did not want their punishment delayed, but, well knowing the consequences of their acts, even before their trial, asked to have the sentence, be it hanging or shooting, quickly decided and executed. But they deprecated the idea of death by hanging, and asked for a commutation of the sentence to shooting.

The elder and leader of these unfortunate men was Law. rence Williams, of Georgetown, D. C. IIe was as fine-looking a man as I have ever seen; about six feet high, and perhaps thirty years old. He was a son of Captain Williams, who was killed at the battle of Monterey. He was one of the most intellectual and accomplished men that I have ever known. I have never known any one who excelled him as a talker. He was a member of the regular army, with the rank of captain of cavalry, when the rebellion broke out, and at that time was aid-de-camp and private secretary to General Winfield Scott. From this confidence and respect shown him by so distinguished a man, may be judged his education and accomplishments. He was a first cousin of General Lee, commanding the Confederate army on the Rappahannock. Soon after the war began, he was frank enough to inform General Scott that all his sympathies were with the South, as his friends and interests were there, and that he could not fight against them. As he was privy to all of General Scott's plans for the campaign, it was not thought proper to turn him loose, hence he was sent to Governor's Island, where he remained three months. After the first Bull Run battle he was allowed to go South, where he joined the Confederate army; and his subsequent history I have not been able to learn much about. He was awhile on General Bragg's staff, as chief of artillery ; but at the time of his death was Inspector General. When he joined the Confederate army, he altered

his name, and now signs it thus: "Lawrence W. Orton, Col. Cav. P. A. C. S. A.”—(Provisional Army Confederate States of America.) Sometimes, he writes his name "Orton," and some imes "Auton," according to the object which he had in view. This we learn from the papers found on him. These facts in relation to the personal history of Colonel Orton, I have gathered from the Colonel himself and from Colonel Watkins, who knows him well, they having belonged to the same regiment of the regular army, second United States cavalry. Colonel Watkins, however, did not recog nize Colonel Orton until after he had made himself known, and now mourns his apostacy and tragic fate.

The other victim of this delusive and reckless daring, was Walter G. Peter, a Lieutenant in the rebel army and Colonel Orton's Adjutant. He was a tall, handsome young man of about twenty-five years, that gave many signs of education and refinement. Of his history I have been unable to gather any thing. He played but a second part. Colonel Orton was the leader, and did all the talking and managing. Such is a succinct account of one of the most daring enterprises that men ever engage in. Such were the characters and the men who played the awful tragedy.

History will hardly furnish its parallel, in the character and standing of the parties, the boldness and daring of the enterprise, and the swiftness with which discovery and punishment were visited upon them. They came into our camp and went all through it, minutely inspecting our position, works, and forces, with a portion of their traitorous insignia upon them, and the boldness of their conduct made their flimsy subterfuges almost successful.

To the last, however, they denied being spies. They claimed that they were endeavoring to get through our lines

in order to visit friends in the North and in Europe. But this story was so poorly matured, that, when either told it, it would not hang together, and there was little resem blance between the accounts which the two gave. The arrest so completely confounded them that they were never afterward able to recover from it.

The unfortunate inen made no complaint at the severity of their punishment, except they deprecated the ignominy of being hung. They were too well informed not to know that, upon conviction of being spies, they must suffer death; and hence they expected it, and made no complaint.

Colonel Orton, who recognized Colonel Watkins as soon as he saw him, told him that he barely saved his life when the arrest was made-that he had his hand on his pistol, to kill him and escape; that, had it been any one else here, he would have done so.

Colonel Orton delivered his sword and pistols to Colonel Watkins, and told him to keep and wear them. He also presented him his horse, valued at five thousand dollars, and asked him to treat it kindly for his sake.

We are all sad over this event. There is a gloom upon every face. Although we are fully satisfied that the mission of these men was to plan our destruction, and that even they recognized their punishment just, according to the accepted rules of war among all nations, still, to see them suffer such a penalty, has filled our garrison with sadness.

A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

ONE of the most affecting incidents of the brilliant and successful recapture of Galveston, by the forces under MajorGeneral Magruder, was the meeting between Major Lea, of the Confederate army, and his eldest and fondly-loved son, who was first-lieutenant of the Harriet Lane. The Houston Telegraph narrates the incident as follows:

Nearly two years ago the father, then residing in Texas, had written repeatedly to the son, then on the coast of China, suggesting the principles that should determine his course in the then approaching struggle between the North and the South of the United States, and saying that he could not dietate to one so long obligated to act on his own judgment; and that, decide as ho might, such was his confidence in his high conscientiousness, he would continue to regard him with the respect of a gentleman, and the affection of a father; but that, if he should elect the side of the enemy, they would probably never meet on earth, unless perchance they should ineet in battle.

The father had served nearly eighteen months eastward of the Mississippi, and, through unsolicited orders, arrived late at nigh. at Houston, en route for San Antonio, to report there for duty, when, hearing of the intended attack on the Harriet Lane, on board of which he feared his son was, he solicited permission to join the expedition, in the hope of nursing or burying him, for well he knew his son's courage would expose him to the resistless daring of our Texas boys.

During the fight, Major Lea was ordered by the General to keep a lookout from a house-top for all movements in the bay. As soon as daylight enabled him to see that the Lane

had been captured, by permission of the General, who knew nothing of the expected meeting, he hastened aboard, when he was not surprised to find his son mortally wounded. Wading through blood, amidst the dying and the dead, he reached the youth, pale and exhausted.

"Edward, 'tis your father !"

"I know you, father-I know you, father, but cannot move!" he said, faintly.

"Are you mortally wounded?"

'Badly, but I hope not fatally." "Do you suffer pain?"

"Cannot speak!" he whispered. A stimulant was given hin. "llow came you here, father?"

When answered, a gleam of surprise and gratification passed over his fine face. He then expended nearly his last words in making arrangements for his wounded comrades. His father knelt and blessed him, and hastened ashore for a litter, and returned just after life had fled.

When told by the surgeon that he had but a few minutes to live, and asked to express his wishes, he answered, confidingly, "My father is here!" and spoke not again. He was borne in procession to the grave from the headquarters of General Magruder, in company with his captain; and they were buried together, with appropriate military honors, in the presence of many officers of both armies, and many generous citizens, all of whom expressed their deep sympathy with the bereaved father, who said the solemn service for the Episcopal Church for the burial of the dead, and then added this brief address:

"My friends: The wise man has said, that there is a time to rejoice, and a time to mourn. Surely, this is a time wher we may weep with those that weep. Allow one, so sorely