The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1890-08-30
Saved by His Wife's Touching Letter.
WHY A BRAVE SOLDIER DESERTED FROM
THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.


New York letter in the Baltimore
american: There was buried at Green
wood To-day man with curious his
tory. He had been confederate
soldier, as brave as any of his cont
ratlcs hut he deserted his army dur
iEg the war and was tried by court
martial for doing SO, Edward Cooper
was his name. Fm the last year he
has been living at Ne. 355 Fourth
Avenue.
One bleak December morning in
1863 he was before eoni; martial Of
the army Of northern Virginia. The
prisoner was tod to introduce his Wit
ncsses. He replied Il have no wit
ne<<es. t>t".lsE}ea 1T the ealmEeSs
with Ghich lie seemed to be submit.
ing to his Inevitable fate, Gen
eIal Battle said to him: ''llave you
no defense Is it possible yon aban
doned your comrades aud deserted
your colors in the presence of the en-
emy without reason ~
"There was a reason replied Coop
er, ''but it will not avail me before Il
military tfIOnnal.
"PeIhaps you are mistaken" said the
general 'you arc charged with
the highest crime known to military
law, and it is your duty to make
known the causes which influenced
| your actions"
Approaching the president of court,
Cooper presented letter saying as he
| did So
"There, general, is what did it y
The letter was offered as the prison
er's defense. It was in these words
Dear Edward Since your connection
with the confederate army | have
been prouder of you than ever before
| would not have yoa do anything
wrong for the world, but before God
Edward unless you come home We
mast die! Last night | was aroused
by little Eddie crying. | called t.
him and said: "What is the matter
Eddie." He replied: 80, mamma,
am SO hungry" And Lucy, your dar
ling Lucy she never complains. bu
she CREWS thinner every day. Before
God, Edward, unless you come home
we must die!
Your MARY.
Turning to the prisoner, Genera
Battle asked: "What did YOU d,
when you received that letter p
Cooper replied: 'I made applica
ton for q furlough--it was rejected
Again | made application, and it wa,
rejected. That night as | wandered
about our camp thinking Of my home
the wild eyes of Lucy looking up t.
me, and the burning words of Mar,
sinking in my brain, | was no longe
the confederate soldier but I was th,
father of Lucy and the husband o
Mary.
"If every gun in the battery ha,
been fred upon me. | would hav,
passed those lines. When | reachet
home, Mary flung her arms about NJ,
neck and sobted: 80 my Edward!
am SO glad you got your furlough.
She must have felt me shudder, fo
she tnrned as pale as death, and eaten
ing her breath at every word, sh
said Have you come without a fu9
lough9 Go back, Edward, go back
Let me and the children go down t.
the grave, but, for heavens sake, sav
the honor of our name"
There was not an officer on tha
court martial who did not feel tn
force of the prisoners words. but eac1
in turn pronounced the verdict-guilty
The proceedings Of the court were re
viewed by General Lee, and upon th
record was written
"HEADoEARTERs A. n. V.
s"The finding OF the coart approves
The prisoner is pardoned, and will re
port to his company.
r. E. LEE, General