Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-10-29
"ONE SHELL LEFT"
A Confedcrnte story, with Its .Cioao a,
Cold Anrbor. -{isl'sfisl


A Confcdcrate story, with Its .CIoae at
Cold Hnrbor.
Alta recent political gathering in Tus-
cumbia, Ala. Gen. Onilen "a. Battle re.
Lated the following touching story in the
course of his speech; '''aiS is'is 70 90
During the winter Of 1884 it was my
fortune to :bes president OF, one of the
courts.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,
l left my bivouac fire to attend the ses-
sion of the court. Winding for miles
along uncertain paths, I at length ar
rived at the court1ground at Round, Oak
church. Day aftor day it had been our
duty to try the gallant soldiers of that
army, charged with violations of milf.
tary law but never had I on any pre-.
yious occasion been greeted by such
anxious spectators as on that morning
awaited the opening of the court, Case
after case was disposed Of and at length
the case Of The Confederate states va.
Edward Cooper" was call charge,
desertion. A low murmur rose sponta-
neously from the battle.scarred epacta.
tors, as young artillery. man rose from
the prisoners bench, and, in response to
the question, Z" Guilty or not guilty p
answered, "Not guilty." d
The. Judge advocate was proceeding to
open the prosecution, when the court,
observing that the prisoner was unat-
tended by counsel, interposed and in
quired of the accused, "Who is your
eounsel?"' He replied "I lave no
counsel" Supposing that it was his
purpose to represent himself before the
court, the judge advocate was instructed
to proceed. Every charge was sus-
tanned. The prisoner was then told to
introduce his witnesses. He replied,
" / have no Witnesses" Astonisheo at,
the calmness with which ho seemed to
be submitting to what he regarded as
inevitable fate, said to him, "Have
abandonedlyour comrades and deserted
your, colors in the presence of the
enemy without, any reason2" he re-
piled, There was reason; but it will
not,ayail me .before.ia military: court"
I said: " Perhaps you are mistaken;
you are charged with the highest crime,
known to military law, and it is your
duty to make known the causes that in
fuenced ,your actions" For the first
time his manly form trembled, and his
blue eyes swan in tears. Approaching
the presid of tie cuurt lie r,resentei
o letter, saying as he did 30, g There,
general, ,sisswhab did It. - j Ilopened the
letter, and in Q moment my eyes filled
with tears. It 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
hundred battles wept like little chill
dren. Soon as. I sufficiently recovered
my self f-possession, I read the letter as
the. defense of the prisoner. It was in
these words: fG
NY DEAR EDwARp-I have always been
proud of you, and since your connection with
the Confederate army have bcen prouder of
do ANYTHING wrong for the world but before
God Edward, unless you come home we must
die! Last night was aroused by little Ed
die,scrying; .Isalled 8, and said WHAT'S tho
I'm 80 hungry!" And Lucy, Edward, your
darling Lucy, she never complains, but abe is
growing thinner and thinner every day And
before God, Edward, unless YOU como home
wo must die. = - r YOUR MARY.
Turning to, tho prisoner, I asked
"What did you do when you received
this letter ?" He replied: !" I made ap.
plication for furlough, and it was re-
jeoted again I made application, and
it was rejected; third timeI made ap-
plication, and it was rejected, and that
night, as / wandered backward and for
war6 in the camp, thinking of my home,
with the mild eyes of Lucy looking up
to me, and the burning words of Mary
sinking int6m my brain, was no longer
the Confederate soldier, but was the
father of Lucy and the husband of
Mary, and would have passed those
L1ipau if auaru fv1r tho
fred upon. me. went to my home.
Mary ran out to meet me, her angel
arms embraced me, and she whispered,
oh! Edward,;I am 30 happy! I am 80
glad you gotyour furloughp She must
have felt me eehudder, for she turned
lpaleas death, and, catching her breath
ct every word, she said, Have Won
come without your furlongh 20 Ed
ward, Edward, go back go bnck Let
me and mychildren 90 down together to
the, graves but o, for heavens sake, save
the e'honorsof our name Z And here I
am, gentlemen, not brought here by
military powsS but in obedience to the
command ofszMary, to abide the sem
tence of yonr court"
Every officer of that court-martial
felt the force of the prisoners words.
Before them stood, in beatifc vision.
the. eloquentapleader for husbands
andAa fathers wrongs; but they had
been traiged by their great leader
Robert e. Lee, to tread the path of
duty, thougt the lightning's flash
scorohed the ground beneath their feet,
and each in his turn pronounced the
verdiot-guilty. Fortunately for hu.
manity, fortunately for the Confedera.
oy, the proceedings of the court were