Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-08-28
HIS WIFE S Letter.
why a Brave soldier Deserted From th
Confederate Army.

why Brave soldier Deserted From the
Confederate Army.
A New York letter in the Baltimore
American says: There was buried at
Greenwood to-day a man with curious
history. He had been Confederate SOL
der, as brave as any Of his comrades,
but he deserted his army during the
war and was tried by eourt-martial for
doing SO. Edward Cooper was his name.
For the last year he has been living at
No. $50 Fourth avenue.
One bleak December morning In 1868 he
was before a court-martial Of the Army
of Northern Virginia. The prisoner was
told to introduce his witnesses. lie re-
piled. II have no witnesses Astonish-
ed al the calmness with which he seem
ed TO be submitting TO his inevitable
fate, General Battle said to him: Have
you no defense? Is it possible that you
abandoned your comrades and deserted
your colors in the presence Of the enemy
without reason2'
There was a reason, replied Cooper,
''but it will not avail me before mill
tary tribunal"
Perhaps you are mistaken. said the
General; ''you are charged with the
highest crime known TO military law.
and it is your duty to make known
the causes which influenced your ac-
tions."
Approaching the president of the
court, Cooper presented letter, saying
as he did SO, There. General. Il what
did it,
The letter was offered az the pris-
oners defense. II was in these words:
Dear Edward since your connection with
the Confederate army have been prouder OF
you than ever before would not have you do
any thing wrong for the world bat before God.
Edward, unless you come Aome we must die
Last night was aroused by little Eddie ere
ing. ! called ia him and said What a. the
matter Eddie He repl ed % mamma. /
am SO hungry Aud Lucy, your darling Lucy,
she never complains. but sha grows thinner
every day Befora God Edward unless you
come home must de Your MARY
Turning to the prisoner, General Bat
tie asked: What did you do when you
received that letter."
Cooper replied: II made application
Cor Through lit was rejected Again
made application, and it was rejected
That night as wandered about our
camp thinking 81 my home. the wild
eyes OF Lucy looking up 70 me, and the
burning words OF Mary sinking in my
brain, | was no longer the Confederate
soldier bur | was the father Of Lucy and
the husband Of Mary
If every gun IN the battery had been
fired upon ne, | would have passed
those lines When reached home,
'ary flung her arms about my neck and
sobbed: 20 my Edward am so glad
you got your furlough She must have
felt me shudder, FOR she turned as pale
as death, and catching her breath at
avery word, she said Have you come
without your furIough? Go back Ed
ward, 70 back Let mo and the chill
dred 90 down 80 the grave. but, for
Heavens sake. save the honor OF our
names
There was not an officer on that court
martial who did not feel the force OF the
prisoners words. but each in turn pro-
nounccd tho verdict guilty The pro-
ceedings Of the court were reviewed by
General Lee. and upon the record was
written:
HEAnqUARrEBs A n. "
The binding Of ihc court approved The
prisoner Is pardoned and w,ll report - MS com
pauy. r. LEE General.