The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-29

The late Gen. John B. Gordon.
General Lees Confederate army Of
Northern Virginia, ave this soory
to the narrator only a few months
before he died. says an exchange.
A few days before Christmas, 1863,
when the army of Gen. Lee was suf-
fering its greatest p%rivations. 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 woo 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
prosecution, and the prisoner was
asked to introduce any witnesses he
might lave for his defense. He
es."
AStonished at the calmnaSs and
dignity of the soldier. and the indif-
ference with which he seemed to be
submitting to an inevitable fate Gen.
Battle said to him: Have you no de-
Tense whatever? Is it possible that
you abandoned your comrades and
UeSGTleu your COiOTS III the pTSSSIiCS
Of the enemy and tho reason 2"
There was a reason" replied Coop
er. 'but it will not avail me before
a military tribunal"
Perhaps you are mistaken" re-
piled the general. You are charged
with the highest crime known to mil
itary law, and it is your duty to
make known the cause Or causes
which influenced your action"
Thereupon Cooper approached the
president of the court, and presented
a letter, saying as he did so: There,
general, is what led me to CO." The
letter was offered as the prisoners
defense. 1t was in these words:
Dear Edward: Since our connec-
ton with the Confederate army !
have been prouder of o than ever
before. I would not have you do
anything wrong for the world; but,
| before God! Edward, unless you come
home, we must die. Last night
was aroused by little Eddie crying.
1 called to him and said: What is the
matter, Eddie p He said: oh, NAM
your darling Lucy, h " COM
plains, but she is growing thinner
and thinner every day. Before
| Cod Edward, unless you come home,
| we must die. YOUR MARY"
Turning to the prisoner, General
Battle said: What did you do when
| you received that letter." Cooper
| replied: Il made application for q
~furlough. 1t was rejected. Again ]
made application and it was rejected,
| That night I wandered round ouI
| camp. thinking of my home, the
| wild eyes of Lucy looking up at me,
| and the burning words of Mary
seething in my brain. I was no long
er thd Confederate soldier-I was
the father of Lucy and the husband
of Mary. If every u in the bat
terry had been fired at me, l would
have crossed those lines. When
| reached home Mary flung her arms
about my neck and sobbed. "Oh,
my Edward! I am so glad you got
| your ~furlough!" She must have felt
me shudder, for she turned pale as
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-mar-
tial was visibly affected by the de-
Tense, but each in turn pronounced
the verdict Guilty" The proceed
ings of the court were reviewed by
General Lee and upon the record
was written:
Headquarters A. N. V.-The find
Ing of the court is approved. The
| prisoner is pardoned and will re-
turn to his company.
"R. E. LEE, General"
The court-martial could reach no
other conclusion than to find him
| guilty of desertion. The command
ing general could pardon him, and
did pardon him. Edward Cooper
was afterward a brave Confederate
| soldier. The officers raised some
money out Of their slender means,
and sent relief to the wife and chill
dren.