The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-07-15
Mary's Letter.
THE SOLDIER WHO LOVED HIS WIFE
AND CHILD.

AND CHILD.
Alta recent political gathering in
Tuscumhia, Ala, Gen. Cullen a. Bat
tie related the following touching
story in the course of his speech:
During the winter Of 1864 it was
my fo,tl,ue to he president of one OF
the conrt- ma,tiais of the army OF
Northern Virginia. One bleak De-
cemher morning, while the snow coy
cred the ground, aud the wiud howl
cd around our camp, l left my biv"n-
&C fire to attend the session OF the
court. Winding for miles around
uncertain paths. l 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 tile army, charged Tw'ssl Violation
of military law, but never had I on
any previous occasion been greeted
by such anxious spectators on that
morning awaiting the opening OF the
court. Case after case was disposed
of, and aC length the case OF "Fhe
Confederate States VS.. Edward Coop
err was cal!el-charse, desertion. A
low murmur rose spontaneously from
the battle-scarred spectators, as a
Young artilleryman rose from the
prisoners bench, and, in response IT,
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
err was unattended by counsel, inter
posed, and inquired of the accused
:.Who is your counsel ?" He replied
81 have no counsel" Surprising that
it WAYS his purpose to represent MIN
self before the court, the Judge Al
yocate was instructed to proceed
Every charge and specification agains
the prisoner was sustained. TIL
prisoner was then told to Introduce
his witnesses. lie replied, II have
no witnesses" AstOnishcd ut thu
calmuess with which he seemed to b'
submitting to what he regarded as in
e,itable fate, l said to him, "liav'
you no defense Is it possible tia
YOU abandon your comrades and DC
serted your colo,s in the presence Q
the enemy without any reason :" II
replied, "Thcre was Il reason, but
will not avail me before a militar,
court" l said: Perhaps you ar
mistaken you are chargad with til
highest crime known to military la"
and it is your duty to make know
the causes that influenced your &C
tions.' For the first .time..his mani
form tremtled, and his blue eye
swarm in tears. Approaching til
president Of the court lie presented
letter, saying as lie did 50, "Thert
General, is what did il" !. opene
the letter, aaa i. n,o91e =. ~, NY s ;ys
one to another Of the court until u
had seen it, and those stern warrio!
who had passed with Stonewall Jach
son through a hundred battles wel
like little Children. Soon as l sun
GENTLY recovered my self-possessioi
read the letter, as the defense ut I'll
prisoner. 1t was in these words:
Nh Dear Euwasd: have AWAY
been proud of you, aud since y"'
connection with the Confederate a
nv I have been plouder Of you tina
ever before. l would not have yoI
! do anything wrong for the w"rl"
! but before God, Edward, unless y,
come home we must die !! Last mg'
| was aroused by little E1lie's cry'l
I called and said "What's the ma
ter, Eddie Z" and he said U
mamma, I'm 80 hungry y And Luc.
Edward, your darling Lucy, she ne'
er complains, but she is growing TIM
ner and thinner every day. Aud b
d fore God Edward, unless you com
home we,must died.
Your MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, l ask
, "What did you do when you receive
this letter 7" He replied: II MAJ
application for furlough, aud it "
rejected, again made applicable
and it was rejected ; a third time
made application, and it was rejecte
aud that night as l wandered bac
ward and forward in the camp, thin
inc of my home, Will, the mild eye
Lucy looking up to me, and the bur
inc words of Mary sinking in =
!; brain, l was no longer the Confcd
J rate soldier, but l was the father
/ Lucy and the husband Of Mary, a
! | would have passed those lines
I every gun in tile battery had fiji
: upon me. went to my home. Ma
ran out to meet me, her angel ar
embraced me, and she whisper'
20, Edward, am so happy. !
50 glad you got your furlough J" s
must have felt me shulder, for
turned pale as death, and CATCH
,f her breath at every word, she 81
" have YOU come without your +
S Tough : 0, Edward, Edward,
back! 60 back! Let me and
Children 60 down together to
nd grave; but O, for heavens ga
ID save tie honor of our name!" 4
here ain, gentlemen, not bron
lie here by military power, but III o
diGIce to the command Of Mary
re- aN|de the sentence Of your court"
Every officer Of that conrt-mar
felt the force Of the prisoners wol
Before them stood, in heatitic visi
the eloquent pleader for q hnsba'
and a fathers wrongs but they
!. been trained by their great lea
Rob. E. Lee, to tread the patl!
= duty, though the lightning's 4