Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-11-26

The following incident was related by
General c. a. Battle, Of Alabama, in a
speech delivered few years ago, at Tus-
cumba, Ala:
During the winter Of 1923 it was my
fortune TO he 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 bivouac ire to
attend the sessions of the court. Winding
for miles along uncertain paths, at length
arrived at the court ground at Round Oak
Church Day after day it had been our
duty 10 try the gallant soldiers of that army
charged with violations Of military laws; 3;
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 case was disposed OF, and
at length the case of 1.-THE Confederate
States VS. Edward Cooper" was called
charge. dcsertion. \ low murmur rose
spontaneously from the battle-scarred spec
tators IS \ young artilleryman rose from
the prisoners bench, and, in response to the
question, Guilty or not guilty?" answered
mot guilty" The Judge.Advocate was
proceeding to open the prosecution when
the court, observing that the prisoner was
unattended by counsel, interposed and in
quired of the accused, who is your coun-
sel?" He replied, II have no counsel"
Supposing that it was his purpose to repre-.
sent 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, Il
have no witnesses" Astonished at the
calmness with which he seemed to be sub
hitting to what he regarded as inevitable
fate, said to him, "Have you no defence ?"
Is it possible that you abandoned your COM
radcs and deserted your colors in the pres.
encc Of the enemy without any reason"
He replied, "There was u reason, but it
will not avail me before 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-
tons" For the first time his manly form
tremhleG, and his blue eyes swan in tears.
Approaching the president OF the court, he
presented a letter, saying as he did so,
"therc, Colonel, is what did it," l opened
the letter, and in q moment my eyes filled
with tears. 1t was passed from one to
another of the court until all had seen 1t,
and these stern warriors who had passed
with Stonewall Jackson through hundred
battles wept like little children. Soon as |
sufficiently recovered my self-possessiou, |
read the letter as the prisoners defence. 1t
was in these words:
"Uu Dear Edwau-I have always been proud
of YOU. and since your connection with tho Con-
fedcratc Army have been prouder of you than
ever before | would not have you do anything
wrong for the world: but before God, Edward, un-
less you come homo we must die. Last night
was aroused by little Eddie crying. l called and
said, What's the matter, Eddie? and he said,
oh mamma am so hungry. And Lucy, Ed
ward. your darling Lucy. she never complains,
but she is growing thinner and thinner every day
And before God. Edward unless you come home
we must all die YOUR MARY"
Turning to the prisoner, asked, "what
did You do when you received this letter ?"
He replied, II made application for fur
lough, and it was rejected again | made
application and it was rejected; 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, | was no longer the Confeder-
ate soldier, but I was the father of Lucy
aud the husband Of Mary, and would have
passed those lines if every gun III the bat
terry had fired upon me. | went to my
home. Mary ran out to meet me; her an
gel arms embraced me, and she whispered,
o, Edward, | am 50 happy! l 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 home with
out your furlough 0, Edward, Edward,
90 back go back ! Let me and nay child
rem go down to the grave, but 0, for heav-
EMS sake, save the honor Of our name !!
And here l am, gentlemen, not brought
here by military power, but in obedience TO
the command of Mary, to abide the sem
tence Of your court"
Every officer Of that court martial
felt the force of the prisoners words. Be-
fore them stood III bcatifc vision, the eloquent
pleadcr for husbands and fathers wrongs; but
thcy had been trained by their great leader,
Robert E. Lee to tread tho path of duty though
the lightnng's flash scorched tho ground beneath
their feet and each in his turn pronounced tho
verdict: Guilty. Fortunately for humanity, for
tunately for tho Confedcracy, the proceedings OF
the court were reviewed by the Commanding
General and upon the record was written:
Headquarters Army Northern Virginia.
"The finding of the court Is approved. Inc
prisoner Is pardoncd, and will report to his com
pany. d. 4. LEE, ue''crai'
During subsequent battle, when shot ana
shell were falling like torrents from the noun
tain cloud NV attention was directed to the fact
that one of our batteries was being silenced by
the concentrated fire of the enemy When |
reached the battery every gun but one had been
dismantled, and by it stood solitary Confederate
soldier, with the blood streaming from his side.
As le recognized me, he elevated his voice above
the roar of battle, and said: General havc one
shell left. Tell me, have I saved the honor OF
Mary and Lucy2' raised my hat. Once more
Confederate she'll went crashing through the
ranks of the enemy, and the hero sank by his gun
| to rise no more.