The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-11
A TOUCHING STORY.
lExchange.l


 related the following touching story in the course of his speech: During the winter of 1883 64 it was my fortune to be president of one of the courts martial ci the army of northern Virginia. One bleak December morning, while the snow covered the ground and the wind ScwIe3 around our camp, left my bivouac fire to attend the session of the court. Wind ing for miles along uncertain paths, al length arrived at the court-Eround, al Round Oak church. Day after day is had been our duty to try the soldiers oi that army, charged with violation of mil- itary law but never had ] on any pre- vious occasion been greeted by such apx- ious spectators as on that morning awaited the opening of the court. Case after case vas disposed of. and at length the case of" The Confederate States VI. Edward Cooper was called-charge, desertion. A low murmur rose spontaneously from the battle-scarred spectators, as a young artilleryman arose from the prisoners bench, and, in respose to the question, "Guily or not guilty" answered, Not guilty"
 The ejudge-advocate was proceeding to open the prosecution when the court, ob- serving that the prisoner was unattended by counsel, interposed and inouived of the accused, "Who is your counsel p He replied: "I have no counsel" Sup posing that it was his purpose to repre- sent himself before the court, the judge 1vocase was instructed to proceed. Every charge and specification against the prisoner was sustained. The prisoner was then told to introduce his witnesses He replied, have no witnesses" As- tonished at the calmness with which he seemed to be submitting to what he re- garded as inevitable fate, said to him, " Have you no defense2 Is it possible that you abandoned your comrades and deserted your colors in the presence of the enemy without any reason ?" He re- piled: There was a reason, but it will net avail me before military court" l said: Perhaps you are mistaken you are charged with the highest crime known to military law, and 1t is your duty to make known the causes that influenced your actions" For the first time his manly form trembled and his blue eyes swam in tears. Approaching the presi- dent of the court he presented a letter, saying as he did so, "Theye, general, is what did it." l opened the letter and in a moment my eyes filled with tears. It was passed from one to another of the court until all had seen it, and those stern warriors who had passed with Stonewall Jackson through a hun dred battles wept like little children. Soon as l sufficiently recovered my self. possession. 1 read ihe letter as the de- fense of the prisoner. x was in these words:
 DEAR EDWARD: have always been proud of you since your connection with the con federate army have been prouder of you than ever before. l would not have you do anything wrong for the world but, before God, Edward, unless you come home, we must diel Last night was aroused by little Eddle's crying: called and said: Whatis the matter, Eddie [" and he said: "Oh. mamma, I'm so hungVl" And Lucy, Ed ward, your darling Lucy, she never com plains. but she grows thinner and thinner every day. And, before God, Edward, unless you come home, we must die.
 YOUR MARY.
 Turning to the prisoner, asked What did you do when you received this letterP" He replied :. 1 made ap- Pllcation for furiough and it was re- jected again l made application and it was rejected; third time made appli- cation and it was rejected and that night as 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 confederate soldier, but was the father of Lucy and the husband of Mary, and would have passed those lines if every gun in the bat tery had been fired upon me. 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 furlough" She mus, have felt me shudder, for she turned as pale as death, and catching her breath at every word. she said Have you come without your furlough9 Ohl Edward, go back go backl Let me and the children go down together to the grave; but, oh, 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 | sentence of your court"
 Every officer of that court-martial felt the force of the prisoners words. Before them stood, in beati6c vision, the elo- quent pleader for husbands and fathers wrongs; but they had been trained by the great leader, Robert E. Lee, to tread the path of duty though the lightning's flash scorched the ground beneath their feet, and each in his turn pronounced the yer dict-gsilty. Fortunately for humanity, fortunately for the confederacy, the pro- ceedings of the court were reviewed by the commanding general, and upon the record was written:
 HEADQUARTERS A. NV. The finding of the court approved. The prisoner is pardoned and will report to his company. R. E. LKE, General.