South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-10-23


speech
During The winter OF ;s63-'G4 il was my for
tuns 20 De presided, OF one Of The courts martial
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia one bleak
December morning, while the snow covered the
ground and the winds bow. led around our camp.
left nav bivousc-6te to attend the session of the
court. Winding for miles along UNCERTAIN paths.
! AZ leag,l arrived al the court-grouud At Rouad
Oak church Day after day i, had been our da-
~ 10 try the gallant soldiers Of that army charg-
cd with violations of military law but never
had on any previous occasion been greeted by
such ANXIOUS spectators ~ on that morning n
waited the opening of the court Case after case
was disposed Of, and at length the case of "The
Confederate States VS.. Edward Cooper" was call
ed charge, dcscItou 4 low murmur rose
spontaneously from the batte-scarred spectators
as young eriilleryman rose from the prisoners
bench. aud, in response to the question, Guilty
or not guilty ?" answered "Not guilty"
The judee-advoca,e was proceeding to open
the prosecution, " hen the court, obser, Ing that
the prisoner was unattended by counsel inter
posed and inquired Of tie accused "Who is your
COUNSEL He replied, 81 have no counsel -
| Surprising that il was his purpose to represent
himself before the court the judge advocate was
instructed TO proceed. Every charge and speci.
( scaiion against the prisoner was sustained The
prisoner was thea told 10 introduce his witness
es. He replied, al have no witnesses" Aston
ished at the calmness with which ne eeemed to
/ be submitting to what be regarded as inevitable
fate, said to him, "Ilave you no defence ?"-
/ IS it possible that you abandoned your comrades
] deserted cplnr in
enemy without any reason ?" He repled. -
There was reason, but it will not avail before
a military court" | said, "Perhaps Won are
mistaken you charged with the highest
crime known TO military law, and it is your du
/ ty 10 make known the causes that influenced
your actions" For the frsJ time his manly
form trembled, and his blue eyes swan ia tears.
Approaching the president Of the court, he pre-.
scented letter, saying as he did so, 'There Gen
eral, is what did it," opened the letter, and
in IN oment my eyes filed with tears. II was
passed from one to another OF the court until all
/ bad seen II, and those stern warriors who had
passed with Sionewall Jackson through a hun
dred battles wept like little children. Soon as
sufficiently recovered ny sefpos session read
the letter as the defence of the prisoner. 1t was
in these words:
Ny Dear Edward, II have always been proud
oil you, and since your connection With the Con-
.edeTa;e Array have been prouder Of you than
ever before. ! would not have you do an thing
wrong for the word-but before God, Edward
unless YOU come home we must die! Last night
| was aroused 10y little Riddles crying. called
and said, whats the matter, Eddie p and he
said, oh, mamma, I'm so hungry . And Lu.
/ cy, Edward, your darling Lucy, she never com
plains, but she is growing thinner aud thinner
every day And before God, Edward, unless
you come home, we must die Ycua MANY"
turning 10 the prisoner, sslScd, "Wbat did
you Do when you received this letter r. lie re-
Piled o.! made application for f1rlough, aud II
was rejected -agail | made application, and i
was reIecied--n ,hird time ! made application
and II MAS rcjec!ed-oud that night as wander
cd backward aid forward in the camp. thinking
OF my home, with the mild eyes Of Lucy look
ing up to me, and tie Turning words Of Mary
sinking in my brain was no longer the Con
iederate soldier, but was the father OF Lucy and
inc husband of Nary, aud I would have passed
those lines 10 every gun in the battery had fred
upon me. went 10 my home Mary ran out
10 meet me-her angel arms embraced me. aud
she whispered, %, Edward ! am SO happy /
am so glad you got your furlough She must
have icit me shudder, for she turned pale as
death. and, catching her breath NJ every word
She ssidi Have You come without your f1rlougb2
%, Edward, Edward, 60 back 90 back lie,
ine and my children 60 down together 10 The
grave, bat %, Tor he1ven's sake, save The hon
of our name And hero T am gentleman. not
r..fI.f f.rr t.. t...f
70 the command o. Iary, % abide the sentence Of
your court
Every officer of that courtmartiaI felt the fore,
of ths putoner words Before them stood. in
tesUG- vision, the eloquent pleader far bus.
bands and fathers wrong's-but they lad
been trained By 'her great leader, Robert Lee
20 tread tbe path Of duty though tie lightning 3
fash scorched the ground beneath their feel. and
each in bis turn pronounced the verdict. Gull.
ty. Fortunately fJr humanity. fortunately FOR
ihe Con'eiefcy, the proceedings Of tbe cour,
were reviewed by the c3nmtudirz general. and
upon ite record vas w,itten
HEAUQCAnrEm a. ". v.
"The finding Of 'ae coart is approved Tb,
prisoner is pardoled, and will report to his com
rauy Il. r LEg. General
During the second battle fCold Harbor. when
shot and shell we're falling "like torrents from
tle mountain cloud my attention vas directed
20 DE fact that Que Of our batteries was beine
sucnccd by The concentrated FIRE Of the eaemy
When reached the battery e.ory gun bu, ont
had been dismantled and by il stood the soliia
~ Confederate soldier with the blood streaming
from his side. As be recognized me he eleva,ct
his voice above the roar Of battle. and said