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BARBARA FRIETCHIE.

STORY LXIX.

BARBARA FRIETCHIE.

Up from the meadow rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand,
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.

Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach trees fruited deep ;
Fair as a garden of the Lord,

To the eyes of the famished rebel horde.

On that pleasant morn of the early Fall,
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall-
Over the mountains winding down,

Horse and foot into Frederick town,

Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,

She took up the flag the men hauled down:

In her attic-window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet;
Up the street came the Rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.

Under his slouched hat left and right,
He glanced the old flag met his sight.
"Halt!" the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
"Fire!" out blazed the rifle blast,

It shivered the window, pane and sash,
It rent the banner with seam and gash;
Quick as it fell from the broken staff,
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.

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She leaned far out on the window sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will:
"Shoot, if you must, the old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word:
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! march on!" he said.
All day long, through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet:

All day long that free flag tossed
Over the heads of the Rebel host;
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal minds that loved it well.

And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night:
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,

And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! and let a tear

Fall for her sake on Stonewall's bier;
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,

Flag of freedom and union wave!

Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

"Then fling out our flag most high to-day,

Triumphant 'mid the clang of war; And death to him who shall betray

One single stripe or star."

STORY LXX.

CAPTURE, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF COLONEL LAWRENCE WILLIAMS AND LIEUTENANT WALTER G. PETERS, OF THE REBEL ARMY.

FRANKLIN, TENN., June 9th, 1863.

WHEN the history of this most bloody war is fully written, few, if any incidents will be of more thrilling interest than the capture, trial, and execution of Colonel Williams and Lieutenant Peters. We had been besieged for four or five days by General Forrest, our communications with Nashville cut off, and most of the time fighting, and were almost hourly looking for a general assault upon our feeble garrison. Colonel Baird, of the 85th Indiana, had made the best possible disposition of our forces, and all were resolved to sell Franklin as dearly as possible.

But on the night of the 8th of June, the dull monotony of dodging shells was relieved, and excitement was carried to the highest pitch, as two fine-looking officers, dressed in what appeared the Federal uniform, and mounted on splendid horses, rode up to Colonel J. P. Baird's headquarters and introduced themselves as Colonel Anton and Major Dunlap, of the United States regular army.

They stated that they had, a few days before, been ordered by the War Department to report to General Rosecrans for duty as special inspectors of the army of the Cumberland: that they had entered upon their new field of duty the day before, fully equipped and accompanied by two orderlies.

They showed proper papers from Adjutant General Thomas, and General Garfield, chief of Rosecrans' staff, and stated that after leaving Murfreesboro they took the direction of Eaglesville; and when near that place they stopped for dinner, and while at dinner they were surprised by a party of about twenty Rebel scouts, who captured their orderlies, and were so near capturing them as to make it necessary to leave their coats and other baggage; that they were unfortunately out of funds, and wished the loan of fifty dollars of Colonel Baird, that they might go to Nashville to refit themselves before going further on duty.

Colonel Baird, although very suspicious that all was - not right, felt compelled to recognize them, with such perfect papers from so high a source. He gave them the fifty dollars and a pass to Nashville, upon receiving which, the two started off at full speed in the direction of Nashville.

But they had scarcely disappeared in the dark, when Colonel Watkins, of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, and Colonel Baird both felt such intense anxiety lest they might be imposed upon, that it was instantly resolved to pursue and arrest the two gents, and hold them until they could learn from General Rosecrans the truth of their statements.

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As no time was to be lost, the gallant Colonel Watkins, accompanied by a single orderly, started in suit, and dashing forward toward our pickets, luckily came in sight of the gentlemen. The colonel hailed them and ordered them back to Colonel Baird's headquarters. Undoubtedly the first impulse of these daring spies was to resist, which they could have done desper ately, as they were both well armed; but the cool cour

age of Colonel Watkins induced them to return. Colonel Williams afterwards stated, that he put his hand on his pistol to shoot Colonel Watkins, but the hope of not being detected as a spy, caused him to desist.

After their arrival at headquarters, Colonels Baird and Watkins questioned them very closely, but could get no clue to anything that would raise a reasonable suspicion, until General Rosencrans telegraph that he had no such officers in his department.

The prisoners were then informed that they were suspected, and were under arrest until they could properly explain themselves. They showed correct maps of our lines, and seemed well acquainted with all the officers of the regular army.

Their persons were then searched, and the first thing upon examining the sword of the Colonel Anton, revealed the fatal marks, C. S. A; the die was cast and the blood rushed to the cheeks of the almost petrified prisoners. They acknowledged that they were trapped, and at once confessed their real names, rank and position.

The colonel acknowledged himself to be Colonel Lawrence Williams of the 2d Regular Cavalry, at the breaking out of the War, and was recognized by Colonel Watkins as a fellow soldier of that regiment: he had entered the confederate service, and was now chief of artillery on General Bragg's staff. That he entered upon this most hazardous enterprise, fully aware of his fate if detected; but refused to disclose the nature of his business.

The younger man said he was Lieutenant Walter G. Peters, of General Wheeler's staff, and showed some