Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-18

At a recent political gathering in Tus
cumbia, Alabama, General Cullon A .
Battle related the following touching
story in the course Of his speech: "Du-
ring the winter Of 1864 it WAS my for
tune 10 be president OF the cOurtsmartial
I Of the army of Northern Virginia. One
1 bleak December morning, While the
snow ,vered the ground and the winds
! howled around our camp, ! left my BIZ
vOuac fire 10 attend the session Of the
court. Winding for miles along uncer-
/ tain paths, l at length arrived at the
cOurtgrOund at Round Oak church. Day
after day it had been our duty 10 try the
gallant soldiers Of that army, charged
with violations OF military law: hut
never bad | on any previous occasion
been greeted by such anxious spectators
as on that morning awaited the OPEN
ing OF The court. Case after case was
disposed OF, aud At length the case of
The Confederate States as. Edward
Cooper was called-charge, desertiou.
A low murmur rose spontaneously from
the b6ttle-scarred spectators, as young
srtilleryman rose from the prisoners
bench, and, in response to the question,
Guilty or not guilty? answered, Not
guilty. The judge advocate was pro-
ceeding to open the prosecution,
when the court observing that
the prisoner was unattended by counsel,
interpOsed snd inquired of the accused,
Who is your counsel@ He replied,
have no counsel Surprising il was
his purpose 20 represent himself before
the court, the judge-sdvocate was in
structed to proceed. Every charge and
specification was sustained. The pris-
fAanra FOL - l.
nesseS. He replied, l have no wit
nesses.' Astonished at the ealmness
with which be seemed to be submitting
70 what he regarded rs inevitable fate. i |
said to him, Have you no defense F.? |
Is Il possible that you abandoned your
comrades and deserted your eolOrs in the !
presence OF the enemy without any rea-
son% He replied, There was q rea-
son lat Il will Dot avail me before a /
military court / said, Perhaps YOU 4
are mistaken; you are charged with the /
highest crime known TO military law.
and it IS your duty 20 make known the 4
causes which Influenced your actions.
h OF the first time his manly form tram-
bled, and his blue eyes swan in tears
Approaching ihe president Of the court.
he presented a letter, saying, as he did !
so, There, general, is what did it, /
opened the letter, and in moment my
eyes filled with tears. It was passed
from one 10 another of the court until
all bad seen 1t, and those stern warriors
who had passed with StOneWall jackson
through a hundred battles went like
children. Soon as 1 sufficiently recoy-
cred my elf-possession, / read the let
ter as the defense Of the prisoner. IL
was In these words:
MY DEAR EDwARD-I have always been
proud OF you, and since your connection with
the Coniederate army 4 have been proucfer OF
you than ever before I would not have you
do anything wrong for the world; but, before
God, Edward, unless you come home We must I
1iei Last night was aroused by little Eddiesg ,
crying. 1 called and said: isW mats The mat /
Ter, Eddie2" and he said "Oh mamma. I'm
70 hungry And Lucy-Edward, your dar-
ing Lucy-she never complains, but She Is ,
growing thinner and thinner every day. And
before God, Edward, unless you come home
We must diel YOUR NARY
'"FurDing to the prisoner, asked:
What did you do when you received 4
mis- letter? He replied: 4 made APP
llieatiOn for furlough, and it was re- (
eeted; again made application and il {
vas rejected; third time made ap- c
and it was rejected, and that
light, as wandered backward and
onward In the camp, thinking Of my 4