The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-15

Extract from speech of Gen. Cullen A. Battle at Tus-
cumbia, Alabama
Dnr;np the winter of 1S63-64 it was my for
time to be President of one of the courts mar
tial of the Army of Northern Virginia One
hleak December morning, while the snow COW
cred the ground and the winds howled around
our camp, left my. bivouac fire to attend the
session Of the court. Winding for miles along
uncertain paths, I at length arrived at the
court ground at Round Oak Church. Day
after day it had been our duty to try the gal
iant soldiers of that army, charged with viola
ton of military law /; but never had on any
previous occasion been greeted by such anxious
spectators as on that morning awaited the
opening of the court Case after case was dis
posed Of, and at length the case of "The Con,
federate States VS.. Edward Cooper" was called
charge, desertion. a low murmur rose spon-
taneousl " from the battle. scattered spectators,
as a Young artilleryman rose from the prison.
er,s bench. and in response to the question,
"Guilty, or Not GuiltyS" answered, Not
Guilty"
The Judge Advocate was proceeding to open
the prosecution, when the Court observing that
the prisoner was unattended by counsel, inter
posed and enquired of the accused, "Who is
your counsel?' He replied, II have no coun-
sell" Supposing that it was his purpose to
represent himself before the court, the Judge
Advocate was instructed to proceed. Every
charge and specification against the prisoner
was sustained. The prisoner was then toid TO
introduce his witnesses. He replied, nave
no witnesses" Astonished at the calmness
with which he seemed to be submitting to what
he regarded as inevitable fate, l said to him,
NHaye YOU no defence? Is it possible that you
abandoned your comrades and deserted your
colors in the face of the enemy aoithout any
reason e'' He replied, "There was reason,
but it will not avail me before military
court" I said: "Perhaps you are mistaken !;
you are charged with the highest crime known
to military law, and it is your duty to make
known the causes that influenced your actions
For the first time his manly form trembled and
his blue eyes swan in tears. Approaching the
President of the court he presented letter,
saving as he did so, ''There, General, is what
did it.'' opened the letter, and in moment
my eyes filled with tears. 1t was passed from
one to another of the court until all had seen
it, and those stern warriors who had passed
with Stonewall Jackson through hundred
battles wept like little children. Soon as
sufficiently recovered my self-possession, read
the letter as the defence of the prisoner. 1t
was in these words:
MY DEAR EDWARD: have always been
proud of you, and since your connection with
the Confederate army, have been prouder OF
YOU than ever before. I,would not have you
do ANYTHING wrong for the world; but before
God, Edward, unless you come home we must
die! Last night was aroused by little Eddies
CRYING. I called and said, "Whats the matter,
Eddie?" and he said, "Oh mamma, I'm so
hungry And Lucy, Edward, your darling
Lucy; she never complains but she is growing
thinner and thinner every day. And before
God, Edward, unless you come home we must
die. Your MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, asked, "What did
YOU do when you received this letter? u he
replied, 81 made application for turlough, ana
it was rejected; again made application and
it was rejected third time made appiica-
ton and it was rejected, and that night as
wandered backward and forward IL the camp,
thinkipe of my home, with the mild eyes of
Lucy looking up to me, and the burning words
of Mary sinking in my brain, was no longer
the Confederate soldier, but was the father OF
Lucy and the husband of Mary, and l would
have passed those lines if every gun in the
battery had fired upon me! [ went to my
home. Mary ran out to meet me- her angel
arms embraced me; and she whispered, Oh
Edward, I am 50 happy! am so glad you got
your furloughv She must have felt me shud-
der. for she turned pale as death, and catching
her breath at every word, she said, have you
come without your furlough? o, Edward,
Edward, go back! 60 back! Let me and my
children 20 down together to the grave, but v,
for Heavens sake, save the honor of our name
And here I am, gentlemen, not brought mere
by military power, but in obedience 10 tne
command of Mary, to abide the sentence OF
your court" ,.,cnn
Every officer of shat court-martial felt the
force Of the prisoners words. Before them
stood. in beatiic vision, the eloquent pleader
for a husbands and fathers wrongs; but
they had been trained by their great leader,
Robert E. Lee, to tread the path OF duty,
though the lightning fash scorched the ground
beneath their feet, and each in his turn pro-
nounced the verdict, Guilty. Fortunately tor
humanity, fortunately for the Confederacy, the
nroceedings of the court were reviewed by the
Commanding General and upon the record was
written:
HEADQUARTERS, A. N. V.
The finding of the court is approved. The
prisoner is pardoned, and will report to MS
company. b. T.. LEE 0enefai'
During the second battle of Cold Harbor,
when shot and shell were falling "like torrents
from the mountain cloud" my attention was
directed to the fact that one of our batteries
was being silenced by the concentrated fire OF
the enemy. When reached the battery every
o1,n but one had been dismantled, and by it
Stood solitary Confederate soldier, with the
blood streaming from his side. As he recog-
nized me, he elevated his voice above the roar
of the battle, and said: General, l nave one
shell left; tell me have saved the nonor 0 Oh
Mary and Lucy?" | raised my nat: once
more Confederate shell went crashlhg througn
the ranks of the enemy, and the nero sank ny
his gun to rise no more.
REMEDIES FOR D1pHTHER1A-In In a chemi-
cal lecture by NJ. Bucquoy, Paris, be expressed
his preference for lemon juice, as local appli-
..a;a, II, dinhtharia to acids chlnrate of pot