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Papers of John Esten Cooke, 1810-1883 (1858-1869), Accession #5295-h, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
The papers contain the autograph manuscripts for "Disraeli," "To make raisins," table of contents for "The man hunter," "The winter march to Romney" (from "The life of Stonewall Jackson"), title page of "Wearing of the grey," "Une description de noces," "The scout," "A dead master, G.W.B.," "The broken mug," "Deal gently with the erring," "O, I'm a good old rebel," "So my summer's over," and "A southern scene."
Ten letters, mostly to Cooke, chiefly discuss his writings, particularly "Days and nights in the Shenandoah," "Hilt to hilt," "Life of Stonewall Jackson," "My friend the colonel," "Pride of falling waters," "Stories of the Old Dominion," and "Surry of Eagle's Nest"; the Civil War, especially Stonewall Jackson, the battlefields of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gaines's Mill, Petersburg, and Richmond, and Stuart's grave; and Southern writers.
They also include a letter from a military volunteer criticizing Cooke's article "Outlines from the outpost," published in "Southern Illustrated News" and a letter from Stephen Cooke to John Rogers Cooke about responsibilities of marriage. An engraving of Cooke and an example of his calligraphy are also present.
The correspondents include John Rogers Cooke, Stephen Cooke, Joseph A. Hill, Fitzhugh Lee, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Jr., William Meade, Isaac Moorhead, William Thomas Poague, and S. Rohman.
A French composition written at William D. du Powell's School (Richmond Female Seminary), which describes a fictional marriage of Mary Francis Page to John Esten Cooke. This ms. is glued to a leaf of heavy paper together with an ALS, Stephen Cooke to John Rogers Cooke, 1810 January 21. In addition, the following are glued to the leaf of heavy paper: a partial clipping of an advertisement for Our Artist by G. W. Carleton, and a scrap of paper with signature of Annie Wise Hobson (daughter of Gov. Henry Alexander Wise).
A chapter from The Life of Stonewall Jackson. The pages are numbered 267 and 299 through 302. Col. N. N. Wallack of Star Radio Co., Washington, D. C., who brought this ms. from Robert Page Cooke (son of John Esten Cooke) dates the ms. 1863.
The date, 1864, below the title of this poem is scratched out. The 2 l. are numbered 68 and 69.
Title page, which includes a quotation by Henry Alexander Wise.
Table of Contents
Detailed description for making raisins at home written on verso of p. 572 of an unidentified J. E. C. manuscript.
Eulogy to George William Bagby.
An ode on a late melancholy accident. Pages of ms. are numbered 47 through 54.
A biographical sketch of Benjamin Disraeli. Pages are numbered 1 through 28, but pages 20 and 21 were deleted by J. E. C.
At the end of the poem are the initials, I. R.
Expresses his approval of John's recent engagement and counsels him regarding financial responsibilities for marriage. This letter is glued to verso of paper containing AMsS 1858 (see no. 1a above).
Encloses an article which he wrote. Mentions that his wife and son will be in Virginia during the summer and wishes J. E. C. to see them. Rejoices in J. E. C.'s fame and success, and describes his own goals in life. Asks to be remembered to Wickham, William Henry Lyons, Lewis Webb, William Harvie and J. E. C.'s brother George. A pencil notation in the margin states that Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Jr. wrote the appendix in Stonewall Jackson by J. E. C.
States that General J. E. B. Stuart requests that Poague send Stephen Dandridge to his headquarters to see his father. Request is approved by Stonewall Jackson. This letter is glued on a piece of heavy pink paper; on verso are glued clippings from letters bearing the following autographs: B. W.Leigh; James Christie Esten; Stephen Cooke.
This letter is written from Camp Gagg in an illiterate style criticizing an article by J. E. C. entitled "Outlines from the Outpost" published in Southern Illustrated News.
States that he is sending a document and asks Cooke to put him on the highest pinnacle of history so that when he has young ones they can read about their father's achievements. Letter is written on an official form of the Head Quarters 2nd Division Cavalry, Army of Northern Virginia.
Thanks Cooke for the gratification he received from reading Stonewall Jackson, Surry of Eagle's Nest, Hilt to Hilt, "Days and Nights in the Shenandoah, " and "My Friend the Colonel. " Describes his visits to battlefields at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gaines's Mill, Petersburg, Richmond, to Stuart's grave, and the spot where Stonewall Jackson fell. Mentions his talk with Mrs. Chancellor and his disappointment that Melzi Chancellor was not at home. Discusses information concerning Chancellorsville which he obtained from a colonel of a Georgia regiment while he was a prisoner at Johnson's Island Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, and from General O. O. Howard.
States that the bundle and business card do not belong to him and is returning the card to Cooke.
Expresses his gratitude for the enjoyment received from reading Stories of the Old Dominion. Discusses "Pride of Falling Waters " published in Field and Fireside, virtues of southern women, and his son's admiration of J. E. C. Mentions Paul Hamilton Hayne, William Gilmore Simms, and Edgar Allan Poe.
Last portion of a letter in which Meade says he is unable to examine the text at present since he is leaving for a confirmation in Winchester, and then will go to Alexandria and the seminary. Mentions he knew J. E. C.'s mother.
Engraving clipped from magazine and photostatic copy with negative of the clipping. On the back of the clipping are advertisements of the following books: Slosson, Annie Trumbell, The Heresy of Mehetabel Clark, Seven Dreamers; Hibbard, George A., Iduna and Other Stories; and Hepworth, George H., Starboard and Part.