Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-09-21
H CANNON
REClTAlS OF CAMP AND BAT
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, ForaG-
ing Experiences and Battle SCenes.

ueHtS VI NluTShSSt Nhhl' AihSS
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
The late Gen. John Is. Gordon. the
last of the corps commanders of Gen.
Lees Confederate Army of northern
Virginia. gave this story to the nArra-
tor only Il few months before he died,
says a writer in the Los Angeles Times.
A few days before Christmas, 1863,
when the army of Gen. Lee was sut-
fering the greatest privationS. there
was a dramatic scene in the tent Of
the judge-advocate general.
Edward Cooper, wearing the gray
uniform of a private soldier in the
Confederate army, stood before the
court-martial charged with uesrrtion.
The facts had been stated by the pros
ecution, and the prisoner was asked to
produce any witnesses he might have
for his defense. He calmly replied Il
have no Witnesses
.Astonisheu at the rnlmnrSs and dig
nifty of the soldier, and the Indifference
with which he seemed to have Submit
ted to an inevitable fate. Gen. Battle
said to him: "IIAvc you no defense
Whatever: Is it possible that You
abandoned your comrades and deserted
your colurs in the presence Of the en-
my and without r~eAsou:'
There was a r~rason,' replied Cooper,
'but it will not avail me before Il mill
tary 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 Influenced
your action.'
Thcreupon Cooper approached the
president Of the court and presented Il
letter, saying as he did so: There,
general, is what led me to GO
The letter yas proffered rs the pris-
oner's defense. 1t was in these words ::
Dear Edward: Since your conncc-
ton 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 l was aroused by lit
tie Eddie crying. l called to him and
said: What is the matter, Eddie?' lie
said oh, mamma, | am so hungrey"
And Lucy-your darling LuCy-she new
er complains, butts he is growing thin
ner and thinner every day. Before God,
Edward, unless you come home We must
die. YOUR NARY"
Turning to the prisoner Gen. Battle
said: what did no do when you re-
ccivod his letter:'
Cooper replied: Il made applica-
ton for a furlough. 1t was rejected.
Again l made application, and was re-
jected. That night | wandered around
u camp, thinking of my home, the
wild eyes of Lucy looking up at Inc
and the burning words Of Mary seeth-
ing in my brain. l was no longer the
Confederate soldier-I was the father
of Lucy and the husband of Mary. If
every gun in the battery had been fired
at me, l would have crossed those lines.
| When l reached home Mary flung hey
arms around my neck and sobbed: oh,
my Edward. l 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 Il the children 60 down to the
| grave, but for heavens sake do not tar
nish the honor of our namen"
Every officer in that court-martial
was visibly affected by the defense, but
each II in u pronounced the YER.
dict of guilty" The proceedings Of
the court were reviewed by Gen. Lee,
! and upon the records was Writtpn:
Headquarters \. y. N.-Tlc finding
of the court is approved. The. prisoner
is paruoued and will return to his com.
pany. Il. +. LEE, GencrAI.'
The cOurt-martial could reach nc
other conclusion than 70 find him guilty
of dcsertiOn. The commanding genera,
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.