Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-11-21
A Confederate story


4 Confederate Story.
The following Confederate Story Of the
late war wc fad going the rounds Of tie news
papers. Tie relation Of this touching Incl
dent in the history Of brave private, will no
doubt call 70 mind mauy siuiler oEes iu the
history Of that stnfe; aud we have thought
that it would DO aboE Of love that would be
well rewarded, if some one o. more Of our tai
ented writer's Of the South would collect such
"Reminiscences aud put them 10 a suitable form
to preserve them from the gloom Of foFgetful-
ness. There were many such names in all the
rank aud Gle Of tie army, that weTe 10; born
to die" Il were truly noble task TO perpct-
uatc their deeds Of Aeroism and seli-dcuial,-
worthy TO be known. read. aud imita,ed by our
chillreus children
ct a recent political gathering III Tuscum-
bia. Ala, Gen Cuiieu i. Battle related The
following touching story il the course Of bis
speech
During the winter Of 1e63-Cl it was my
fJrtuuc 10 be president OF Que OF the courts
martial Of the Army Of Northern Virginia.
Oae bleak December morning, while the snow
covered thc ground aud tie winds howled u
round our camp, leit iay bivouac hfe 70 at
teud the session Of tie court. Winding for
miles around uncertain paths, at length ar
rived at the cour, ground at Round Oak
Church Day after day It had been OCr duty
to tty the gallant soldiers Of that army. charg-
Cd with violations Of military law; but never
had | Oh any previous occasion been greeted
by such anxious spcctators as Oh that morning
awaited tic opening Vi the court. Case after
case vas disposed OF, aud at length the case OF
The CoLlcdcrate States VS. Llward Cooper "
WAS cai.el--cLarge, deseGtion. \ low murmur
rose Spontaneously irom the battlc-scaTcd
spectators, As young art!!.eTymsu rOoe from
tie prisoners bench, aud IL rc pouse TO the
question, Gully or lot guilty q answered
" Not guilty"
The Judge Advocate was proceeding to open
tie prosecution, when the court observing that
tie prisoner was uaatleuded by counsel. iuter-
posed and INQUIRED Of the accused, "WhO Is
your couusel?" lie replied, have no couu-
sel' Supposing that 1t was his purpose %
represent himself before tue court, the Judge
Advocate was instructed to proceed. Every
charge and specification against the prisoner
was sustained. The prisoner was then told 10
introduce lis witnesses lie replied, 81 have
10 witnesses" Ast0uishod at tic calmnoss
with which he seemed 10 be submitting to
what he regarded Is inevitable fate. | said 10
him, lave you 10 defence? Is It possible
that YOU abandoned your coinrados aad desert
cd Your coloss il the presence Of the enemy
without any reason? 2" Tie replied, " There
was reason, but it will not avail nc before q
military court" | said Perhaps you arc
mistaken; you are charged with the highest
cime known 10 military law. and II Is your
duty q make known the causes thai atiEducuced
youf action" Fox tie drst time bis msDly
form tremtlcd. and Bis blue oycs swan IN tcsrs.
Approaching the president Of the court he PFC
scut,d .et.er, saying Gs be dc s1. There,
General, Is what lid lt." opcued tie icitcr,
aad 10 a moment ny eyes hllCi with tears. u
vas passed from Que O. another oi tle court
until a.l bad seen Il, sui chose stcrn wauior.
wLo bad passed wiih St0neEaA jackson tAs1
a hundred battles wcrt hsc httie ciilifc1.-
Soou ss sufilcafly recovered my s-.i-Yosfcs-
u0u. I read tlc ..iiCr as tic d,ilacc ci Ga
rr.sooer. % vas il th-se v9r-st
"a I-sr E5~--f- Save tlrr-t te.l rrr.a
~ rUu. AID iirce Touf cerrlrirr u.fl tlf e CO.
ft.rate Army lave been Irnuiar 20 gnl t--
ever before ] ru'i 90 hlff f.l O. alff.ir !
urrar f,s ile vrr.f buf t.iorr tf t1rafl
rr'.re rnl l.r. bone ur rrI l.si Let rIrIf
ues af0 rf.t tT hlflr it's rTrr lrsIt rr
sal "N hsis on. matief, Lt-ls ed to ft.t
600. r.arra. l'n 81. targTf AD. L-r5. %
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