Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-16

Why He did II.
A TOUCHING INCIDENT OF THE LATE
CIVIL WAR.-A SOLDIERS TEMPTATION.

A ToUCHING INCIDENT OF THE LATE
CIVIL WAR.-A SOLDIERS TEMPTATION.
The following incident was related by
General c. A. Battle of Alabama. in a
speech delivered few days ago at Tus-
cumbia. Ala:
During the winter of 1923 it was nv
fort une 10 be- president of one of the court
martials of the army of Northern Virgin
| ia. One bleak December morning, while
the snow covered the ground and the
winds howled around our camp, left my
biyouac fire to attend the sessions IF the
court Winding for miles along uncer-
| tain paths. at length arrived at the court
| ground at Round Oak Church. Day after
dav it had been our duty to try the gal
liant soldiers of our army charged with
violations of military laws; but never had
| | on anv previous occasion been greeted
by such anxious spectators as on that
morning of the court. Case after case
was disposed OF, and at length the case of
The Confederate States VS.. Edward
Cooper" was called-charge, desertion.
/ A low murmur rose spontaneously from
the battle-scarred spectators as young
artilleryman rose from the prisoners
bench, and in response to the question,
Guilty or not guilty ?" answered mot
guilty." The Judge Advocate was pro-
ceeding to open the prosecution when the
court. observing that the prisoner was un-
attended by counsel. interposed and ir-
quired of the accused, who is your
counsel P'' He replied. II have no
counsel" Surprising 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 witnesses" Aston
ished at the calmness with which he
seemed to be submitting to what he re-
garded as inevitable fate, said to him.
s'Have you no defence? IsIit possible that
you abandoned your comrades and desert
ed your colors in the presence OF the
enemy without any reason?" He replied.
There was 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
actions" For the first time his manly
form trembled. and his blue eyes swan in
tears. Approaching the president of the
court. he presented letter, SAYING as he
did 81. There, Colonel. is wha, did it."
| opened the letter. and in moment my
eyes filled with tears. 1t was passed from
one to the other of the court until all had
seen it. and those stern warriors who had
passed with Stonewa,l jackson through
hundred battles wept like little children.
Soon as | sufficiently recovered my self
possession | read the letter as the prison
er's defence. 1t was in these words:
My DEAR EDWARD: have always been
p oud of you. and since your connection
with the Confederate Army | have been
prouder of you than ever before. Iwould
not have you do ANYTHING wrong for the
world; but before God, Edward,
unless you come home we must
de! Last night was aroused
by liule Eddie crying called and said,
"What is the matter, Eddie P" and he said,
''Oh. mamma. | am 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 all die.
YOUR MARY"
Turning to the prisoner. I asked /:
''What did you do when you received the
letter?"
He replied. II made applications for
furlough. and it was rejected, and that
night as | wandered backward and for
ward in the camp. thinking of my home,
with the mild eyes OF Lucy looking up to
me, and the burning words of Mary sink
ing in my brain, | was no longer the Con-
federate soldier, but I was the father of
Lucy and the husband of Mary. and |
would have passed those lines if every
gun in the battle had fired upon me. l
went to my home Mary ran out TO meet
me, her angel arms embraced me, and
she whispered: "Oh, Edward. am so
happy; am so glad you got your fur
Tough - 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 without your furlough
Oh. Edward. 60 back go back Let me
and my children go down to the grave.
but oh +! tor heavens sake, save the honor
OF our nameH And here 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 martial felt
the force of the prisoners words Before
them stood. in beatfic vision, the eloquent
pleader for husbands and fathers
wrongs but they had been trained by
their great leader, Robert E. Lee, to tread
the path of duty though lightuing's flash
l SCnrehnA tho nronpA hana,,L ,ha 60
and each in his turn pronounced the YER
dict. Guilty" Fortunately for human
ity, fortunately for the Confederacy, 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.
The prisoner is pardoned, and will report
to his company.