Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-10-24
A CONFEDERATE STORY.

TuScumbia. Ala. General Cullen y
Battle related the following touching
story in the course OF his speech
During the winter OF lS63-6i. twas
my fortune TO be president of one OF the
cunrtsmartial of the Army Of Northern
Virginia One bleak December morn
inc, while the snow covered the ground
and the winds howled around onrcamp,
| left nv biyouac fire to attend the SeS.
sion of the court. Winding for miles
along uncertain paths. / at length arriv-
ed 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 militia
ry law: but never had | on anyprevions
occasion been greeted by Such aIXionS
spectators as on that morning awaited
the openinr of the court. Case after
case was disposed OF. and NJ length the
case of The Confederate States W. Ed
ward Cooper" was called-chargc. de
sertion. \ low murmur rose spontanc-
ously from the battle Scared spectators
as a Young artihryman from the priS.
oners bench. and in response to the
question, Guilty or not guilty ,! an
swered. Not guilty"
The Judge advocate was proceeding
to open the prosecution, when the coart
observing that the prisoner was unat-
tended by counsel. interpoScd and IN
quired of the accused, "Who is your
counsel !' He replied, | have no
counsel Supposing that it was his
purpose to represent himself before the
court the Judge advocate was instructed
to proceed Every charge and specif
cation against the prisoner was sustain
ed. The prisoner was then told to in.
roduce his witnesses. lie replied, Il
have no witnesses. AstonlShed ut the
calmueSs with which he seemed TO be
submitting to what he regarded rs in
evi,ablc tate, said to him. "llavc you
no defence Is 1t possible that You
abandoned Your comrades and deserted
your colors in the presence of the enc
my without any reason , lie replied.
There was n reason, hut it will not
avail me before a military court
said. "Perhaps YOU arc mistaken: You
are charged with the highest crime
known to military law, and ii is yonr
duty To make known the cause that in
hueuccd vnur actions" For The first
time his manly form trcmbled, aud hls
blue eyes swan in tears Approaching
the president of the court, he prcSente!
letter. saving rs he did so. There,
General, is what did il. | opened tho
letter and in moment my eyes filled
with tears. 1t was passed from one 10
another Of the court until all had seen
it. and those stern warriors who had
passed with Stoncwall Jackson through
n hundred battles wept like little chill.
dren. Soon as sufficiently recovered
nv self possession | read the letter "a
the defense Of the prisoner. 1t was III
these words
"My Dear Edwarl-I havo always
been proud Of Won, and since your con
nection with the Confederate Army |
have been prouder OF You than ever he
fore. would not have you do anything
wrong for the world; but before God,
Edward, unless you come home wo
must die Last night was aroused
b, Eddies crying. called and said,
What's the matter, Eddie |! and he
said. 'Oh. mamma. I'm so hungry
And Lucy, Edward, your darling Lucy,
she never complains, but she isgrowlng
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, Il made ap-
plication for fnllough aud it was reject
ed; again made application, and 1t was
rejected and that night, as ] wandered
backward aud forward in the camp,
thinking OF my home with the mild
eyes of Lucy looking up 10 me, and the
burning words of Mary sinking in my
brain, | was no longer the Confederate
soldier, bat / was the father OF Lucy
and the husband OF Mary. and ! would
have passed those lines if every gun IN
the battery had fired upon me. ] went
to my home. Mary ran ont TO meet
ne; her angel arms embraced me, and
she whispered, 20, Edward, ! am 50
happy | am so glad You got your
/ iurlough = She must have felt mo
shuddcr, for she turned as pale as death,
and catching her breath at every word,
she said. Have you come home without
your furlough o, Edward, Edward,
20 back 20 back let me aud my
children go down together TO the grave,
but q. for heavens sake, save the honor
of your name : And here am gentle
men. not brought here by military pow
er. but in obedience u the command Of
Mary. to abide the sentence OF the
court.
Every officer Of that courtmartial felt
the force OF the prisoners words. Be
fore them stood in beatiiic vision, the
eloquent pIeader for q husbands and
fathers wrongs; but they had been
trained by their great leader, Robert +.
Lee. to tread the path OF duty though
the lightning fash scorched the ground
beneath their feet, and each IN turn
pronounced the verdict Guilty. For
iunately for humanity, fortunately for
the Confcderacy. the proceedings Of the
court were reviewed by the command
ing general, and upon the record was
wrltted
HEADQUARTERS y y. Y.