Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-10-17


represent himself before the court,
the Judge Advocate vas instruct
ed to proceed. Ever charge and
specification against the prisoner
was sustained. The prisoner was
then told to introduce his wit
nesses. He replied that he had no
witnesses. Astonished at the cool
ness with which he seemed to be
submitting to what he regarded
as inevitable fate, | said to him,
" Have you no defence ?" T. it
possible that you deserted your
comrades and deserted your colors
ia the presence of the enemy with
no reason whatever % He replied.
There was reason, but it would
vail me nothing before military
court" | said, perhaps you are
mistaken; you are charged with
the highest crime known to mill
tary law and it your duty to make
known the causes that induced the
act. For the first time the manly
form trembled, and the blue eyes
swan with tears. Approaching the
President o the court he presented
= letter, Saying as he did so, "There
General, is what did it," / opened
the letter, and in moment my
eyes filled with tears. / handed it
from one TO another Of the court,
until all had seen it, and those
stern warriors who had passed
through hundred battles with
StoneWall Jackson, wept like little
children. Soon as | had sufficient
~ recovered my self possession ]
read the letter as the defence of
the prio oner. 1t was in these
words:
MY DEAR EDWARD IT have
always been proud of you, and
since your connection with the
Confederate Army / have been
prouder than ever before. | would
not have you do anything wrong
for the world; but before God,
Edward, unless you come home
we will die! Last night | was
aroused by Little Edward crying.
| called and said: "What is the !
Eddie?" and he said:
"Oh, mamma, Pm so hungry p
And Lucy, Edward, your darling
Lucy, she never complains, but is
thinner and thinner every
day. And before God, Edward, |
unless you come home we must
de-" Your MARY.
Turning TO the prisoner asked:
What did you do when you re-
ceived this letter." He replied:
II made application for furlough
and was rejected again ! made
and it was rejected; a |
third time ] made app icatiun, and |
was rejected, and that night As
Wandered backward and forward
in the camp thinking of my homo,
with the mildeyesof Lucy looking
up to me, and the burning words
OF Mary sinking III my brain, |
was 10 longer the Confederate sol
der, but / was the father of Lucy
and the husband OF Mary, and |
would have passed those lines if
every gun n the battery had been
hred upon me | went 10 my
home. Mary ran out to meet me.
her angels arms embraced me ;
and she whispered, ooh, Edward,
/ am so happy! | ana so glad you
got your furl0ugh - She must
have felt me shudder, for she at
once turned pale as death, and |
catching her breath at every word,
she said, Have you come without |
q furlough? Go back ! go back
Let me and my children go down |
together to the grave, but O, for
heavens sake, save the honor of |
our name !" And here / am, gen.
tlemen, not brought here by mill
tary power, but in obedience to the
command of Mary, to abide the |
of your court"
Every officer of that court mar
tial felt the truth of the prisoners |
words. Before them stood, in be-
attic vision, the eloquent pleader
for husbands and fathers wrong;
but they had been trained by their |
great leader, Robert e. Lee, to |
tread the path of duty, though the
lightnining's flash scorched the
ground beneath their feet, and |
each in their turn pronounced the |
verdict-guilty. Fortunately for
humanity, fortunately for the Con-
federacy, the proceedings of the |
court " ere reviewed by the COM
general, and upen the
record was written:
HEADQUARTERS, A. N. V.
The finding of the court is ap-
proved. The prisoner is pardoned
and will report to his company.
r. Il. LEE, General
During the second battle of Cold
Harbor, when shot and shell were
falling alike torrents from noun
tain Cloud" my attention was di-
rected to the fact that one of our