The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-02-24

the courts martial of the Army Of
Northern Virginia. One bleak De-
ccmbcr morning, while the snow cover
ed the ground aud the winds howied
around our camp, | left my bivouac
FIRE to attend the session Of the court.
Winding for miles along uncertain
paths at length arrived at the court
ground, at Round Oak church.
Day after day it had been our duty
20 try the gallant soldiers of that
army charged with violation of mill
'tary laws, but never had I, 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.
Gle was charged with desertion.
A low murmur arose spontaneously
from the battle.scsrred spectators as
9 young artilleryman arose from the
prisoners bench, and in response to
the q uestion: "Guilty or not guilty?"
answered: "Not guilty" The judge
advocate was proceeding to open the
prosecution, when the court observing
that the prisoner was unattended by
counsel iaterposed and inquired Of the
accused:
"Who is your counsel?"
lie replied: II have no counsel"
,Supposing that it was his purpose
to represent himself before the court,
the Judge advocate was instructed to
proceed. Every charge aud spccif-
cation against the prisoner was sus-
tanned. The prisoner was then told
to introduce his witnesses.
He replied: II have no witnesses.
Astonishcd at the calmncss with
which he seemed to be submitting 70
what he regarded as inevitable fate,
] said to him:
"IIave you no defense? Is it pos
sible that you abandoned your com
rades and deserted your colors in the
presence Of the enemy without any
reason
Hc replied: "There was reason,
but it will not avail me before mill.
tary court"
"Perhaps you are mistaken. You
are charged with the highest crime
known TO military law; and it is your
duty to make known tho causes that
Influenced your actions
For the first time his manly form
tremoled. and his blue eyes swan in
tears. Approaching the president of
the court, he presented letter, say
ing as he did SO: There, colonel, is
what did it"
Iopaned the letter and in o moment
my eyes filled with tears. 1t was
passed from one to the other Of the
court, until all had seen it, and those
stern warriors, who had passed with
Stonewall Jackson through hundred
battles, wept like children.
AS soon as sufficiently recovered
my self-possession, l read the letter
as the prisoners defense. 1t was in
these words:
"My Dear Edward: I have always
been proud Of you aud since your
connection with the Confederate army,
/ have been prouder Of you than ever
before. would not have you do any
thing wrong for the world; but be-
fore God, Edward, unless you come
home, we must die. Last night l was
aroused by little Eddie crying.
called and said What's the matter,
Eddie2 and he said: oh, mamma,
am SO hungry
Sand Lucy-Edward, your darling
Lucy-she never complains. but she
is growing thinner and thinner every
day and before God, unless you come
home we must all die"
<Signed) "Your Mary"
Turning to the prisoner, 1 asked:
"What did you do when you re.
ceived this letter."
81 made application for furlough,
and it was rejected; again I made ap-
plication, and it was rejected; third
time 1 made application, and it was
rejected and that night, as wander ed
backward and forward in the camp
thinking of my home, with tho mild
eyes of Lucy looking up to me, and
the burning words of Mary sinking in
my brain, was no longer the Confed-
crate soldier, but was the father of
Lucy and the husband of Mary, and
/ would have passed those lines if
every gun in the battery had fred