The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-16
A CONFEDERATE STORY.
The Letter That Caused a DISCRETION
Extract From a Southern Ex-G Gem
erals Speech In Alabama.

cumbia, Ala, Gen. Cullen A. Battle re-
lated the following touching story in
the course Of his.speech:
During the winter Of 1s63-6l il was
my fortune to be President OF one Of the
eourts-martial Of the Army of Northern
Virginia One bleak December morn
ing, 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 uncertain paths, / al length
arrived at the court-ground at Round
Oak Church. Day afterday it had been
our duty to try the gallant soldiers Of
that army, charged with violations Of
military law, but never had i on any
previous occasion been greeted by such
anxious spectators as on that morning
awaiting the opening Of the court. Case
after case was disposed Of and at length
the case Of "The Confederate States VS..
Edward Cooper" was called-charge,
desertion. A low murmer rose spontan-
eously from the battle-searred spectators,
as a young artilleryman rose from the
prisoners 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 court,
observing that the prisoner was uuat-
tended by counsel, interposed and in
quired Of the accused, "Who is your
oounsel?" He replied, 81 have no coun-
sel." Supposing that it was his purpose
to represent himself before the court,
the Judge Advocate was instructed to
proceed. Every charge and specifca-
tion against the prisoner was sustained
The prisoner was then told to introduce
his witnesses. He replied, 81 have no
witnesses.n Astonished at the coolness
with which he seemed to be submitting
to what he regarded as inevitable fate,
| said to him, "IIavc you no defense? j.
il possible thaty abandoned your com
rades and deserted your colors in the
presence Of the enemy without any rea-
son?" lie replied, "There was a reason
but it will not avail me before a mill
tary court" said: "Perhaps you are
mistaken; you are charged with the
highest crime known to military law,
and it is your duty to state the causes
that influenced your actions" For the
first time his manly form trembled, and
his blue eyes swan in tears. Approach
ing the president Of the court he pre-
sented letter, saying as he did 20,
"There, General, is what did IT,"
opened the letter, and in moment my
eyes filled with tears. Il 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 hundred battles, wept like little chill
dren. Soon az | sufficiently recovered
my self-possession / read the letter as
the defense Of the prisoner. It was in
these words:
My DEAR EDwARD:-I have always
been proud of you, and since your cen
nection with the Confederate Army
have been pouder Of you than ever be-
fore. / 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'p so hungry And
Lucy, Edward, your daring Lucy, she
never complains, but she is growing
thinner ard 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." lie replied: 81 made ap.
plication for furlough, and it was re-
jectod; again I made application and it
was rejected, third time made appli-
cation, and it was rejected, and that
night, as / wandered backward and for
ward 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 brain, i was no longer the
Confederate soldier, but was the father
of Lucy and the husband of Mary, and
/ would have passed those lines il every
gun in the battery had fred upon me.
went to my home. Mary ran out TO
meet me, her angel arms embraced me;
and she whispered, 'Ol Edward / am 30
happy i am so glad you got your fur
loughv She must have felt me shudder,
for she turned pale az death, and catch
ing her breath at every word, she said,
Have you come without your furlough?
O! Edward, Edward, 60 back go backI
Let me and my children go down togcth-
er to the grave, but o, for heavens sake,
save the honor of our nameI And here
l am, gentlemen, not brought here by
military power, but in obedience Go the
command of Mary, to abide the sentence
Of your court.
Every officer Of that court-martial felt
the force of the prisoners words. Be
fore them stood, in beatiGc vision, tho
eloquent pleader for a husband and a
fathers wrong; but they had been traiu-
ed by their great leader, Robert E. 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 Forum
ately for humanity, fortunately for the
Confederacy, the proceedings Of che
court were reviewed by the commanding
general, and upon the record was written.
HEADQUARTERs, A. n, Y.
The finding Of the court g. approved
The prisoner is pardoned and will report
TO his company. II. l.. LEE, Genl.
During the second battle Of Cold TIar-
Dor, when shot and she'll were falling
"like torrents from the mountain cloud, %
my attention was directed 10 the fact
that one of our batteries was being ale
lenccd by the concentrated fire Of thc