April 1861
Richmond
Dear Lieut.
I received
your short letter some time ago, and ought to have answered it sooner. Better late than never however, and now
I have something to say.
I will first
tell you that your mother is quite well and in excellent spirits. She and myself are great friends, and I
called on her this afternoon. (I lived
at Mrs Duval’s where she lives for a month, leaving on account of the hours of
meals, and [illegible] boarders who nearly drove me mad.) Mary and Sal and all are well – the former
“as well as could be supposed” etc. after the shock of making the acquaintance
of Miss Serena Steger who appeared about ten days ago.
--But to the
subject of [illegible] Colter. I have
commenced in rather a jesting way, but I assure you, my dear friend, that I
have a very serious [illegible] in this letter. I mean to show you some important things from this point
of view, and try and make you of my way of thinking – namely that the moment
has come for you and Uncle to act promptly, and forestall events that are
nearly on us.
I don’t intend
to go into any talk about the Lincoln govt and that at Montgomery – I have no
doubt that you despise the one and admire the other as much as I do. But I say – the time is imminently near at
hand when you and Uncle will be aiders and abettors of the sworn foes – and active
foes – of your country (I mean the South, for that is your country) and
your [illegible] kindred. Virginia is
as certain for secession as anything in the future can be – she will join the
Confederate States – and any hope of reconstruction is visionary. Do you intend to wait? I will tell you what you will gain by
that. The prizes in the Southern
army will all be drawn, and you will have the place of the laggard. The commissions are being given every day. I will mention an [illegible]. My friend, Edwin Harris – son of Lewis E
Harris, of Amelia, -- and Lieut. 9th Infantry, without letters of
recommendation, and on simple application, received the 10th
Infantry in [illegible]. I saw the
working of the whole affair from the start, and there was no extraneous
influence brought to bear upon his promotion.
He was advanced on a [illegible] policy – and from an inspection of the
listed captains, I am certain that the policy of that government is to
hold out the strongest inducements to the army officers from Border (not
yet seceded) states – with the plain political object of encouraging the
Southern feelings therein by the [illegible words] shown to entrust Border
State men with places of trust and emolument.
Here is a step which you may not have seen – I will put it in for fear
of forgetting it.
[Clipping from
newspaper about army admissions, signed by Cooper, acting sec’y of war]
Send this –
the whole letter if you choose – to Uncle, to whom I sent a letter from
[illegible] Harris. Tell him to let you
see the letter – but remember that it – the Capt’s letter is confidential. Let Uncle’s [illegible]
Unquestionably
you and Uncle would resign ”on account of the secession of the Confederate
States” – and you would of course receive equal commissions in the Southern
army – but that is not all.
Captain Harris
– and this is in confidence for you and Uncle alone – says that the policy there
(at Montgomery, from which he has just returned) is to advance officers,
[illegible], one grade. He
expresses the belief that Uncle would be made one of the four Brigadiers, if
prompt applicaton were made – and I am as certain as I am of my [illegible]
that you would be [illegible] Major or Captain – probably the former,
certainly the latter. The unfortuante
part of the affair is that you and Uncle are at the end of the world, there in
the west, -- and I suppose, if a bloody battle were found in the Atlantic
States, would not hear of it for weeks.
I express my
[illegible] that under all the [illegible] the dictate of good policy, of
[illegible] feeling of the Southern and the soldier is – resign at once and go
to this noble government of the South.
You say that Col. Munford and yourself are friends -- [illegible] the matter
[illegible]. Very good, but the time
for getting the good places will then be past.
Virginia will not secede before the [illegible] – and then you would go
to Montgomery as one compelled by circumstances and not choosing that
service.
I do not think
that ever in my life, I expressed myself more confidently, awkwardly and
badly. A horrible cold in the
[illegible] on me. But I believe I have
one way or another, put down some of the main points. Remain with the Lincoln [illegible] and
political force government, you and Uncle cannot. This a foreign despotism to you as to me, and so help me God I’ll
fight against it if the time for fighting comes. I with hundreds more bound ourselves the other day by written
agreement to resist by force of arms that [illegible] and the [illegible] of
[illegible] and stop the new federal guns from Bellows aresenal of the
[illegible] on their way to Fort Monroe, and the fight may commence here at any
moment. It will come, if we do not
secede – as sure as fate, and then you and Uncle are sworn to put us to the
bayonet at the order of Scott and Lincoln.
But this is
[illegible]. I believe from my
[illegible] that interest, honor, absolute [illegible] will compel you and
Uncle in three months from this time to leave the Northern army and offer your
services to the South. Why not do so now, when your movement would have
all the effect of a political coup d’etat, from its bearing upon the secession
of the Border States. Now is the time
to receive from that gallant soldier Davis just what you want. No man appreciates gallantry better, and I
do believe that if you could get leave of absence, and go to Montgomery, Uncle
would be Brigadier and you Major on the 1st day of May.
If you think
as I do, write to him and urge him. If
you are ready to act, get his authority to ask for him, and come
here. I will get letters from Mason,
Hunter, Wise and others; and we will go together to Montgomery. – My heart is
in this matter, but I have have surveyed the ground coolly. The [illegible] point in you and Uncle’s
career is now – and your future careers will be shaped by your course.
I have written
freely and frankly, my dear friend. I
regard you as friend and cousin. I
believe that I counsel the path of interest and honor. Get Uncle’s authority to act for him and
come east at once if Col. Sumner will [illegible – concur?].
I beg you to
answer this at once. Speak plainly as I
do – I have used no ceremony. This is
not the time for it. We are in
Revolution and events rush on too wildly for ceremony. I beseech you to communicate at once, with
Uncle to whom I’ve written, and come East and judge for yourself. If he was in Washington – he would be a Brigadier
in ten days.
Love to all,
Yours faithfully
Jno. Esten Cooke.
P.P.S. I have
not thought it necessary to estimate the [illegible – probability?] of your
being called on as officer of the C.S. to fight against
[illegible]. They are pledged against coercion,
and would go with you.