The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-09
A CONFEDERATE STORY.
The Letter that caused Desertlon.


Tuscumbia, Ala, General Cullen A.
Battle related the following story in
in the course of his speech:
During the winter of. 1663-64 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 COW
cred the ground and the winds howled
around our camp, l left my bivouac
fire to attend the session Of the court
Winding along for miles, uncertain
paths, l at length arrived at the court
at Round Oak church.
Day by day it had been our duty
to try the gallant soldiers Of that army
charged with Violations Of military
law; but never had l on any previous
occasion been greeted by such anxious
spectators as ON that morning awaited
the opening OF the court. Case after
ease was disposed of, and at length
the case of 1.-The Confederate States
VS.. Edward Cooper" was called
charged, desertion. A low murmur
rose spontaneously from the battle
scared spectators, as Il young artille
ryman rose from the prisoners bench,
and in response to the question; gull
ty or not guilty." answered mot gull
ty."
The Judge Advocate was proceed
ing to open the prosecution when the
court observing that the prisoner was
unattended by counsel, interposed and
inquired of the accused, "Who is your
counsel?7 He replied: L have no
counsel" Surprising that it was the
purpose to represent himself before the
court the Judge Advocate was then in
instructed to proceed. Every charge
and specification against the prisoner
was sustained, The prisoner was then
told to introduce his witness. He re-
piled: l have no witnesses. Aston
ished at the caImness with which he
seemed submitting to what he regard
ed as an inevitable fate, l said to him:
''Have you no defense? Is it posi-
bic that you abandoned your comrades
and deserted your cOlors without any
reason?" He replied: There is 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
action" For the first time his manly
form trembled, and his blue eyes
SWAN in tears. Approaching the pres
ident OF the court he presented a let
ter, saying as he did so, There, Gen
eraI, is what l did" l opened the let
ter and in moment my eyes were fill
ed with tears. 1t was passed from one
to the other of the court until at last
all had seen it, and those stern war
rIors who had passed with Stonewan
Jackson through a hundred battles
wept like little children. Soon | sut-.
ticiently recovered my selt-possession,
| read the letter rs the defence OF the
prisoner. 1t was III these words:
Ny DEAR EDwAED:-I have always
been proud OF you, and since your connec-
ton with the Confederate army l have been
prouder Of you than ever before. 1 would
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 crying. l called
and said What's the matter, Eddie" and
he said "Oh, mama, Pm so hungry" And
Lucy, Edward-yuur darling Lucy-she
never complains but she is growing thinner
and thinner every day. And before God, Ed
ward, unless you come home we must die.
YoCR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner l asked:
''What did you do when you received
this" He replied; q made applica-
ton for Il Through, and it was reject
ed; again l made application and it
was rejected; third time made APP
plication and it was rejected, and that
night as l wandered backward and
forward in thinking Of my home, with
the mild eyes Of Lucy looking up to
me, and the burning words OF Mary
sinking in my brain, Twas no longer
the Confederate soldier, but | was the
father Of Lucy and the husband Of
Mary, and Would pass these lines
if every gun in the battery had fired
at me- went to my home. Mary
ran out to meet me, her angel arms
embraced me, and she whispered:
ooh! Edward | am so happy! am so
glad you got your turlough!" She
must have felt me shudder, for she
turned pale as death, and catching
her breath at every word, she said {:
"Have you come without your fur
Tough? Oh, Edward, Edward, 20 bach!
90 back Let me and my children go
down together to the grave, but, oh, /
fer heavens sake save the honor Of
our namew And here | am gentle /.
men, not brought here by military
power, but in obedience to the COM
mand OF Mary, to abide the sentence
OF your court"
Every officer of that court-martial .
felt the force Of the prisoners words. !
Before them stood in battle vision the !
eloquent pl9ader for a husbands and
fathers wrongs; but they had been |
trained by their great leader Robert
E Lee, to tread the path of duty.
though the lightnihgs flash scOrching
the ground beneath their feet, and
each III his turn pronounced the yer
dict-guilty, Fortunately for hui
mainly fortunately for the confederacy
the proceedings Of the court were re
viewed by the Commanding Gener-
al, and upon the record was written:
HEADQUARTERS a. n. V.
The finding of the court is approved.
The prisoner IS pardoned and will re
port to his company.
il E. LEE. Gen"
During the second battle OF Cold
Harbour, when shot and shell were
falling like torrents from the noun
tain cloud, " my attention was directed
to the fact that one ofour batteries was
being silenced by the concentrated
fire of the enemy When l reached