Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-15

A recent political gathering in Tus-
cnmbia, Ala, Gen. Cullen a. Battle reat-
ed the following touching story in the
i,u.nt-c the "uItci "a io"o-oi my
fortune to be President of one ofthe 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
fire 10 attend the session of the court.
Winding for miles along uncertain paths, |
a. length arrived at the court-grouud 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 pre-
viOus occasion been greeted BY such anx-
ious spectators aS on that morning await
Ell the opening Of the court. Case after
case was disposed of, and at length the
case OF ''rhe Confederate States vs. Ed
ward Cooper" was called-charge, deser-
ton. a low murmur rose spontaneously
from the battle-scarred spectators. as il
young artilleryman rose from the prison.
Guilty, or not guilty" answered. Not
guilty"
The Judge Advocate was proceeding to
open the prosecution, when the court OBJ
serving that the prisoner was unattended
by counsel, intcrposcd and inquired Of
the accused, "Who is your counsel?" He
replied. Il have no counsel" Supposing
that il was his purpose to represent him
self before the court. the Judge Advocate
vas instructed to proceed. Every charge
| and specification against the prisoner was
sustained. The prisoner was then told 10
introduce his witnesses. He replied, II
have no witnesses" Astonished ut the
calmness with which he seemed TO be sub
mitting to what he regarded as inevitable
| fate, | said to him, "Haye you no defense?
| l. it possible that you abandoned your
| comrades, and deserted your colors in the
| presence OF the enemy, without any rea-
son? He replied, There was reason,
but il will not avail me before a military
court | said 'Perhaps you are mista-
| ken; you are charged with the highest
crime known to military law, and it is
your duty to make known the cause that
| influenced your actions" For the first
time his manly form trembled, and his blue
eyes swan in tears. Approaching the
| President ofthe court he presented a let
ter, saying as he did SO, There, General,
is what did it. | opened the letter, ard in
a moment my eyes filed with tears. 1t
was passed from one to another of the
court until all had seen il, anu those stern
warriors who had passed with Stonewall
Jackson through hundred battles wept
like little children. Soon as l had suffi-
ciently recovered my self-posession, l
read the letter as the defense Of the prison.
er. 1t was in these words:
My DEAR EDWARD: l have always been
proud of you, and since your connection
with the Confederate Army l have been
prOuder than ever before. l would not
have you do anything wrong for the world !;
but before God, Edward, unless you come
home We must die! Last night l was
aroused by little Eddie's crying. | 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 be-
fore God. Edward. unless you come home
| we must die.
YOUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, 1 asked: "What
did you do when received this letter?' He
replied: 81 made application for furlough,
and i was rejected; again made applica-
ton, 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 burning words of Mary sinking in my
braiu, was no longer the Confederate SOL
der. but was the father of Lucy and the
husband of Mary, and would have pass
ed those lines if every gun in the battery
had fred upon me. l went to my home.
Mary ran our to meet me, her angel arms