Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-11-04
A CONFEDERATE STORY

D"i"S 'hV Nhit'i VI iooo-of j
was my fortune to be President of ono
oi 'ne courtsmartlai OF the Army o
Nor'hern virginia one bleak Decem
per morning, while the snow covered
'he ground ana the winds howlec
around our camp, left my bivouac
llre 70 attend the session OF court
winding Tor miles along uncertain
paths, ! at length arrived at the court
ground at Round Oak Church Day
after day It had been our duty to try
the gallant soldiers Of That army charg-
Gu WIN violatlohs oi military law bul
never had 4 on any previous occasion
peon greeted py such anxious specta
tors a. on tnat morning awaited the
opcni''g oi ,he court Sase niter case
was l uisposcu OF, ana ~ iehg'h the case
81 inc Sonieuvrate states Us; EDWARD
cooper was c'llied--charge' desertlon
"A low murInof rose spontaneously rom
lne pattle-sc''rreu spectators asa young
artilieryman rose from the prisoners
oehchi ana, IN response TO the question,
ulllty OF noe gull'y = answered, NOT
sull.y'
The judge advocate was proceeding
to open the prosecution, when the
court, observing the prisoner was UNI
attended by counsel, interposed and in
quired of the accused, "Who is your
counsel p He replied, 81 have no
counsel Supposing that it.was his
purpose to represent himself before the
court the judge advocate was intruct.
ed to proceed, Every charge and
specification against the prisoner was
sustained. The prisoner was then told
TO introduce his witnesses. He replied,
81 have no witnesses" Astonished at
the calmness with which he seemed to
be submitting to what he regarded as
inevitable fate, | said TO him, "Have
you no defence? Is il possible that
you abandoned your comrades and dc.
serted your colors IN the presence o.
the enemy without any reason z nc
replied, There was a reason, put II
VIII not aVall me before q military
court i SAID, "ferhaps you are mis-
takeni you are charged with the high
est crime known to military law, and
1t is your duty to make known the
cause that influenced your actions.
For the frst time his manly form
trembled, and his blue eyes swan IN
tears. Approaching the President OF
the court be presented letter, saying
as he did so, "There General, is what
did it." ] opened the letter and in q
moment my eyes filed with tears. II
was passed irom one 10 another oil inc
court untll all had seen ~ ana thosc
ste, stern warriors who had passed win
Stohewall jackson through q hundred
pattles wept i,ke li,llc children. o%ool %
as 1 sui,cleh,iy recovered my sel,pos
session ) reau 1he ietter as the ueiens'
oi 'ne prisoner II was III lhoso worus
my Dear Edward - have always
been proud OF you, and since your con.
nection with the Confederate Army
have been prouder Of you than ever be
iore. would not have You do any
thing wrong ior inc world put beiorc
TOD, Edward, unless you come nome
we must die Last night was arous,
eu py Edules 5 crying callea y, ana ,
saiu, Nv mats the matter Eudle ,,l aha
ne said, 'oh' inamihs, l m so hungry
ana Lucy, huwaru, your uarl'ng
Lucy, she never never comPiains, put sho E =
growing ,ni'lnor anu ah1 s, shiiinc5 eNvry
uay' anu % pelore %,., 1ou, , EDWARD y, un'ess
you como nome VIC inusS y ule. ~.
iouh hAi'i'
Turning to the prisoner, asked,
What did you do when you received
this letter. lie replied, II made ap-
plication for fnrlough, and It was re
jected again ] made application, and it
was rejected third time | made ap-
plieation, and IT was rejected and that
night, as ] wandered backward and
forward m the camp, thinking oil my
nome WIN inc iniiu eyes 0i Lucy look
ing up 70 me, anu INC burning %
words OF mary sinking N my pi'.ln, l
was no longer the Cohieqelale soIuler,
out l was sne ia'nor 0, lucy anu ihe
husoala Oh mary anu : "oulu nave
Passeu s, 'hose ,, el, ,lnSs Il every gI' IN ,ne
battery hau ureu upon me, went 70
my nome mary ran out 10 meet me
her anger arms o, vinprascu ,,, me, anu sne
Whispered "oh, EDWARD ! am so
hapPy ! am SO glad you g9' your iuI-
lougn She must nave leli me shu9-
uer, Ior sho turned paio az ueatn, ana
catehlng ,s aa ner pre- orea'n @ a. every @ @ woru, @ sue
SAM iia'V Aou ,Vn'e ",.nV"' you'
BACK go pack let me ana my cnilareh
60 down together 10 the grave put on,