Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-05-06
MERCY FOR A oEsERTER.
Story Of the Civil War Recalled.


From the Philadelphia Press.
The late Gen. John E. Gordon, the last
OF the corps commanders of Gen. Lee
confederate army Of northern Virginia.
gave this story TO the narrator only few
months before he died: \ few days be-
fore Christmas, 1858. when the army Of
Gen. Lee was suffering its greatest pri-
Vations. 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 uni
form ~ a private soldier in the confed-
crate army. stood before court martial
charged with descrtion The facts had
been stated by the prosecution, and the
prisoner was asked TO introduce any Wit
nesses he might have for his defense He
calmly replied 1 have no Witnesses
Astonished at the calmness and dig
nifty Of the soldier. and the indifference
with which he seemed to be submitting
to an inevitable fate, Gen. Battle said to
him Have YOU no defense whatever Is
il possible that you abandoned your COM
rades and deserted your colors in the
presence Of the enemy and without any
reason?"
There was a reason" replied Cooper.
but it will not avail me before mil
itary tribunal"
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 influenced your
action
Thereupon Cooper approached the pres
ident Of the court and presented letter
saying as he did so, There. general, is
what led me to go" The letter was offer
ed as the prisoners defense. 1t was in
these words
Dear Edward: since your connection
with the confederate army 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
| was aroused by little Eddie crying. l
called 10 him and said What is the mat
ter Eddie" He said, oh mamma, I'm
so hungry" And Lucy. your darling Lucy.
she never complains but she is getting
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 received
the letter." Cooper replied, Il made
application for a Through 1t was re-
jected. That night / wandered around the
camp thinking of my home, the wild eyes
Of Lucy looking up at me, and the BURN
ing words Of Mary seething in my brain.
l was the father Of Lucy and the hus-
band of Mary. II every gun in the battery
had been fired at me, would have cross
ed those lines. When ! reached home
Mary threw her arms around my neck
and sobbed. oh. my Edward, I'm so
glad you got your THROUGH 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 furough? Go back Ed
ward. Go back, Let me and the chill
dren go down TO the grave. but for heaN-
ems 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 verdict, Guilty
The proceedings Of the court We're re-
viewed by Gen. Lee and upon the record
was written
Headquarters \. y. V.-The finding Of
the court is approved. The prisoner is
pardoned and will return To his company.
r. Z. LEE, General.
The court-martial could reach no other
conclusion than TO md him guilty OF de-
sertion. The commanding general could
pardon him, and did pardon him. Ed
ward Cooper was afterward brave con-
federate soldier. The officers raised some
money out of their slender means, and
sent relief to the wife and children.