On April 3, 1864, Captain W. J. Lawton, was shot by my great-grandfather, Calvin Jones Andrews. Lawton was a Captain with the US Scout Service on a scout for the Army of Tennessee, and was dressed in the uniform of a Confederate Major.  The picture of Lawton was taken in New York during the War , and shows him in disguise wearing a Confederate Major's uniform. I would expect he did not wear the uniform out of the studio.

    *Capt. Lawton, USA                  The Pistol                 Calvin Jones Andrews, CSA

Lawton had been operating undercover in North Georgia since December 1863. At one point he reported that the  southerners were "low spirited and demoralized" and further reported they had lost all hope of  ever gaining their independence." Perhaps Lawton seriously underestimated resistance in North Georgia.
     On April 3, Jones Andrews was on furlough at the Mahan place,  healing from a bullet wound in the leg.  Mahan was a brother-in-law of Jones Andrews. My great-grandmother, Lizzie Bowers Andrews, was also at the Mahan Place.
     On May 31, 1864, five union cavalry troopers from the 4th Michigan Cavalry left Chattanooga, Tennessee, on a scout into North Georgia. They were apparently lead by Captain Lawton.  Their orders were to scout the area, and kill or capture any confederate soldiers they might encounter.
 On their way into Georgia, they searched the home of Lieutenant Joel Weathers, who was also home on furlough. Weather's sister refused under threat of death to reveal his presence, and Weathers made his escape. However, they did steal his horse.
     Next, the trooper's statement indicates that Lawton detailed three men to "search a rebel house."  Lawton and his squad then arrived at the Mahan house. Lawton and some of the troopers dismounted, and Lawton approached the house. Lawton stepped up on the porch, and asked my great-mother if there were any persons in the house. She replied there were none. Lawton stepped inside the door, and was then shot in the throat by  Calvin Jones Andrews. Or as the trooper stated, "by a Guerilla named Jones Andrews." After shooting and killing Lawton, Jones Andrews stepped to the door and fired at least three shots at the troopers. The trooper stated that the firing scared Lawton's horse which ran about 80 yards before being recovered. The trooper perhaps accidentally omitted the fact that several of the dismounted troopers did not take the time to remount when Jones Andrews fired upon them, but preferred to run off on foot. He also did note that they had previously captured some confederate soldiers, who made their escape during the shooting. After firing several shots at the yankees, Jones made his escape out the back of the house. But soon returning, he was able to catch Lt. Weather's horse which he was able to return to Lt. Weathers.  My great-grandmother and a neighbor buried Lawton under the porch step.
     The remaining yankee cavalrymen made their way back to Chattanooga. On the way they were charged upon by Captain White, and a Mr. Davis (both may have been fellow partisan rangers.) Captain White was wounded and Davis was killed.

*The above scanned picture of Captain Lawton was provided with the permission of Robert J. Foster, who had the original CDV of Lawton . Even though Mr. Foster is a genuine Connecticut Yankee, and I an unreconstructed Southron; he was intrigued that I was the great-grandson of the fellow who shot Lawton, and was kind enough to send me a copy of the CDV of Lawton without charge. Click here for Foster's website!

I left this place on the 31st ... in company with 5 soldiers who belong to my Regt. and Wm. J. Lawton, Scout. We proceeded through McLemore's Cove and Broomstraw (?) Valley to the house of Mrs. Mahan. Before reaching the house of Mahan Lawton detailed 3 men to search a rebel house. When we arrived at the house of Mahan _ Lawton ordered us to halt _ he then dismounted and went up to the door _ when a woman came to the door Lawton asked her if there was any person in the house _ she said no there was not _ Lawton then stepped inside the door and was shot through the neck and instantly killed by a Guerilla named Jones Andrews. After Andrews had killed Lawton he stepped up to the door and fired 3 shots at us _ he then ran out of the back door and into the woods and made his escape. Lawton was dressed in a Rebel Major's Uniform which we brought back with us. We left his body in the Mahan House. The Mahan people promised to bury him. When the firing commenced Lawton's horse became frightened and ran away _ after running about 80 yds his Holsters and pistols fell from the saddle and was brought in by one of the boys.

As soon as the boys who were detailed to search the Rebel House heard the firing they came up to us _ We then started for Chattanooga and when about 1 ½ Miles from the house of Mahan we met 4 Rebel Soldiers with whom we skirmished and ...._ We then came about one mile further towards Chattanooga when we saw two mounted  Rebels about 80 yards ... of us. We fired at then _ and about one mile from there we saw one of them lying on the ground he was shot through the body and I think he was dead _ two miles from there we found another wounded Rebel at a house he was shot through the shoulder I think from the bar on his coat collar that he was a Lieut _ Before reaching the House of Mahan, we captured two prisoners who made their escape at the time Lawton was shot. From the place where we saw the last mentioned wounded Rebel we came directly to Chattanooga arriving at this place at noon today.

      John Vantye
      Ontwa, Michigan
      Age 23
      Michigan
  `    4th Cavalry
      Company M
 

R. M. BOYD
SPECIALIST IN TIMBER AND CUT OVER LAND
FARMS, REAL ESTATE, INSURANCE AND LOANS
BAKER BLOCK
RACINE WIS.
 4 - 14 - 15

Post Master
Lawtonville Mich.

Dear Sir: Inclosed find a photo of W. J. Lawton Federal Scout and Scout Services Man who was murdered or killed early in 1864 about 40 miles south of Chattanooga Tenn. I was in the Scout Service Department of the Army of the Cumberland at that time and until the close of the war. Lawton was shot by a guerrilla Capt. White through the throat as indicated by the red spot. (Note-enclosed photo has a red spot on the throat of the man pictured. The photo is signed W. J. Lawton, US. Scout. It shows a seated man in uniform, broad brimmed "cavalry" hat, right hand stuck into front of a great coat (a la Napoleon), left hand in lap. He has a cigar in mouth, ash drooping down)

I understood that his relatives live in or near Lawtonville. If they do, they may appreciate this photo. I have the original that Lawton gave me just before going on his last trip. He reported to me.

R. M. Boyd

* The report and the letter from the yankee officer were found through the research of Jane Singer, a historian from California. Her e-mail address is:

email - chuckjane@earthlink.net

Walker County Messenger, December 28, 1899

Mr. Jones Andrews, a brother of Mr. A. Andrews, of the upper Cove, came in Sunday from Arkansas where he resides. In 1861, he with H. C. Hardie, joined Co. A of the 1st Confederate. Later he left that command to serve with Gatewood. In 1864 while that army was at Dalton, Capt. Bill Edwards of Brady's Company in the 39th Georgia, came over to gather up stragglers.

Among the latter, was Lawton, who when seen promised to return. While riding down in Chattanooga with Capt. Edwards, the latter's hat blew off. Without dismounting he swung himself down from the horn of his saddle to pick it up. While in that position with his head down, Lawton shot and killed him and joined the federal scouts.

One day Jones Andrews was in the Merrill house not far from Taloga when Lawton and seven of his men rode up. Escape was impossible. Andrews took his stand where he would be behind the front door when it opened and when Lawton came in he shot him down.

Then going out, by his rapid fire he stampeded the other, and got the fine horse Lawton was riding, which he had taken from Capt. Joel Withers and to whom it was returned.

 Finding that Miss W. was not to be scared, nor forced into compliance with their wishes they left, and went to the Merrill place in search of Mr. Jones Andrews of 3d Confederate cavalry now on furlough. They rode up and asked Mrs. A. for her husband.
 
 She refused to tell where he was, and Capt. Lawton started to lead his ruffian band into the house to search for him.
 
 Just as the vile creature stepped into the house, Mr. Andrews shot him, killing him instantly. He then fired four more shots at the balance of the party who precipitately fled, leaving five of their horses. They then returned towards Summerville.
 
 It was while on their way back to Summerville that Capt. White and Mr. Davis charged upon them. Mr. Davis was killed by these scoundrels and Capt. White wounded.
 
 

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