The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-11-17
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.

The Veterans OF the Rebellion Tell Of
Whistling Bullets, Bright Bayonets
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc
| During the winter of 1S63-64. it wa.
the fortune of Gen. Cullen \. Battle, OF
| Alabama, to be president of the cour
martial of the army of Northern Nir
| ginia. One bleak December morning
while the snow covered the ground ant
the wind howled around his camp. he
| left his bivouac fire to attend the ses
sion of court at Round Oak Church
Case after case was disposed Of, and al
! 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
the young artilleryman rose from tn.
prisoners bench, and In response to the
question. Guilty or not guilty?" an
swered. ''Not guilty." The judge advo-
cate was proceeding to open the prose
| cution when the court, observing that
the prisoner was unattended by coun-
sci. interposed, and inquired of the ac-
! cused, "Who is your counsel?" He re-
piled, 81 have no counsel"
Supposins that it was Cooper's pur-
pose to represent himself before the
court, the judge advocate was instruct
ed to proceed. Every charge and
specification against the prisoner was
sustained. The prisoner was then told
to Introduce his witnesses. He replied:
Il have no witnesses"
AstOnlShed at the calmness with
which he seemed to be submitting to
what he regarded as Inevitable fate,
Gen. Battle said to him: "Have you
no defense? Is 1t possible that you
abandoned your comrades and DESERT
ed your colors in the presence Of the
enemy without any reason?"
He answered.: There was reason,
but it will not avail me before a mill
tary court"
Gen. Battle then said: perhaps you
are mistaken; you are charged with the
highest crime known to military law,
and it is your duty to make known the
causes that influenced your actions"
For the first time Cooper's manly
form trembled and his blue eyes swan
in tears. Approaching the president of
the court. he presented a letter, saying
rs he did SO: There, General, is what
did it."
Gen. Battle opened the letter, and in
a moment his eyes filled with tears. 1t
was passed from one to another of the
court until all had seen it, and those
stern warriors, who had passed with
Stonewall Jackson through a hundred
battles, wept like children. AS soon
as the president recovered his self-pos-
session he read the letter as the defense
Of the prisoner 1t was in these words:
Dear Edward-I have always been
proud of you; since your connection
with the Confederate army have been
prOuder of you than ever before.
would not have you do anything wrong
for the world, but, before God, Edward,
unless You come home we must die!
Last night l was aroused by little Ed
dies crying, %, mamma, I'm so hun
CRY! And Lucy, Edward. your darling
Lucy, she never complains. but grows
thinner and thinner every day. And,
before God, Edward, unless you come
home, we must die. Your MARY"
Turning to the prisoner, Gen. Battle
asked: What did you do when you re-
ceived this letter."
He replied: Il made application for
a furlough, and it was rejected; again l
made application, and 1t was rejected:
a third time l made applicatio and 1t
was rejected; and that night as l wan
dered backward and forward in the
camp. thinking Of my home, and the
wild eyes of Lucy looking up to me,
with the burning words Of Mary sink
ing into my brain, was no longer the
soldier. but was the faith
nr of Lucy and the husband of Mary.
and l would have passed those lines if
,very gun in the battery had been fired
upon me. When l arrived home Mary
-an out to meet me. and whispered, o,
l am so happy; / am so glad
on got your furlough.' She must have
'elt me shudder, for she turned as pale
Is death, and catching her breath Mt
very word she said, Have you come
your furlough? o, Edward. go |
back! Go back! Let me and the chill |
lren 60 down to the grate together;
,ut, o, for heavens sake. save the hon
,r of your name" And here am, gen.
lemen, not brought here by military |
,ower, but In obedience to the COM |
nand of Mary, to abide the sentence of
-our court"
Every officer Of the court-martial felt
he force Of the prisoners words. Be
ore them stood, in beatific vision. the
Eloquent pleadings for husbands and
ather's wrongs; but they had been
rained by the great leader. Robert T..
ZEE, to tread the path of duty, though !
he lightning fash scorched the ground !
their feet, and each in his turn
pronounced the verdict, Guilty"
Fortunately for humanity. fortunate
Y for the Confederacy, the proceed
ngs of the court were reviewed by the
commanding general. and upon the
ecOrd was written:
Headquarters A. n. V.
"The finding Of the court approved.
The prisoner is pardoned and will re-
'Ort to his company.
"R. +. LEE, General"
Washington Post.
Volunteering in 1860.
There is 4 wide difference between