The herald., 1897-06-20
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THE HONOR OF HIS
! WIFE AND CHILD

many homes, there are "reminiscences
J and memorials of the war between the
states which will some day be seized
by such man as Sir Walter Scott, who
will weave them into romances more
thrilling than any ever heard amid the
! banks and braes" of Scotland. These
romances, softened by time. will add to
the luster of American manhood, re-
gardless Of which side Of the line they
may have occurred.
The little sketch we propose to narrate
Is absolutely true, as a matter Of fact
and will be given almost verbatim in the
language of the narrator. only using the
third person to prevent too much of the
obnoxious "I."
During the winter Of 1923 General
Battle of Alabama was president of one
of the courts martial of the army of
Northern Virginia. One bleak Decem-
Der morning, while the snow covered the
ground and the winds howled around
the camps, he left his bivouac fire to at
tend the session of the court. Winding
for miles along uncertain paths, he at
length arrived at the court ground, at
Round Oak church. Day after day had
it been his duty to try the soldiers of
that army charged with violations of
military law; but never had he, on any
previous occasion, been greeted by 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 THE Confederate
States VS.. Edward Cooper" was called;
charge-desertion. A low murmur rose
spontaneously from the battle-scarred
spectators, as young artilleryman rose
from the prisoners bench, and, in re-
sponse to the question, Guilty or not
guilty?" answered Not guilty"
The judge advocate was proceeding
to open the prosecution when the court,
observing that the prisoner was urat-
! tended by counsel, interposed, and in
quired CT the accused: "Who is your
counsel?" He replied: "I have no
counsel" Supposing that it was his
purpose to represent himself before the
court, the judge aGvoo ite was instructed
to proceed. Every charge and speciti-
cation against the prisoner was sus-
tanned The prisoner was then told to
introduce his witnesses. He replied: II
| have no witnesses" Astonished at the
! calmness with which he seemed to be
| submitting TO what he regarded as
inevitable fate, the president said to
him: Have you no defense? Is it
possible that you abandoned your COM
rades and deserted your colors in the
presence of the enemy without any rea-
SOM" He replied: There was a rea-
son, but it will not avail me before
military court" The court replied by
saying: Perhaps you are mistaken.
You are charged with the highest crime
known to military law, and it is your
duty to make known .he causes that IN
fluencad your actio,<." For the first
time his manly form trenbled ard his
blue eyes swan in tears. Approaching
the president of the court, he presented
letter, saying as he did SO: There.
colonel, is what did it," The president
! opered the letter. and in a moment his
eyes We're filled with tears. 1t was pass
ed from one to another until all had
seen it, and those stern warriors who
had passed with Stonewall Jackson
through a hundred battles wept like
children. Recovering his self-posses-
sion, the president read the letter as the
prisoners defense. 1t was in these
/ words:
MY Dear Edward: I have always been
proud of you, and since your connection
with the confederate army have been
DTQuQST IHdU ever DGlClS. L W NOuIu iOl
have you do anything wrong for the
world. but before God, Edward, unless
you come home we must die. Last night
1 was aroused by little Eddie's crying.
I called and said, What's the matter,
Eddie?' and he said, oh, mamma I'm
so hungry And Lucy, Edward-your
darling Lucy-she never complains, but
she is growing thinner every day, and,
]
home, We must die.
YOUR MARY"
Turning to the prisoner the judge
asked, What did you do when you re-
ceived this leter?'
He replied, II made application for a
furlough and it was rejected again 1
made an application, and it was reject
ed; third time 1 applied for furlough,
and it was denied 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
into my brain, was no longer the con-
federate soldier but I was the father Of
Lucy and the husband Of Mary, and
would have passed those lines if every
gun in the battery had fired upon me.
l. went " lily uOlIle MAI ran Oul "
meet me- Her angel arms embraced me-
and she whispered, 20, Edward! I am so
happy! / am so glad you got your fur
lough.' She must have felt me shudder,
for she turned pale as death, and catch.
ing her breath at every word, she said,
Have you come without your furlough?
%, Edward! Edward! Go back! GO
back! Let me and my children go down.
together to the grave, but o! for heav-
ems sake, save the honor of our name'
And here I am, gentlemen, not brough.
here by military power but in obedience
to the command of Mary, to abide by the
sentence of your court"
Every officer of the court martial felt
the force of the prisoners words. Be
fore them stood, in beatific vision. the
eloquent pleader for husbands and a
fathers wrongs; but they had been
trained by their great leader, Gen. r.
E. Lee. to tread the path of duty though
the lightning 8 blast scorched the ground
beneath their feet, and each in his turn
pronounced the verdict guilty" For
tunately for humanity the proceedings
of the court were reviewed by the COM
manding general and upon the record
was written:
headquarters, Army of Northern
Virginia: The finding of the court is ap-
proved. The prisoner is pardoned and
will report to his company.