Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-27

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Alabama.
AT recent political gathering in Tuscum>
bia, Ala, General Cullen a. Battle related the
following touching story in the>course of his
speech:
During the winter of 1863-'64 it was my
fortune to be president of one of the courts
martial of the Army of Northern Virginia.
One bleak December morning, while the snow
covered the ground and the winds howled
around our camp, LEFT my bivouac>fre to at
tend the session of the court. Winding for
| miles along uncertain paths, 1 at length ar
rived at the court ground at Round Oak
church. Day after day it had been our duty
to try the gallant soldiers of that army
charged with violations 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 disposed of, and at length
the case of ."The Confederate States vs.. Ed
ward Cooper" was called-charge, desertion
low murmur rose spontaneously from the
ba.sle-scarred spectators as young artillery
man rose from the prisoners bench, and in
| response to the question, "Guilty or not
guilty I" answered, mot guilty"
The judge-advocate was proceeding TO open
the prosecution, when the court, observing
that the prisoner was unattended by counsel,
interposed and inquired of the accused, ssWho
is your counsel?' He replied, II have no
counsel" Surprising that it was his purpose
torepresent himself before the court the Judge
advocate was instructed to proceed. Every
charge and specification against the prisoner
was sustained. The prisoner was then told to in
troduce his witnesses. He replied, tsI have
no Witnesses" Astonished at the calmness
with which he seemed to be submitting to
what he regarded as inevitable fate, I said to
him, "Haye you no defence2 Is it possible
that you abandoned your comrades and de-
enemy without any reason z" He replied,
"There was reason, but it will not avail be-
fore military court" 1 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 in.
fuenced 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 a letter, saying as he did
SO, t'There, General, is what did it,"
opened the letter, and in moment my eyes
filled with tears. It 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 1 sufficiently
recovered my selfpossession l read the letter
as the defence of the prisoner It was these
words:
"My Dear Edward, Il 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 be-
fore God. Edward, unless you come home we
must die Last night was aroused by little
Eddie's 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. Aud
before God, Edward, unless you come home,
we must die. Your MARY"
Turning to the prisoner, I asked "What
did you do when you received this letter 7"
He replied, ''E made application for furlough,
and it was rejected again made application,
and it was rejected third time made APP
plication, and it was rejected; and that night,
as wandered backward and forward in the
camp, thinking of my home, with the mild
eyes of Lucy looking up to me, and the burns
ing words of Mary sinking in my brain, I was
no longer the Confederate soldier, but was
the father of Lucy and the husband of Mary,
and would have passed those lines if every
gun in the battery had fred upon me- went
to my home. Mary ran out to meet me her
angel arms embraced me, and she whispered,
%, Edward, am so happy am so glad
you got your furlough = She must have felt
me shudder, 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 go back !! Let
me and my children go down together TO the
grave, but o, for heavens sake, save the honor
of our name! And here I am gentlemen,
not brought here by military power, but in
obedience to the command Of Mary, to abide
the sentence of your court"
Every officer of that 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's fash scorched the
ground beneath their feet, and each in his
turn pronounced the verdict: Guilty. For
tunately for humanity, fortunately for the Cons
federacy, the proceedings of the court were
reviewed by the commanding general, and
upon the record was written:
-. "HEADoUARTERs A. N. v.
HThe finding of the court is approved. =
The prisoner is pardoned, and will report to
his company. r E. LEE, General"
During the second battle of Cold HARDER,
when shot aud shell we're falling s.like tor
rents from the mountain cloud" my attention
was directed to the fact that one of our bat
teries was being silenced by the concentrated
fire of the enemy. When I reached the bait
terry every gun but one had been dismautled,
and by it stood the solitary Confederate sol>
d;ar rn;.h 4ha hlaad strnar,;rs. 4-a... 4.