The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-26
NOT GUILTY.
a Thrilling Story of COnfeder-
ate War Times.

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 De
cember morning, while the snow GOV
cred the ground and the winds howl
ed around our camp, l left my biv-
ouac fire to attend the session of the
court. Winding for miles alongun-
certain 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, charged with violation
of military law; but never had on
any occasion been greeted by such
anxious spectators as on that morn
ing awaited the opening of the court.
Case after ease was disposed of, and
at length the case of "The Confeder-
ate States VS. Edward Cooper" was
called-charge, desertion. A low
murmur arose spontaneously from
the battle scared spectators as a
young artilleryman arose from the
prisoners bench and in response to
the question, Guilty, or Not Gull
tY?" answered, Not Guilty"
The Judge Advocate was pro-
ceeding to open the prosecution
when the court, observing that the
prisoner was unattended by coun-
sci, interposed and inquired Of the
accused, "Who is your counsel"
He replied: Il have no counsel"
Supposing that it was his purpose to
represent himself before the court,
the Judge Advocate was instructed
to proceed. Every charge and spec
ification against the prisoner was
sustained. The prisoner was then
told to introduce his witness. He
replied Il have no witness" As
tonished at the calmness with which
he seemed to be submitting to what
he regarded as inevitable fate, said
to him, "Have you no defensep Is
it possible that you abandoned your
comrades and deserted your colors,
in the presence of the enemy with
out any reasOn?' He replied,
"TheTe was a reason, but it will not
avail me before a military court"
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 Influenced your ac-
tions." For the first time his man
ly form trembled. and his blue eyes
swan in tears. Approaching the
president of the court he presented
a letter, saying, as he did SO. "There
! General, is what did il" l opened
| the letter and, in a moment 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 a hundred battles
wept like little children. Soon as l
sufficiently recovered my sef-pos-
session, l read the letter as the de
fense of the prisoner. 1t was these
words:
"MY DEAR EDWARD: 1 have al
ways been proud of you, but since
your connection with the Confeder-
ate army have heen prouder of you
than ever before. l would not have
you do anything wrong for the
world; but before God, Edward, un-
less you come home we must die!
Last night I was aroused by little
Eddie's crying. l called and said,
Whats the matter, EddieY and he
said, oh, mamma, am so hungryr
And Lucy, Edward, your darling
Lucy, she never complains, but she
is growing thinner and thinner eve
ry day. And 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. He replied: "I made
application for furlough and was
rejected; again 1 made application
and it was rejected; a third time 1
made application and twas reject
ed, and that night, as l wandered
backward and forward in camp,
thinking of my home, with the mild
eyes of Lucy looking up to me, and
the burning words of Mary sinking
in my brain, | was no longer the
Confederate soldier, but l was the
| father of Lucy and the husband of
Mary, and I would have passed
those lines if every gun in the bat
terry had fired on me! | went to my
home. Mary ran out to meet me,
her angel arms embraced me; and
she whispered, 20! Edward, l am
so happy am so glad you got your
furlough! She must have felt me
shudder, for she turned pale as
death, and catching her breath at ev-
cry word, she said, Have YOU come
without your furlOugh? o, Edward,
Edward, go back! go back! Let me
and my children 20 down together
to the grave, but o, for heaven s
sake, save the honor of our name =
And here 1 am, gentlemen, not
brought here by military power, but
in obedience to the command of
Mary, to abide the sentence of your
court"
Every officer Of that court marti-
al felt the force of the prisoner s
word. Before them stood, in beat
ic vision, the eloquent pleader for a
husbands and a fathers wrongs;
but they had been trained by their
great leader, Robert Z. Lee, to tread
the path of duty though the light
ning's fash scorched the ground be
meath their feet, and each in his turn
pronounced the verdict, guilty
Fortunately for humanity, fortu-
nately for the ConfedeTacy, the pro-
| ceedings of the court were reviewed
by the Commanding General and
upon the record was written:
HEADQUARTERS a. n. V.
''The finding Of the court is ap-
proved. The prisoner is pardoned,
and viii report TO his company"
r. Z. Lee, General
During the second battle of Cold
Harbor, when shot and shell were
falling like torrents from the noun
tain cloud, nay attention was direct
ed to the fact that one ofour bate
ries was being silenced by the con
centrated fire of the enemy. When
l reached the battery every gun but