The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-26
One of Gordon's Stories.

The late Gen. John B. Gordon, the
last of the corps commanders of Gen.
Lees Confederate Army of Northern
Virginia, gave this story to the narra-
tor only a few months before he died,
says an exchange. A few days before
Christmas, 1868, when the army of Gen.
Lee was suffering its greatest priva-
tions, there was a dramatic scene in
the tent of the judge advocate general
The morning was cold the wind was
bleak. and the ground was covered
with snow. The wood fire seemed only
to make the cold more penetrating.
Edward Cooper, wearing the gray
uniform of a private soldier in the
Confederate Army, stood before a
court-martial charged with desertion.
The facts had been stated by the pros
ecution, and the prisoner was asked to
have for his defense. He calmly re-
piled: I have no witnesses"
Astonished at the calmness and dig
nifty of the soldier, and the indiffer-
ence with which he seemed to be sub
hitting to an inevitable fate, Gen
Battle said TO him: Have you no de-
Tense whatever? Is it possible that
you abandoned your comrades and de-
serted your colors in the presence of
liz NAACAllg anu "lNllO0l any ACeAoOAl
There was a reason replied Coop
er, but it will not avail me before a
military tribunal"
Perhaps you are mistaken" replied
the general. You are charged with
the highest crime known to military
law, and it is your duty to make
known the cause or causes which in
fiuenced your action"
Thereupon Cooper approached the
lav9t Of In -
letter, saying as he did so: There,
general, is what led me to CO." The
letter was offered as the prisoners de-
Tense. 1t was in these words:
Dear Edward: Since your connec-
ton 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 l was aroused
by little Eddie crying. 1 called to him
and said: What is the matter, Ed
die?'" He said: oh, mamma, 1 am
so hungry And Lucy, your darling
Lucy, she never complains, but she is
growing thinner and thinner every
day. Before God! Edward, unless you
come home, we must die.
Your Mary"
Turning to the prisoner, Gen. Battle
said: What did you do when you re-
ceived that letter." Cooper replied:
Il made application for furlough. II
was rejected. Again 1 made applca-
ton and it was rejected. That night
| wandered around our camp, think
ing of my home, the wild eyes of Lucy
looking up at ME, and the burning
words of Mary seething in my brain.
l was no longer the Confederate SOL
dier-I was the father of Lucy and
the husband of Mary. If every gun
in the battery had been fired at me, 1
would have crossed those lines. When
/ reached home Mary flung her arms
about my neck and sobbed. oh my
Edward! am SO glad you got your
furlough!" She must have felt me
shudder, for she turned pale as death,
and catching her breath at every word
she said: Have you come without
your furlough? Go back, Edward.
Go back! Let me and the children go
down to the grave, but for heavens
sake do not tarnish the honor of our
name"
Every officer on that court-martial
was visibly affected by the defense.
but each in turn pronounced the YER
dict Guilty" The proceedings of the
court were reviewed by Gen. Lee and
upon the record was written:
Headquarters A. n. V.-The finding
OF the court is approved. The prisoner
is pardoned and will return to his
company.
"R. E. Lee. General"
The court-martial could reach no
other conclusion than to find him gull
ty of desertion. The commanding gen
eral could pardon him, and did pardon
him. Edward Cooper was afterward a
brave Confederate soldier. The Off
GERS raised some money out of their
slender means, and sent relief to the
wife and children.