The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-11-13
" One She'll Left"
A CONFEDERATE STORY, WITH ITS CLOSE
AT COLD HARBOR,


At recent political gathering in Tus
| cumbia, Ala, Gen. Cullen A. Battle re-
lated the following touching story in the
| course of his speech:
During the winter of 1864 it was my
fortune to be 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
lett my blvOuac fire to attend the ses-
sion Ot the court. Winding for miles
along uncertain paths, at length ar
rived at the cOurt-grOund at Round Oak
church. Day after day it had been our
duty to try the gallant soldiers of that
army, charged with violations of mill
tary law; but never had on any pre-
vlOus 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 VS..
Edward Cooper" WAS called-charge,
desertiOn. A low murmur rose sponta-
neOusly from the battle scared specta-
tors, as young artillery-man rose from
the prisoners bench, and, in response to
the question, Guilty or not guilty ~
answered, Not guilty"
The Judge Advocate was proceeding
to open the prosecution, when the court,
observing tnat the prisoner was unat-
tended by counsel, interpOsed and in
qulred OF the accused, "WhO is your
counsel?" He replied, 81 haven cOun-
sell" SuppOsing that it was his purpose
to represent. himself before the court,
the Judg dge Advocate was instructed to
proceed. Every charge was sustained.
The prisoner was then told to introduce
witnesses" AstOnished at the calmness
with which he seemed to be submitting
to what he regarded as inevitable fate,
| said to him, ''Have you no defense
Is it possible that you abandoned your
comrades and deserted your colors in
the presence of the enemy without any
reason 7" He replied, "There was
reason; but it will not avail me before
a military court" | said: "Perhaps
you are mistak ken you are charged with
the highest crime known to military law,
and 1t is your duty to make known the
causes that influenced your actions"
For the first time his manly form trem-
0led, and his blue eyes swan in tears.
Approaching the president of the court
he presented letter, saying as he did
so, There, General, is what did it," /
opened the letter, and in a 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
a hundred battles wept like lit
tie children. Soon as / sufficiently re-
covered my self-pOssession, | read the
letter as the defense of the prisoner. 1t
was in these words:
NJ DEAR EDWARD-Thave always been proud
Of you, aud since your connection with the Con
federate army have been prouder OF you than
ever before. would not have you do anything
wrong for the world; but before God. Edward,
unless you come home we must die! Last night
I was aroused by little Eddie's crying. called
and said: What's the matter, Eddie 2" and he
said: Oh, mamma, I'm so hungry" And Lu-
cy, Edward yOnr darling Lucy, she never com
plains, but she is growing thinner and thinner
y0u come we must die. YOUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, l asked
' What did you do when you received
this letter." He replied: "I made ap-
plicatiOn for furlough, and it was re-
ected; again I made application, and
it was rejected third time made ap-
llicatiOn, and it was rejected, and that |
night as wandered backward and for
ward in the camp, thinking of my home,
With the mild eyes of Lucy looking up
% me, and the burning words of Mary |
sinking into my brain, | was no longer |
he Confederate soldier, but | was the |
'ather of Lucy and the husband of Mary, |
md | would have passed those lines it |
every gun in the battery had fired upon |
ne. went to my home. Mary ran out |
% meet me, her angel arms. embraced |
ne, and she whispered, %! Edward, | |
I'm so glad you got your furlOugh!' She |
must have felt me shudder, for she turn
d pale as death, and, catching her
breath at every word, she said, Have
,ou come without your furlOugh? 0!
Edward, go back! go back
let me and my children go down to-
sether to the grave, but 0, for Heavens
AXE, save the honor of our namer And
lere am, gentlemen, not brought here
" military power. but in obedience to
he command of Mary, to abide the SEN
ence of yOur court"
Every officer of that court martial felt
he force of the prisoners words. Be-
ore them stood, in beatific vision, the
lOquent pleader for husbands and
ather's wrongs; but they had been
rained by their great leader, Robert E.
Zee, to tread the path of duty, though
Hc IlEnt1tHS ~ IRISH SCOFCIiVu lflt RtOuua |
enPath their feet, and each in his turn
ronounced the verdict-guilty. For
unately for humanity, fortunately for
he COnfederacy, the proceedings of the
ourt were reviewed by the commanding
eneral, and upon the record was writ
en-:
HEADQUARTERS, A. N. v.
The finding OF the court is approved. The |
risOner is pardoned and win report to his COM
any. R. u. LEE, General.
During the second battle of Cold Har-
or, when shot and shell were falling
like torrents from the mountain cloud"
~ attention was directed to the fact
hat one of our batteries was being 81
sncAd by the concentrated fire of the
nemy. When I reached the battery
very gun hut one had been dismantled,
nd by it stood a solitary Confederate
DIdier, with the blood streaming from
is side. AS he recognized me he ele-
ated his voice above the roar of battle
nd said, General, I have one shell
.ft. Tell me, have | saved the honor
f Mary and Lucy?" raised my hat.
nee more a Confederate shell went
rashing through the ranks of the enc
~, and the hero sank by his gun to rise
O more.