Company Commander, Co. "G"
First Louisiana Heavy Artillery
Battery below Vicksburg
April 7th, 1863
Dear Starr:
My heart was made exceeding glad, yesterday afternoon, by the reception and perusal of a letter from you, full of kind words; beautiful expressions; vivid pictures of the olden, golden time, and sentiments of a continued personal esteem which any man might envy, and but few possess. I read the treasured communication over and over; laid it aside; took it up, and read it again and again, until I felt my heart warming towards you as never before, although you have long claimed its purest love and highest admiration. I felt oppressed by a sense of my own unworthiness, when contrasted with your generous kindness, and I involuntarily exclaimed, Oh, that I merited but one half * the esteem that my noble-souled, gifted, unselfish friend has so long lavished [u]pon me!-- A tear drop stood trembling in my eye; my heart softened and glowed under its influence, and I felt that, of all men, these days of infidelity, I was most blessed, in the possession of a friend, who--if it is not sacrilege to use the expression--"sticketh closer than a brother". I think I can say, with truth, that my thoughts are with you daily, and always have been, although my long silence would seem to belie the statement. One reason I did not write, was the idea that my letters were not pleasing to you, and I did not wish to annoy you with them. Every officer in my company, and many in my Regiment, know you--your gifts, you noble, generous impulses, your pure, unselfish nature, and your brotherly regard for me. You must know that I am propped up in bed writing this, having been sick for five days. Yesterday afternoon, the Courier arrived from town with letters. One of my Lieutenants came into my tent saying, "Captain, I have a letter for you that will do you more good than all the medicine you can take. It is from your old friend Starr." Now, I mention this, in confirmation of what I stated above, that I not only think of you, but talk about you. The beautiful allusion you made to the interweaving of romance, poetry and sentiment of our past scenes and associations, touched a chord that awoke slumbering memories of a by-gone period, full of hope, and joy, and happiness, and, for a brief season, I lived over, in fancy, those previous days of life, but soon, the stern realities of the present chased away the pleasing vision, and left the mind sad and melancholy, by reason of the contrast.
Since my last was written, I have been moved from my former battery, to this point. The enemy was making rapid progress with the "canal", and which, being accomplished, would have enabled the entire fleet and army to pass through,--leaving Vicksburg and its defenses powerless to act--and throw the whole force upon Port Hudson, reduce it, and, joining Farragut and Banks, return, with overwhealming (sic) numbers, to crush out this. My guns being of the largest calibre, and throwing shot and shell with equal effect, I was ordered to remove them here, and dispute the passage of any boats attempting to run the "canal". I came, and found that two dredge boats had well-nigh succeeded in cutting through. I commenced, and kept up, both day and night, at iregular (sic) intervals, a telling fire, and finally drove the dredge boats and batteries away, and put a quietus to all work on the "canal". Being just two miles off the nearest point a battery could be erected--you may judge with what precision I have to fire to make my shots effective. One of their letter writers, in speaking of my firing, says, "the rebel battery threw shot and shell with wonderful precision and terrible effect, making it almost impossible to work the boats." I had my lines and angles of fire so well determined, that I could burst shell over and around them, just as well at night as in the day, and the effect of my shell exploding at night was a grand sight, and witnessed by thousands, both in the city and the adjacent hills. Unless you have witnessed the transit and explosion of these huge missiles of death, over a hundred pounds in weight you can form no idea of its grandeur. As soon as it leaves the muzzle of the piece, you can see it, by aid of the burning fuze (sic), shoot up, like a brilliant star, into mid-heaven, and trace it in its flight and descent until it explodes, when it throws out a sheet of flame and smoke, and, in a few seconds, the explosion comes back with almost the same volume of sound that issued from the gun in its discharge. The sight, I say, is a grand one, and the effect most ter-
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rible, as these immense shells break into fragments, go hissing through the air, and which, in their fall, are as deadly as solid shot. It acquired skill and practice to explode these shells at the right point, particularly as far off as I am from my object, but I can now burst them any where I please, within two and a half miles. This accuracy depends upon the charge of powder, elevation, range, and length of fuze (sic), with a proper allowance for drift and windage. I have, perhaps, been rather minute in describing my shell operations, but, as I see you are in the habit of letting some of the fair maidens of Texas read my letters, and supposing this may share the same fate, I concluded, while on the subject, I might as well enlarge a little, for their edification.
My general officers are highly pleased with my success, and say, they would rather see me keep the dredge boasts out of the canal (sic), than to sink a dozen gunboats. If I keep them out of the "canal", they will be forced to pass the batteries at Vicksburg, which they are not anxious to attempt, as we sink, cripple, and drive them back as fast as they come. I have already burned over two thousand pounds of powder, and expect to double it in a month.
I heartily concur with you in your desire for peace, but alas! When that time will come, is known only to Him, who "ruleth the armies of Heaven and earth", and who will at His own good pleasure, incline the hearts of our cruel, malignant foes to peace, and secure to us the inestimable blessing of Independence. That this much desired event is not far removed, obtaines (sic) ver (sic) generally here, both among soldiers and civilians. This opinion is based upon the disaffection of the Western troops, and the divisions and dissentions (sic) springing up at the North, growing out of Lincoln's infamous Proclamation, and other arbitrary acts of unauthorized power. These Western and Northwestern troops are getting their eyes opened to the fact that it is not for the "constitution and the Union", and the "free navigation of the Mississippi", that they are in arms against their natural allies, but to carry out the nefarious designs of the Abolitionists, and they now shrink from the plans and purposes of a war, which, for cruelty and inhumanity, has no parallel, even in the annals of savage barbarity. The most benighted heathen would blush to own many, very many acts of infamy which have been perpetrated during this unnatural war, and by those, too, professing to have humanitarian, if not Christian, instincts and impulses. These things have become so very palpable, that thousands turn from them with loathing and disgust, and are only waiting a favorable opportunity to renounce a cause so brutal and accursed. This, I say, is the state of feeling among the Northwestern troops, as affirmed by many who have escaped to our lines; and such being the case, let the battle come here, when and how it may, my faith is that our arms will signally triumph.
God grant that this hopeful prediction may be realized in all its fullness, and that, with this battle, may terminate the fierce conflicts which have deluged our soil with the blood of the bravest and best, and spread ruin and devastation over the fairest land that glows beneath the sun.
That the battle will be most terrible, all admit, and as I am more exposed than any other battery, and will have two of the most formidable war vessels of the Federal navy, the "Hartford" and "Albatros" (sic), to contend with, independent of others that may succeed in running the gauntlet, I can hardly hope to come off as well as I did last year. God mercifully preserved me during the terrible conflict of last year, and I believe He will throw the Aegis of His protection around me in this. At least, let us so hope; and when the din of war shall cease, and white robed peace unfurl her banner to the breeze, and war-worn soldiers strike their tents for the last time, and take up their line of march for their far distant homes, there to receive a welcome from those who make up their all of life; I, too, will bend my footsteps towards your rural, quiet home, to meet your genial welcome and kindly smiles; and, after the partial subsiding of a job, to intense for utterance, my overflowing heart shall be enabled to give expression to its emotions, I will tell you all about my connection with the army, and
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the thousand times you were with me, in thought and fancy, cheering my flagging energies, and whispering to my soul of a happy meeting, after so long and painful a separation.
I should like, above all things, to be with you this balmy April day. We could spread us out, at full length, upon the bosom of our common mother, and, beneath the whispering boughs of the majestic oaks that stand sentry over the "Navidad", forgetful of wrong, and injury, talk, as only friends can.
Those are no false throbs of the heart of nature. The winds, as they quietly float (---) the wishes of God's (---) temple have no sound of suspicion, nor voice of detraction, nor word of calumny. All is truth, sincerity, seriousness. Therefore do I love nature so much, and therefore do I almost envy you your quiet forest-home.
Nothing so calms the soul of an earnest man, as communion with nature, in her great solitudes, and on the margin of her mighty waters. No matter what may be his struggles with himself, of his contest with a misapprehending world, if he will go forth thoughtfully, lovingly, and trustfully, amid the stillness of the woods, he will find that trees, and flowers, and green leaves and newmorning (sic) breezes, all have voices, and will speak to him. He will find a great peace coming into his soul. Not though, unless he is a true man; I do not say a perfect one, for who is perfect? But if he be a true man, in the sense of being conscious of his weaknesses and errors; --if deeply deploring them, and of earnestly striving to make himself better, he will find communion with nature, next in importance of communion with God.
I was sorry to hear my little pet has grown so wild, however, if there is nothing really wicked in it, she will sober down to a good and true woman, as most wild girls do. My letter to her was intended as a family letter, she being the medium of communication, and, I trust, it was received in the same spirit in which it was written. I did not expect a reply, and shall be agreeably disappointed if one comes. Her mother was always kind to me, and I will remember her, with gratitude, to the last moment of existence. Bettie's child-feelings, of course, are lost in the flight of years, and even my name would die out of remembrance, unless frequently recalled by circumstances, or friends.
Major Simons' Brigade has left for Fort Pemberton. He came to see me several times before he left. He gave me the first intimation of my old sweetheart, Miss Flora, having [m]arried (---) brother. I hope existence, to them, will never be shadowed.
I have written in great (---), both of body and mind, and my (---) as well as you (---) completely exhausted so justice to myself, and mercy to you, compel me to close by signing myself, as ever,
Your faithful friend.
Coke
P.S. Remember me kindly to Mr. and Mrs. White, Bettie, Uncle Ben, and any others who may think of, or care for me.
Coke
With thanks to . . .
Archival Collection Vicksburg National Military Park Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180 Terrence J. Winshcel, Historian
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