The judge advocate was proceeding to open the prosecution, when the court, observing that the prisoner was unattended by counsel, interposed and inquired of the accused, “Who is your counsel?”
He replied, “I have no counsel.”
Supposing that it was his purpose to represent himself before the court, the judge-advocate was instructed to proceed. Every charge and specification against the prisoner was sustained.
The prisoner was then told to introduce his witnesses.
He replied, “I have no witnesses.”
Astonished at the calmness with which he seemed to be submitting to what he regarded as inevitable fate, I said to him, “Have you no defence? Is it possible that you abandoned your comrades and deserted your colors in the presence of the enemy without any reason?”
He replied, “There was a reason, but it will not avail me before a military court.”
I said, “Perhaps you are mistaken; you are charged with the highest crime known to military law, and it is 170 your duty to make known the causes that influenced your actions.”
For the first time his manly form trembled and his blue eyes swam in tears. Approaching the president of the court, he presented a letter, saying, as he did so, “There, colonel, is what did it.” I opened the letter, and in a moment my eyes filled with tears.
It was passed from one to another of the court until all had seen it, and those stern warriors who had passed with Stonewall Jackson through a hundred battles wept like little children. Soon as I sufficiently recovered my self-possession, I read the letter as the prisoner’s defence. It was in these words: