The enquirer southerner., 1874-10-30

Battle at / IuScuinOia. p
During winter of 1863-'G4 it was
NV fortune to be President Of one
of tie courts martial Of the Army
Of Northern Virginia. Que hlc3k
December morning, while the-,snow
covered the ground and the winds
howled around the camp, / lets my
bivouacfire to attend the session Of
the court. Winding for mics along
uncertain paths, / ct length arrived
at the court ground ar Round Oak
Church. Day after day it hal
been our duty to try the gallant
soldiers Of that army, char ged with
violations Of military law ; but never
had i, on any previous occasion,
been greeted by such anxious spec
tators as on that morning awaited
the opening Of the court. Case af-
ter case was disposed of, and at
length the case of the Confedcr~
ate States VS.. Edward Cooper, was
called charge, desortion. A low
muymur rose spontaneously from
the battle SCARED spectators as a
young artilleryman rose from the
prisoners bench, and in response to
the question Guilty or not Guilty?
answered Not Guilty
The Judge advocate was pro-
ceeding to open the prosecution
when the Court, observing that the
prisoner was unattended by counsel,
interp9sed and enquired Of the ac-
cused, Who is your counsel! He
replied, L have no counsel. Sup>
posing 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 told to introduce his witnesses.
He replied, L have no Witnesses
AstonlShed at the calmness with
which he seemed to be submitting
to what he regarded as inevitable
fate, I said 20 him. Have ynu no
defence Is it possible that you
abandoned your comrades and de-
serted your colors in th- presence
of the enemy acith0sst any reason 2
He replied, There was q reason,
but it will not avail ne before a
military court | said: Perhaps
you arc mistaken ; you are charged
with the highest crime known to
military law, and it is your duty to
make kpoNn tie causes that infu-
enced your actions For the first
tine his manly form trembled and
his blue eyes swan in tears. Ap~
proaching the President OF the court
he presented letter, saying as he
did SO, There General, IS what did
it, L opened the letter, and in a
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 StonewalI jackson
through q hundred battles wept like
little children. Soon as / sufficient
y recovered my self~possession, I
read the letter as the defence of the
prisoner. It was in these words:
Nj DEAR EDWARD I have al
ways been proud of you and since
your connection with the ConfederS
ate army | have been prouder Of
you than ever before. | 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. I called and said.
What's the matter, Eddie?' and
he said, 'Oh, mama, I'm so hung
ryH 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, l asked,
What did you do when you receiv-
ed this letter. He replied, L
made application for furlough and
it was rejected; again l made ap>
plication and it was rejected third
time | made application and it was