The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-28
.ODCoNFkDERhTE STORY, T

Il IL u 1. Y y
Atsa aadsht tpoliticals gat Herring III
Tuscumbia, Ala, General Cullen A,
Battle related the following story in
the course Of lis speech:
,isDarihg winter Of 1s63-69, #
was my E0ftune' to be ''J:;re president 81
one of the courts martial of the Army
of9ENottKefn yirginia,, One bleak
December morning, i'ig, while the snow
covered the grounds and the wind
howled. around our camp, I left my
biXopac fire To attend the session of
the court- Winding along for miles,
uncertain paths, at length arrived
at the court, iaeH Round Oak Church.
Day b1 day. II. had been our duty
to try the gallant soldiers of that
armys charged with violations of mil
itary laW;. but never had T.. on any
previous $50 to2e,ceasiop, 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
Conreqegale States, VS.. Edward, Coop
er" was called-charge, desertion. A
low murmur rosespontaneously from
the battle-scarred spectators qs q
young artilleryman rose ffdm II the
prisoners BENCH, and in response TO
the question "Guilty or not guiltyl"
answered, mot guilty." A., a.;
The Judge Advocate was proceed
ing to open prosecutions; when the
court, observing that the prisoner
was unattended by counsel, interpos-
ed and inquired of the accused,
"Who is your counsel?" Supposing
it was his purpose to represent him
self befbre4he doprt} tie Judge .Ad-
yocate was instructed to proceed.
Everyscharge and specification against
the prisoner, was sustained. The
prisoner was then told to introduce
his Witnesses He replied: i 81 have
NO, witnesses" Astonished at the
GR}mness with which he seemed sub
mitting to what nhe regarded as inev-
liable fate, said to him: "Have
you no defence r" Is it possible that
you abandoned your comrades and
deserted your. colqrs without any req
son9' He replied: "There is rea-
son but'it will avail me nothing in a
military court" 4 j. said: "Perhaps
you are mistaken; you are charged
with the highest crime known to mil
itary law, and ii is your duty TO make
known the causes that influenced your
actiohs." For the first time his man
ly form trembled and his blue eyes
SWAN in tears. Approaching the
president, pntt,pp Of II tthe court be presented a
letter saying as. he did SO: "There
General is what done it," I opened
the letter and in Q moment my eyes
filled with tears. It was passed from
one to- the other of the court until at
last all had seen-it, and those stern
warriors iWho,had passed with Stone
wall jackson through a hundred bat-
ties Wept like children. Soon as
sufficiently recovered my self posses
zion, I read the letter as the defence
of the prisoner. It was in these
Wofds:,f a,iI 9aI .a1...@
"MY DEAR EpwARD ~ have; al
ways been proud-ofyou,and since your
Connection with the Confederate army
! have been proader Of You than ever
before! Il would not have you do any
thing wrong for the world but before
Cod Edward, unless you come home
We must die;E Last E night, I was
aroused by little Eddie crying. :
called and said VWhat's the matter,
Eddie,?" and he said "Oh, mamma,
I'm so hungrYIPr And Lucy, Edward
your darling LucyE-slfe never COM
plalne5 bpt shef iHgrowing, ,tthinper
and thinner every day. And before
God, Edward, unless you come home
we mHst die. Yoyn MARY"
THrping to the prisoner / asked I:
"What aiaI you 20 when you rsstoaeii11ed u
this?" He replied 81 made appllca-
ton for furlough and it was reject
ed; again I made application and it
was rejected; a third II time made
application and it Was rejected, and
that nightI wandered backward and
forward thinking Of my home, with
the mild eyes of Lucy looking at me,
and the burning words of Mary sink-
ing into my brain; I was no longer
the Confederate soldier, but the father