[legendsport]

from personal letters of future Confederate Senator William H. Cobb, June 6, 1891:

My dearest Amanda,

Young Tyrus and I have just completed our journey to Richmond. I must admit that my eyes welled with tears as I stood in Victory Square and gazed upon the twin equestrian statues there - the first of George Washington and the other of Robert E. Lee.

The bustling capital is indeed a sight to behold: hundreds of people on the streets, hurrying back and forth on a myriad of who-knows-what type of errands. Why, in the square alone there were more people than can be seen in Royston in an entire month.

With Tyrus in hand, I made my way across the square in search of Senator Cullen's office. The Senator was not in, but his secretary did promise to remind Mr. Cullen of his promise to back my congressional campaign this fall. On the way to the hotel from the Senate building, I spied a crowd gathered on a public green. Since Tyrus expressed an interest (what five year old can resist the call of curiousity?), I agreed to venture over and find out what was attracting the crowd's attention.

The crowd was watching a touring group of Yankees play a game called "base ball." I remember my father mentioning this game after the war - he had seen some Union prisoners playing it under guard. I confess I did not find the proceedings interesting in any way. Young Tyrus, however, was mesmerized and as we made our way back to the hotel, expressed to me that his fondest wish was to become a base baller.

We should conclude our business here tomorrow and embark on the Thursday morning express to Atlanta.

Your loving husband,
William