The Chattanooga Daily Rebel

The Late Military Execution at Franklin

Proceedings of the Court Martial in the case of the two Confederate officers, Orton Williams and Peter, hung as spies at Franklin—Orders from the Federal Headquarters directing the execution—Copies of the testaments found on their persons.

From the Cincinnati Gazette

Murfreesboro, June 13.—I have the satisfaction of presenting below the official record of the Court Martial proceedings in the case of the Franklin spies. As the case is one of the most important of the kind in the annals of warfare, I doubt not these documents will be read with peculiar interest.

Y. S.

Headquarters Post, Franklin, Tenn.,
June 9, 1863.

Before a court of commission assembled by virtue of the following order:

Headquarters Post, Franklin, Tenn.,
3 o'clock P. M., June 9, 1863.

A court of commission is hereby called in pursuance of order from Major General Rosecrans to try Colonel Williams and Lieutenant Peter, of the Rebel forces, on charge of being spies, the court to sit immediately at headquarters of post.

DETAIL FOR COURT.

Thomas J. Jordan, Pennsylvania cavalry, President.
Lieutenant Colonel Van Flick, 78th Illinois vol. infantry; Lieutenant Colonel Heblitzer, 5th Kentucky cavalry; Captain Crawford, 88th Indiana vol. infantry;
Lieutenant Wharton, U. S. Topographical Engineers Judge Advocate.

By order of

[Signed]
J. P. BAIRD.
Colonel commanding Post.

The court and Judge Advocate having been duly sworn, according to military law, the prisoners were arraigned upon the following charges:

Charges and specifications against Col. Lawrence Auton, alias Williams, and Lieut. Walter G. Peter, officers in Rebel forces.

Charges—Being spies.

Specifications—In this, said Col. Lawrence Auton, alias Williams, and Lieut. Walter G. Peter, officers in the service of the so-called Confederate States of America, did, on the 8th day of June, 1863, come inside of the lines of the army of the United States at Franklin, Tenn., wearing the uniforms of Federal officers with a pass purporting to be signed by Major General Rosecrans, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, and represented to Col. J. D. Baird, commanding post at Franklin, that they were in the service of the United States; all this for the purpose of getting information of the strength of the United States forces and conveying it to the enemies of the United States, men in arms against the United States Government.

[Signed]
E. C. DAVIS,
Captain company G, 85th Ind.

CONFESSION OF THE PRISONERS.

Some evidence having been heard in support of charges and specifications, [evidence omitted.] the prisoners said to the court that they came within the lines of the United States army at Franklin, Tenn., about dark of the 8th day of June, 1863, wearing the uniforms that they had on their persons, which was that of Federal officers; that they went to the headquarters of Col. J. P. Baird, commanding forces at Franklin, and represented to him that they were Col. Auton, Inspector, just sent from Washington City to overlook the inspection of the several Departments of the West, and Major Dunlap, his assistant, and exhibited to him an order from Adj't General Townsend assigning him to that duty; an order from Major General Rosecrans countersigned by Brig. Gen. Garfield, Chief of Staff, asking him to inspect his outposts; and a pass through all lines from Gen. Rosecrans. That he had told Col. Baird he missed the road from Murfreesboro to this point, got too near Eaglesville, ran into Rebel pickets, had his Orderlies shot, lost a coat containing his money; that he wanted some money and a pass to Nashville, Tenn. That when arrested by Col. Watkins, 6th Kentucky cavalry, after examination, they admitted that they were in the Rebel army, and that his (the Colonel's) true name was Col. Orton Williams, and that he had been in the 2nd regiment of cavalry of the U. S. army, once on Gen. Scott's staff in Mexico, and was now a Colonel in the Rebel army, and Lieut. Peter was his Adjutant. That he came into our lines knowing his fate if taken, but asking mercy for his adjutant.

FINDING OF THE COURT

The Court having maturely considered the case, after hearing all the evidence, together with the statements of the prisoners, do find them, to-wit:

Col. Lawrence Orton, alias Williams, and Lieut. Walter G. Peter, officers of the Confederate army,
"guilty," of the charge of being spies found within the lines of the United States army, at Franklin, Tennessee, on the 8th day of June, 1863.

[Signed]
THOMAS J. JORDAN,
Colonel 9th Penn. Cavalry,
Pres. of the Court of Com.

HENRY WHARTON, Lieut. U. S. Tp. Eng.,
Judge Advocate.

GEN. ROSECRANS ORDERS THE SPIES TO BE HUNG

Headquarters Post, Franklin, Tenn.,
June 9th, 1863.

Major General Rosecrans, Commanding Department of the Cumberland, having issued the following order by telegraph from Murfreesboro, Tennessee:

June 9th, 1863.

To COL. J. P. BAIRD:

The General Commanding directs that the two spies if found guilty, be hung at once, thus placing it beyond a possibility of Forrest profiting by the information they have obtained.

FRANK S. BOND
Major and A. D. C.

COL. BAIRD HAS THE ORDERS CARRIED OUT.

The finding of the Court is approved, and by virtue of the above order of Major-General Rosecrans, the prisoners will be executed immediately by hanging by the neck until they are dead.

Capt. Alexander, 7th Kentucky Cavalry, Provost Marshal, Franklin, Tennessee, will execute this sentence as soon as possible.

J. P. BAIRD,
Colonel Commanding Post.

Headquarters Post, Franklin, Tenn.,
June 9th, '63, 9 o'clock A. M.

Capt. Alexander, 7th Kentucky cavalry, Provost Marshal, Franklin, Tenn., by virtue of the above proceedings and order, carried the sentence into execution by hanging said prisoners by the neck until they were dead.

J. P. BAIRD
Colonel Commanding Post.

PRETENDED ORDER FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT FOUND ON THE PERSON OF WILLIAMS.

A true copy,
H. WHARTON.
Lieutenant Engineers

War Department, Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, May 22, 1863.

["Extract" Special Order No. 140.]

IV. Colonel Lawrence W. Auton, Cavalry United States Army, and Acting Inspector General, is hereby relieved from duty along the "Line of the Potomac."

He will immediately proceed to the West, and minutely inspect the "Department of the Ohio," in accordance with Special Inspector's Instructions "Nos. 140, 162 and 185, furnished him from this office, and that of the "Paymaster General."

V. Major George Dunlap, Assistant Quartermaster, is hereby relieved from duty in this city. He will report immediately to Col. Auton for duty.

By order of the Secretary of War.

E. D. TOWNSEND

Col. Lawrence W. Auton, U. S. A. Special Inspector General.

FORGED COMMENDATION FROM GEN. GARFIELD

A true copy.
H. C. WHARTON, Lieut. Engineers

Headquarters Department Cumberland,
Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 30, 1863.

Colonel: The Major General commanding desires me to say to you that he desires, if you can spare the time at present, that you will inspect his outposts before making up your report to the War Department at Washington City.

All commanding officers of outposts will aid you in this matter to the best of their ability.

The General desires me to give his respects to you.

I Remain, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. A. GARFIELD.
Brig. Gen. of Vols., Chief of Staff and A. A. G.

ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND FROM GEN. MORGAN.

Headquarters U. S. Forces,
Nashville, Tenn., June 5, 1863.

All officers in command of troops belonging to these forces will give every assistance in their power to Col.

L. W. Auton, Special Inspector General under direct orders from the Secretary of War.

By command of General Morgan.

JOHN PRATT, A. A. G.

A True copy.
H. C. WHARTON, Lieut. Tp. Engineers.