Capt Alexander, then placed linen
handkerchief over the face of each and
adjusted the rope. They embraced and
bade each other last farewell. This
over, the cart moved from under them al
$50 a. m. At 10 o'clock Il. m. the bodies
were cut down and encOfiined in full dress
and both buried in one grave.
Col. Williams was the officer of the
highest rank ever hung as spy by an
American army. Maj. Andre, Of Revo
WdS Tic neat III
AS Col. Williams claimed, they may
have been more than ordinary spies,
but they were nevertheless spies, and o.
q dangerous sort. The correspondent o.
the Chattanooga Rebel" could rot divin,
their real mission, but said thai it wa,
evident they had resolved to do some deet
Of knight erranty which would comment
their names to all posterity or perish il
the attempt"
The Confederate authorities, civil AM
military, disclaimed any knowledge of tn
scheme, and nothing developed during tn
trial or since to disprove their disclaimer
When the spies entered the Union line
they had no baggage, no papers othe
than the forged ones, and they were with
out money, so that the inference drawn b.
Col. Baird that they were on some i'm
portant mission to Canada and Europ
does not seem altogether reasonable, con
sistent, nor well sustained.
What, then, could be their purpose
They went to the gallows without con
fession of their intentions. We can bu
theorize. One theory is probably as plausi
. Il