The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-08-01
!TAs ssoLplER WAS 4 FATHER.
A Romantic and Thrilling Story ofIthe Civil
War-How Letter From Home Caused
n Desertion.


war-How n Letter From Home Causet
| n Desertion.
(Frnn the Baltimore SUM-
New York, July 23.--Therc was
buried Mt Greenwood yesterday ,
man with a curious history. He hoe
been q Confederate soldier, as brave
as any of his comrades, but he de
serted his army during tho war and
was tried by court martial iur doing
so. Edward Cooper was his name
For the past year he has been living
at No. $50 Fourth avenue.
One bleak December morning in
1862 he was before a court-martial OF
the Army of Northern Virginia. The
prisoner was told to introduce his
witnesses. He replied, Il have no
witnesses" Astonished at the calm
ness with which he seemed to be
submitting to his inevitable fate, Gen.
Battle said to him: "Have you no
defense! Is it possible that you
abandoned your comrades and de
serted your colors in the presence of
the enemy without reason?'
Cooper, "but it will not avail me be-
fore a military 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 cause that influenced your
actions"
Approaching the president of the
court Cooper presented letter, say
ing as he did so: There General. is
what did it!
The letter was offered as the pris-
oner's defence. 1t was in these
words:
Dear Edward: Since your con-
nection with the Confederate army
l 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 die! Last night /
was aroused by little Eddie crying.
1 called to him and said: What is
the matter, Eddie? He replied: Oh,
mamma, 1 am SO hungry. And Lucy
your darling Lucy. She never COM
plains. But she grows thinner and
thinner every day. Before God, Ed
ward unless you come home we must
die YoUR MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, General
Battle asked: "What did you do
when you received that letter.
Cooper replied: II made applica-
tion for furlough. 1t was rejected.
Again made application and it was
rejected. That night rs [ wondered
about our camp thinking of my hone
the wild eyes of Lucy looking up to
inc uud the burning words of -hary
sinking III my brain, l was no longer
the Confederate soldier, but l was
the father of Lucy and the husband
of Mary.
eff every gunin the battery had
been fired upon me l would have
passed those lines. When l reached
home Mary flung her arms around
my neck and sobbed: "Oh, my Ed
ward! L am SO glad you got your
fur,ouEh." Sic must have felt nc
shuI,ler, ior she turned as pale as
death, and catching her breath at
evory word. she said. Have you
come without your furlough? Go
back! Ed ward, go back. Let me
and the children go down to the
grave, but for Heavens sake, save
the honor of our name!N
There was not an officer on that
court martial who did not feel the
force of the prisoners words, but
each in turn pronounced the verdict
guilty. The proceedings of the
court were reviewed by General Lee
and upon the record was written:
Headquarters A. N. V.-The find
ing Of the court is approved. The pris
oncr is pardoned and will report tC
his company. "R. T.. Lee. General"