The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-11-05
GENERAL READING.
a Conf; tEern1e %tOT9 ..-TFse letter
that Caused a. EDeserGioz

At a recent political gathering in Tus-
cumbia, Ala, Cen. Cullen A. Battle re-
lated The following touching story in the
course of his speech
During the winter Of 1Se3-64, it was
nv fortune to be President OF one Of the
courts-martiai Of the Army OF Northern
Virginia One bleak December morn
ing, while the snow covered the ground
and the winds howIed around our camp,
| left nv bivouae fire to attend the session
of the court. Winding for miles along
uncertain paths, / at length arrived at
the court-grc und at Round Oak Church.
Day after day it had been our duty TO
try the gallant soldiers Of that army,
charged with
VIOLATION OF MILITARY LAW;
but had never on any previous occasion
been greeted by such anxious spectators
as on that morning awaited the opening
Of the court Case after case WAS dis
posed of, and at length the case Of 1.-The
Confederate States vs.. Edward Cooper
was called charge desertion. a low
murmur rose spontaneously from the
battle Scared spectators, as young ar
anti, in response to the question, Guilty,
or not guilty ?" answered, mot guilty.
The Judge Advocate was proceeding
to open the prose- cution, when the Court,
observing that the prisoner was unattend-
I'd bv counsel, 'interposed and inquired
of the accused, "Wh0 is your COUNSEL?
He replied, Il have no counsel" Sup
posing that it was his purpose to repre-
sent himself before the Court, the Judge
Advocate was instructed 10 proceed.
Every charge and specification agiinst
the prisoner was ASHAMED. The prisoner
was then toId to inrrnduce his witnesses.
lie replied, Il have no Witnesses. As
tonishcd II the calmness with which he
seemed to be submitting to what he re-
earded as inevitable fate, l saId to HIM,
sHave YOU no defense Is it possible
that YOU abandoned your comrades anu
deserted your coiors in the presence Of the
enemv without any reason p He replied,
There was reason, but it will not avail
me before military court. l SAID, FER.
haps YOU are mistaken; you are charged
with the highest crime known to military
law, and it is your duty to make known
the cause that influenced your actions.
For the first time
THIS MANLY FORM TREMBLED,
and his blue eyes swan in tears. AP-
preaching the President of the Court, ne
presented letter, saying as ne dlo SO,
ssThere, General, is what did 1t. l
opened the letter and in a moment my
ewes filed with tears. 1t was passed
from one to another of the Court untli
all had seen it, and those stern warriors
who had passed with Stonewa1 Jackson
through hundred battles wtpt like little
children. Soon as / sufficiently recover
ed INV seifpossion, l read the letter as the
defense of the prisoner. 1t was IN these
words:
MY DEAR EDwARD-I have always
been proud of you, and since your con-
nection with the Confederate Army l
have been prouder of you than ever be-
fore. would not have you Go anything
wrong for the world but, before God,
Edward, unless you come home, we must
die! Last night l wss aroused by little
Eddie's CRYING. / called and said,
whats the matter, Eddie1" and he
said, ooh, mamma, Pm so hungry !!
And Lucy; Edward, your darling Lucy,
she never complains, but she is growing
thinner and thinner every day. And be-
fore God, Edward, unless you come home,
we must die. YOUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, l asked,
'tWhat did you do when you received
this letter." He replied, Il made appll