Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-11-13
A Confederate Story.
General Cullen A. Battle relates the fol.
lowing touching story.

General Cullen A. Battle relates the FOL
lowing touching story:
During the winter of 1863-'64, it was my
fortune to be president of one of the courts
martial of the army of Northern Virginia.
One bleak December morning, while the
snow covered the ground and the winds
howled around our camp, left my biYouac
fire to attend the session Of the court.
Winding for miles along an uncertain path,
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
that army, charged with violations of mill
tary law; but never had l on any previous
occasion been greeted by such anxious spec
tators as on that morning awaited the
opening of the court. Case after case was
disposed of, and at length the case of s'The
Confederate States VS.. Edward Cooper
was called-charge, desertion. A low
murmur rose spontaneously from the battle
SCARED spectators as a young artilleryman
rose from the prisoners bench, and in re-,
sponse to the question "Guilty, or not
guilty ?'' answered "Not guilty. The
Judge advocate was proceeding to open the
prosecution, when the court, observing that
the prisoner was unattended by counsel,
interpesed and inquired of the accused,
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 specification
against the prisoner was sustained. The
prisoner was then told to introduce his
witnesses. He replied, II have no wit
nesses." Astonished at the calmness with
which he seemed to be submitting to what
he regarded as inevitable fate, | said to
him. ''Have you no defence? Is it posi-
BILE that you abandoned your comrades and
deserted your colors in the presence of the
enemy without reason ?" He replied,
''There was reason, but it will not avail
me before military court" | said,
perhaps you are mistaken; you are
charged with the highest crime known to
the military law, and it is your duty to
make known the causes that influenced
your actions.'' For the first time his man
ly form trembled, and his blue eyes swan
in tears. Approaching the president of the
court he presented letter, saying as he
did so, "There, General, is what did it,
l opened the letter, and in moment my
eyes filed with tears. 1t was passed from
one TO another of the court until all had
seen it, and those stern warriors who had
passed through a hundred battles wept like
children. Soon as l had sufficiently recov-
cred my self-possession, read the letter as
the defence of the prisoner. 1t was in these
words;
My DEAR EDwARD:-I have always been
proud of you, and since your connection
with the Confederate army l have been
prouder of you than ever before. would
not have you do anything wrong for the
world; but before God, Edward, unless you
1ia oh 7
was aroused by little Edwards crying II
called and said: "What is the matter?"
and he said: ooh, mama Pm so hungry ~
And Lucy, Edward, your darling Lucy, she.
never complains, but she is growing thin
ner and thinner every day. And before
God, Edward, unless you come home we
must die. YOUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, Ia.ked; What
did lou do when you received this letter?''
He replied, 81 made an application for
furough, and it was rejected; a third time
| made application, and it was rejected,
and that night, as l wandered backward
and forward in the 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, I was no longer
Confederate soldier, but I was the father
of Lucy and the husband of Mary, and /
would have passed those lines if every gun
in the battery had fired upon me. went
to my home. Mary ran out to meet me,
her angel arms embraced me; and she
whispered, ooh Edward I'm so hap
py am SO glad you got your furlough -
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 furlough? Oh! Ed
ward, Edward, go back go back Let me
and my children go down together to the
grave; but Oh, for Heavens sake, save the
honor of our name p And here l 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-mar-
tial felt the force of the prisoners words.
Before them stood, in beatific vision, the
eloquent pleader for husbands and a
fathers wrongs; but they had been trained
by their great leader, Robert e. Lee, to
tread the path of duty, though the light
ning's flash scorched the ground at their
feet. and each in his turn pronounced the
verdict-gailty, Fortunately for the Con-
fedelacy, the proceedings 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 approved.
The pr soner is pardoned and will report to
his company. R. E. LEE, General.
Daring the second battle of Cold Harbor,
when shot and shell were falling 'like tor
rents from the mountain cloud, " my atten-
ton was directed to the fact that one of our
batteries was being silenced by the concen-
trated fire of the enemy. When | reached
the battery every gun cut one had been
dismantled, aud by it stood solitary Con-
federate soldier with the blood streaming
from his side. AS he recognized me he ell
evated his voice above the roar of battle
and said, General, l have one she'll left.
Tell me, have saved the honor of Mary
and Lucy" raised my hat. Once more
Confederate shell went crashing through
the ranks of the enemy, and the hero sank
by his gun to rise no more.