The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-10-10
A CONFEDERATE STORY.
THE LITTER THAT CAUSED !
DESERTION.
EXTRACT FROM SOUTHERN Ex-GESERAL's
SPEECH IN ALABAMA

At recent political gathering III
Tuscumbia, Ala, General Cullen A. Battle
rela'od the following touching story in the
course of his speech
Dnring The winter of 1863 ca it was nv
fortune to be president 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
howled around our camp left my bivouac
fire to attend the session of the court.
hiding for miles along uncertain paths,
Mt length arrived at the conrt-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
tnry law; but never had or any previous
occasion been greeted by such anxious
spectators as on that morning awaited the
opening of the court. Case after case was
disposed Of md ut length the case of .Thc
Confederate States ~. Edward Cooper" was
callcd-chnrge, dcsertion. a low murmur
rose spontaneously from the battle Scared
spectators, as young urtillcryman rose
from the prisoners bench, and, in response
to the question, Guilty or not guilty -
answered, ''Nor guilty
The judge advocate was proceeding to
open the prosecution, when the court,
observing that the prisoner was u'lattcnde.l
by counsel, intcrposed, AMI inquired os the
accused, 'Who is your counsel ?" lie re-
Piled Il have no counsel" Surprising that
il was his purpose to represent himself be-
fore the court, the Judge advocate was in
sructcd 10 proceed. Every charge AMI
specification against the prisoner was yns-
In ned. The prisoner WIS then told TO IN
trodIcc his witnesses. He replied, al have
no witnesses" As;onishel at he c,lnn.ss
with which he seemed to be submitting to
What lie regarded rs inevitable fate, | said
to him, "lIave YOU no defense? Is it
poss bic that you abandoncl your comrades
aud deserted your col"rs in the presence of
the enemy without any reason ?" lie re
Piled, There was n reason, but it will not
avail me before n military court" l said,
Perhaps you nrc mistaken: ysu are
| charged with the highest crime known to
military law, and it is youE duty to make
| known the causes that influenced your no-
| tions." For the first time his manly form
rcmblcd, and his blue eyes swan in .cars.
| Approaching the president of cours, he pro-
scntcd letter, saying. as he did so, "Thcre,
| general, is what did it," opened the let
;er, and in n moment my eyes filled with
tcais. 1t was passed. from one to another
OF tre court until all had seen it, and those
stern warriors who had passed with Stonewall
Jackson through hundred bait wept like
little children. Soon as | sufficiently re-
covered my self possession, I read the letter
MS the defense Of the rsoner. It was
these words:
| My DEAR EDwARp-I have always been
prond Of you, md since your connection
with the Confederate army l have been
proudcr 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 was
aroused by lite Eddic's crying. called
and said What's the matter, Eddie ?" and
he said: "Oh, mamma, I'm 80 hungry -
And Lucy, Edward, your darling Lucy, she
never complains, but she is growing thin
ner and thinner every day. An before
God, Edward, unless you come home we
must die. YoUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, | asked: "What
did you do when you received this letter."
lie replied: Il made application for fur.
lough, and it was rejected; again mad
application and il was rcjcctcl n third time
| made application, md it was rejected, an d
that night, as | wandered back kward and
forward in the camp, thinking of my home
with the mild eyes Of Lucy looking up t.
mo, and the burning words Of Mary sinking
IL my brain, was no longer tho Confeder
ate soldier, but l was tho father Of Lucy
and the husband Of Mary, and would have
passed those lines if every gun in tn,
battery had fired upon me. Invent to m,
home, Mary ran out to meet me, her ange
arms embraced me- and she whispered
"Oh Edward, I am so happy /! nm SO glat
you got your furlopgh" She must hav
felt me shudder, for. she turned pale n
death, and catching her breath at every
word, she said, "IIave you come without