Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-11-05
A Confederate Story.

A Confederate Story.
At a recent political gathering in Tus-
cumbia, Ala, Gen. Cullen A. Battle re-
lated the following touching story:
During the winter of 1864 it was
my fortune to be President Of one of the
courtsmartial 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 to attend the session OF
the court. Winding for miles along I'M
certain paths | at length arrived at the
court-ground at Round Oak Church.
Day after day it had been our duty to
try the gallant soldiers of that army
for violations Of military law, but never
had l on any previous occasion been
greeted by such anxious spectators as
that morning awaited the opening of the
court. Case after case was disposed of
and at length the case of The Confed-
crate States US. Edward Cooper" was
called-charge, desertion. A low muir
muir arose from the battle-sCarTed spec
tatOrs as young artilleryman rose from
the prisoners bench and in response to
the question Guilty or not guilty?"
answered "Not guilty"
The Judge Advocate was proceeding
to open the prosecution when the Court,
observing that the prisoner was unat-
tended by counsel, interposed and in
quired Of the accused, " Who is your
counsel?" He replied, q 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 specifca-
ton against the prisoner was sustained.
The prisoner was then told to introduce
his witnesses. He replied q have no
witnesses" Astonished at the calm
ness with which he seemed to be
submitting to what he regarded as
an inevitable fate, I said to him, "Have
you no defense? Is it possible that
you abandoned your comrades and de-
serted your colorS in the presence of the
enemy without any reasons" He replied
"TheIe was reason, but it will not
avail me before a military court" [
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
tiuenced 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, saying, as he did so, "There,
General, is what did it." [ opened the
letter, and in moment nv 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 a hun
dred battles wept like little children
Soon as [ sufficiently recovered my self
possession | read the letter as the de-
Tense of the prisoner 1t was in these
words:
My DEAR EDWARD have always been proud
OF you, and since your connection with the Con-
federate 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
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 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." He replied: q made APP
plication for furlough and it was re
jected: again I made application and it
was rejected, and that night as | wan
dered backward and forward IN the
camp, thinking of my home, with the
mild eyes of Lucy ooking up to me, and
the burning words of Mary sinking in
my brain, l 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 wills
pered: o! Edward, | am so happy l
am so glad you got your furloughn 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 Manner And here
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 Courtmartial felt
the force of the prisoners words. Be
fore them stood, in beatifc vision, the
eloquent pleader for husbands and
fathers wrongs; but they had been
trained by their great leader, Robert Z.
Lee, to tread the path Of duty though
the lightning's flash scorched the ground
beneath their feet, and each in his turn
pronounced the verdict-guilty. For
tunately for humanity, fortunately for
the Confederacy, the proceedings of the
court were reviewed by the commanding
General, and upon the record was writ
ten:
HEADQUARTERS, A. \. E-The finding of the
court Is approved. The prisoner is pardoned and
Will report to his company.
During the second battle of Cold lar
Dor, when shot and ball 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 gun
but one had been dlsmantled, and by it
stood solitary Confederate soldier,
with the blood streaming from his side.
rs he recognized me he elevated his
voice above the roar of the battle and
said: General, l have one shell left.
Tell me, have saved the honor Of Mary