Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-11-20

uncertain paths, | at length arrived
at the court-ground at Round Oak
Church. Day after day it had been
our duty to try the gallant soldiers of
that army for violations of military
law, but never had l on any previous
occasion been greeted by such anx-
ious spectators as that morning await
ed the opening of court. Case after
case was disposed of, and at length
the case of 'The Confederate States
as. Edward Cooper was called
charge, descrtion. A low murmur
arose from the battle-scarred specta,
tors as young artilleryman arose
from the prisoners bench, and in re-
sponse to the question Guilty, or not
guilty?' answered Not guilty.
"The Judge Advocate was proceed
ing to open the prosecution, when
the Court, observing that the prison
er was unattended by counsel, inter.
posed and inquired Of the accused:
"'Who is your counsel?'
"'I have no COUNSEL he replied.
"Supposing that it was his purpose
to represent himself before the court,
the Judge Advocate was instructed
to proceed. Every charge and speci
fication against the prisoner was gus.
tanned.
"The prisoner was then told to pro.
duce his witnesses.
"T have no Witnesses was the re.
ply.
"Astonished at the calmness with
which he seemed to be submitting to
what he regarded as an inevitable
fate, | said to him:
"'Have you no defense? Is it pos
sible that you abandoned your com
rades and deserted your colors in the
presence of the enemy, without any
reason?'
"'There was reason, but it will
not avail before military court
perhaps you are mistaken; you
are charged with the highest crime
known to military law, and it is youl
duty to make known the causes that
Influenced your actions
"For the first time his manly form
trembled and his blue eyes swan in
tears. Approaching the President Of
the court, he presented a letter, say
ing as he did so:
"'There, General, is what did it,
81 opened the letter, and in mo-
ment my eyes filled with tears. 1t
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 4
hundred battles, wept like little chill
drcn. AS soon as l sufficiently re
covered my self-possession, | read
the letter as the defense of the pris
oner. 1t was in the following
words:
My DEAR REDwAID:-Iha have always been
proud of you, and since your connection
with the Confederate army I have been
prouder of you than ever before. 1would
not have you do anything wrong for the
world; but, before God, Edward, unless
you come. home we must die! Last night
l was aroused by little Eddie's CRY ing.
called and said: What's the matter, Ed
die?' and he said: oh, mamma, I'm sc
hungryr and Lucy, Edward, your darling
Lucy, she never complains, but she is
growing thinner and thinner every day
And before God, Edward, unless yor
| como homo we nnSt die
YoUR MARY.
"Turning to the prisoner, asked
What did you do when you received
this letter?'
"I made an application for fur
lough and i. was rejected; again
made application and it was rejected
and that night as l wandered back
ward and forward in the camp, think
ing of my home, with the mild eyes
of Lucy looking up at me and tho
burning words of Mary sinking il
my brain, l was no longer the Con
federate soldier, but was the father
of Lucy and the husband of Mary
and l would have passed those lines
if every gun in the battery had free
upon me. went to my home. Ma
ry ran out to meet me, her angel arms
embraced me, and she whispered:-
90! Edward, l am so happy! | an
so glad you got your furloughe Shs
must have felt me shudder, for she
turned deadly pale, and catching he1
breath at every word, she said: 'Hav'
you come without your furloughi
o! Edward, Edward, go back! &C
back! Let me and my children &C
down together to the grave, but o
for Heavens sake, save the honor o
our nameH And here am, gentle
men, not brought here by militar,
power, but in obedience to the com
mand Of Mary, to abide the sentenc'
of your court
"Every officer of that court MARTA
felt the force of the prisoners words
Before them stood, in beatific vision
the eloquent pleader for a husband''
and fathers wrongs; but they hat
been trained by their great leader
Robert +. Lee, to tread the path o
duty, though the lightning's flasl
scorched the ground beneath thci
feet, and each in his turn pronounced
the verdict-guilty. Fortunately TO
humanity,a and for the Confederacy, tn
proceedings of the court were review
ed by the commanding General. an(
upon the record was written:
:" HEADQUARTERS, A. N. V.-The find
ing of the court is approved. The prison
er is pardoned and will report to his com
pany. X. f. LEE, General
"During the second battle Of Col'
Harbor, when shot and balls wer
falling 'like torrents from the noun
tain cloud my atte ntion was directed
to the fact that one of our batterie
was being silenced by the concentra
ted fire of the enemy. When
reached the battery, every gun bu
one had been dismantled, and by
stood solitary Confederate soldier
with the blood streaming from hi
side. AS he recognized me, he ele
waited his voice above the roar of tn
battle and said:
"'General, / have one shell left
Tell me, have l saved the honor o
Mary and Lucy?'
81 raised my hat. Once more
Confederate shell was sent crashin;
through the ranks of the enemy, an
the hero sank by his gun to rise ii