The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
WERE HANGED AS SPIES
BOLD but UNsUCCEssFUL ATTEMPT
OF CONFEDERATE OFFICERS.
Entered "a Union Camp as Spies, Were
Detected. and Both IgnominiOusly
Persisted on the ano
J. R. McBrlde. Adjutant Thirty-third In

After Ilt bdNLle OF OlDilt flNtEf Olc VI
the severest OF the civil war. near Muir
freesboro, Tenn, Dec. 81, 1852, General Rose
Grams let six months pass before making
another advance. During this time General
Bragg Confederate had his headquar-
tiers at TuIlahoma. from which point his
army extended westward. his left resting at
Columbia. General ROsecrans had his
Headquarters at Murfreesboro. and his
forces were disposed in the form OF a tri-
angle. Of which Nashville was the apex
and Murfreesboro and Franklin were the
other angles.
While thus stationed the troops Of both
armies were not idle. D-etachments from
each army were frequently sent out to at
tack. and possibly overwhelm some outpost.
or TO make raiding expeditions upon some
forbidden territory in quest of forage, or TO
destroy or disturb railroads or other means
Of communication, constantly vexing the
whole country with raids and incursions.
Franklin being upon the extreme right
flank of the Federal line. and about TWEEN
ty-five miles almost directly south Of Nash
Vile. was naturally a most important point
in the line. and therefore greatly coveted
by the enemy.
During the month Of February General
Van DOrn's (Confederate) command, con-
H-N-A - 1nNaAA anu uoulACh a .
was stationed at Columbia, where the
general was energeticaliy engaged in it's
re-equipment. both men and horses, with
the full purpose Of attacking Franklin in
force, as shown by his correspondence with
General Bragg in the Records of the Re
bellion. The preparations for this move
ment and the movement itself were I'M
known TO General Rosecrans. General Gill
bert, in command OF the post at Franklin,
knew nothing Of it. for on May 4. at the in
stance Of General ROsecrans, he sent Col.
Coburn and his brigade. with a detachment
of cavalry and a battery Of artillery, con-
sisting in all OF about 1000 men, to distant
points on the road in the direction of Co
lumbia on a fOraging expedition pure and
simple, at the very time when General Van
Dorm was moving on Franklin with about
10000 men.
The two opposing forces confronted each
other unexpectedly at Thompson Station,
where "A terrific battle was fought, lasting
about four hours, during which time Col
onel CObUrn's brigade displayed a per-
sistency and herOism unsurpassed in the
annals Of the civil war. Though vanqufshed
by a force greatly superior in numbers, the
magnificent stand made by Colonel Co
burns brigade disconnected the plans of
Van Dorm, and thereby saved Frankli
Later on, April 10. General Van Dorm
made a direct attack upon Franklin, but
was repUlSed, as the garrison in the mean
time had been greatly strengthened by the
addition of more troops. Again, on June
T. General Forrest, with q considerable
force, made an attempt to capture Frank
lin. but failed These attacks were made
with a good deal of spirit and hOpefulness,
and ii was subsequently shown that the
enemy was greatly disappointed because of
MS failure 10 reduce the place. The pO-
sition was not openly attacked again by an
organized force.
The daring scheme of the spies now
presents itself. 1t is my opinion that the
entrance into the Federal lines by two spies
the subject of this sketch-was the fnftia-
f0FV mnEnnNgnf toward the nanfrrra "a Fort
Granger and the troops quartered there for
its defense by deception and stealth, since
II could not be taken in open battle.
II SPIES APPEAR.
Opposite Franklin, across the Harpeth
river. was situated Fort Granger, a forti-
fication Of considerable strength. 1t was
located on the river bluff, and commanded
not only Franklin. but the surrounding
country. Its Importance was not over
estimated by friend or foe. If captured,
and a large Confederate force interpOsed
between Nashville and Murfreesboro. the
army of General Rosecrans would have
been placed at a great disadvantage if not
routed altogether.
on June 5. four days after the last open
attack made upon Franklin, two mounted
men appeared at the headquarters of Col.
John +. Baird. of the Eighty-hfth In
diana, who was in command of the gar
rison- They represented themselves as be
ing Inspector General Lawrence w. Anton
COrtOn) and Major Dunlap (whose real
names were Col William orion Williams
and Lieut.. Walter G. Peter, and said that
they had been directed by Adjutant Gen
eral Lorenzo Thomas and General Rose
Grams to inspect troops. camps. etc. and
produced papers and documents that APP
peared TO be genuine
The personal appearances of the men
were not the best presentable, and in ex-
PLANTATION thereof Colonel Williams told
Colonel Baird that he had missed the
road from MurfreesbOro TO Franklin, got
too near Eaglesville. and run into rebel
HnEnF a. his wIa nhAW n-I HN-s IL
coat containing his money; that he wanted
some money and a pass TO Nashville"
Colonel Baird did not suspect them to be
other than what they represented. In
his official report he says: They did not
attempt to inspect works. His conf
Gence in their representations was com
plete. as. upon WiIiams's request. he loaned
him $50 and also gave him the countersign
for the night.
inspect the works" L think justihes thz
conclusion that their sole intent was Ia
get possession of the countersign only for
the purposes indicated further on. There
Is q conflict Of testimony as TO who ca,
the first suspicious on these men. Colonel
Baird says he did not suspect them until
they had gone away, when 1T struck hin
like a thunderbOlt that they were spies. o.
and that he Immediately directed Colonel
Watkins, of the Sixth kentucky Cavalry
10 bring them back.
II is declared that Colonel Watkins was
the nrst 10 announce his suspicious. be.
cause OF prior acquaintance with Williams
at West Point. That Will not stand, be-
cause neltIeF was a Eraduate or that in
St1IutiOn. They had previously been mem.
bers OF the Second United States Cavalry
but certainly not at the same time. as
Colonel Thomas J.. Jordan. of the Nintf
pennsylvania, and who was president of
the court that tried the spies. saws that
neither had ever met before
PLACED UNDER ARREST.
Whatever the truth may be. Colonel Bairt
does not hesitate 10 say in his report tina
their ruse was nearly successful on me
as I did not know the handwriting of my
commanding officer. and am much in
debted to Colonel Watkins. Sixth Kentucky
Cavalry. for their detention. and Lieutenan
Wharton. OF Changers staff. for detection
OF forgery papers" 1t is we'll 10 state tina
Tor his commendable activity and prudenc,
IN the matter, Colonel Watkins was pre-
scented with the horse that belonged L
Colonel Williams.
There is no mistake in the fact tina.
Colonel Watkins. accompanied by an or
DERBY, succeeded in hating them before they
had passed beyond the OutpOsts. COlone
Watkins had a delicate mission to per
form. and was equal 10 the Occasion-df
plOmatic enough 10 not arouse any sus
piciOn Of his true purposes in the minds