The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-09-13
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.

| 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 few months before he died,
| says writer in the Los Angeles Times.
A few days before Christmas. 1868,
when the army of Gen. Lee was suf-
fering the greatest privations, there
was dramatic scene in the tent of
the judge-advocate general.
Edward Cooper, wearing the gray
uiform of private soldier in the
Confederate army, stood before the
court-martial charged with desertion.
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: II
| have no witnesses"
Astonished at the calmness 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: "Have you no defense
whatever? Is it possible that you
| abandoned your comrades and deserted
your colors in the presence of the en-
envy and without reason?"
There was reason" replied Cooper,
but 1t will not avail me before a 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
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 vas proffered SIS the pris-
oner's defense. 1t was in these words:
Dear Edward: Since your connec-
ton with the Confederate army | have
been prouder of you than ever before.
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 lit
| tie Eddie crying. l called to him and
said: What Is the matter, Eddie?' He
said: oh, mamma, l am so hungreyr
And Lucy-your darling Lucy--she new
er complains, butts he is growing thin
ler 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-
celved this letter?"
Cooper replied: Il made appllca-
ton for a furlough. II was rejected.
Again l made application. and was re-
| jected. That night l wandered around
| our camp, thinking of my home the
wild eyes of Lucy looking up at me
| and the burning words of Mary seeth-
ing in my brain. l was no longer the
Confederate soldier was the father
of Lucy and the husband of Mary. If
every gun in the battery had been fired
at me, would have crossed those lines.
When reached home Mary flung her
| 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
Through? Go back. Edward Go back
Let me and the children go down to the
grave. but for heavens sake do not tar
| nish the honor of our name.,'
Every officer in that court-martial
was visibly affected by the defense, but
| each one in turn pronounced the YER
dict of guilty" The proceedings of
the court were reviewed by Gen. Lee,
| and upon the records was written:
Headquarters A. n. y.-The finding
Of the court is approved The prisoner
is pardoned and will return to his COM
pany. X. L. LEE. General"
The court-martial could reach no
other conclusion than to find him guilty
of desertion. The commanding general
could pardon him and did pardon him.
Edward Cooper was afterward brave
Confederate soldier. The officers raised
some money out of their slender means
and sent relief to the wife and chill
dren.