Connecticut western news., 1892-06-09
DISCIPLINE.

| During the winter of 1S634 it was my fortune to be president of one of the court martials of the Army of Northern | Virginia. One bleak December morn ing, while the snow covered the ground I left my bivouac fire to attend the ses- sion of the court. Winding for miles along uncertain paths l at length ar rived at the court ground at Round Oak | Church.
 | Day after day it had been our duty to try the gallant soldiers of that army, charged with violations of military law. But never had l on any previous occa- sion been greeted with such anxious | spectators as on that morning awaited | the opening of the court. Case after case was disposed of, and at length the | case of 1.-The Confederate States versus | Edward Cooper" was called-the charge, | assertion. A low murmur rose spon- taneously from the battle scared spec tators as young artilleryman rose from the prisoners bench and, in response to the question Guilty, or not guilty" an- | swereQ, Not gulty.
 | The judge advocate was proceeding to | open the prosecution, when the court, observing that the prisoner was unat- tended by counsel, interposed and said to the accused:
 "Who is your counsel?" "I have no counsel" he replied. ! Supposing that it was his intention to | represent himself before the court, the | judge advocate was directed to proceed. Every charge and specification against the prisoner was sustained. The prison | CT was then told to introduce his wit nesses.
 II have no witnesses" he replied. Astonished at the calmness with which he seemed to be submitting to what he regarded as inevitable fate, | said to him:
 "Have you no defense? Is it possible you abandoned your comrades and de- serted your colors in the presence of an | enemy without any reason?' "There was a reason, but it will not avail me before military court" | Perhaps you are mistaken" replied. | "You are charged with the highest crime known to military law, and it is your | duty to make known the cause that in- fluenced 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 so:
 sThere, general, is what did it." Iopened the letter, and in a moment my eyes were 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 Stone wall Jackson through hundred battles, wept like little children. As soon as had recovered my self possession read the letter as the defense of the prisoner. It was in these words:
 | MY DEAR ,EDwARD-l have always been proud of you, and since your connection with the Confederate army I have been prouder of | you than ever before. l would not have you do anything wrong for the world; but, before God. dear Edward, unless you come home we must die. Last night was aroused by little Edgars crying. l called out and said, What is the matter. Eddie?' and he said, "Oh, mann. ma I'm so hungryl'' And Lucy, Edward, your darling Lucy, she never complains, but she's growing thinner and thinner every day. And before God, my dear Edward, unless you come |
 YOUR MARY.
 After reading the letter I turned te the prisoner and said:
 "What did you do when you received this letter? Did you apply for leave of absence to the proper officers?'
 Il made application for furlougf and it was rejected; again 1 made ar application and it was rejected; third time 1 made application and they re fused to grant it. That night as 1 wan dered backward and forward in tht camp thinking of my home, with tn, mild eyes of Lucy looking toward m, } and the burning words of Mary sinking deep into my brain, was no longer tn, Confederate soldier, but was the fathe of Lucy and the husband of Mary, and would have passed those lines if ever, gun in the battery had fired upon me.
 went to my home. Mary ran out t . meet me-her angel arms embraced mt and she whispered:
 "'Oh, Edward, am so happyl I an so glad you got your furloughr . "She must have felt me shudder, fo l she turned as pale as death, and then catching her breath at every word, sh s said.
 . "'Have you come without your fur tough? Oh, Edward, Edward, go back Go back! Let me and my children g down together to the grave, but, oh, fo heavens sake, save the honor of you namep
 = "I at once returned, and here 1 am gentlemen, not brought here by milii ar DO yer, but in obedience to the comman
 of Mary. to abide the sentence of you court"
 Every soldier of that court martia
 felt the force of the prisoners word:
 Before them stood in beatifc vision th eloquent pleader for a husbands and l. fathers wrongs, but they had oeel trained by their great leader, Robert k Lee, to tread the path of duty thougl the ightning's flash scorched the groun' , beneath their feet, and each in turn pro nounced the verdict-guilty.
 But fortunately for humanity, fortu nately for the Confederacy, the proceed ], ings of the court were reviewed by tn commanding general. and upon the ree ' ord was written:
 HKADoUARTERsA ARMY NORTH ERS
 VIRGINIA.
 The finding of the court is approved. Tn
 prisoner, Edward Cooper. is .pardonsa. Ass VII tessft ts kls ssAnaaAas Aaa AAAss