I am extremely excited to have run across these two letters posted on a Cincy Bengals forum by a decendant of the recipient of the letters. Robert Cobb sent these letters to W E Thompson in 1899 and 1904 as replies to letters Thompson sent him. I've attempted to contact the person who posted them and would dearly love copies of the letters, but since they are already posted on the web I thought I should copy them here.
Ray

"
Wichita Falls, Tex, May 17th 1899

W.E. Thompson, Esq.
Flag Fork, Ky

My Dear Comrade,

When your very kind and thoroughly welcome letter reached me, I determined to answer it promptly. But about that time I moved my office and in the shuffle of moving, your letter was misplaced, and I could not recall your post office.

Recently however in overhauling, and under a "Sunday morning inspection" it turned up. So that I proceed, even at so late a day, to reply.

I surely remember you, particularly as associated with our gallant boy Decius Wayne, whom our brave and much loved Maj Graves so much admired. The circumstance of the explosion of our limber chest at Hartsville Landing, resulting in the death of poor Davy Watts, and the wounding of six or seven others remains vividly in my memory, but I had forgotten who it was who caught my horse which had broken away from me at the time. I was dismounted I know, and leading my horse or had someone holding him for me while I was at the chest giving some directions to the men about it, not exceeding three minutes before the explosion, and had just turned away to consult Col Morgan and Col Thom Hunt (of the 9th Infantry) as to a movement to our left in order to get the battery out of the ugly predicament we were in on the hillside covered with snow as you will remember, and to get upon the enemy's right flank. This last was accomplished, and three or four shots from Lieut Gracey's section at the enemy in line with their extreme right but back at a right angle thus: [handwritten graphic] which struck the angle squarely, and sufficed to throw the whole into confusion, of which the 2nd Infantry took prompt advantage and the battle was practically won by the simultaneous charge of that regiment and the 9th (under Capt Morehead.[)] You may remember that that day we marched nearly three times as many prisoners across the Cumberland river as we had men engaged. And do you remember that the last position we took at the eastern edge of the enemies camp, brought us face to face, at only about 30 yds distance between us, with the 104 ills [104th Illinois?], standing in perfect line, and order of battle, numbering nearly a thousand men; and I had given the order to load with double canister; the guns were shotted, lanyards fixed, when Lieut Bob Matthews called out from the right "Capt, here is a white flag"? I had barely time to ride out front and give the cautionary command, "as you are" and averted the fire, when Capt Crouch of the 9th Ky came up to me, arm in arm with a bareheaded officer, bearing in his hands a musket with a white handerkerchief tied to the fixed bayonett, and introduced him to me as Col Moore. Upon my demand to know who he was and what he desired, he replied that he was in command of the camp and desired to surrender the whole command, but desired to see Morgan. I ordered him to remain where he was, and immediately gave the command to the regiment in my front to "ground arms" which was promptly obeyed, and the battle ended finally. So you see I had the honor to receive the surrender of Col Moore of the 104th Ills (I think it was).

I just as well remember at Murphresboro (Stone's River Yankees call it) the shot from a 10 pds parrot gun on Tuesday afternoon before the grand battle on Wednesday that cost you your arm, and Decius Wayne his life besides wounding two others whose names I can not recall. The same shot absolutely gutted all six of the horses without wounding either of the three drivers. These were dismounted holding horses. Every horse fell except John Brockman's lead horse and this stood for a while with the bowels hanging entirely out. Do you remember it? Poor Dear Graves had made me provoke the shot from the enemies' battery. I ordered, under protest to Graves, two shots from two bronze rifles of Lumsden's Ala battery, which were serving with me, but Cobb's Battery received the return fire, with the above result. Of course it was a chance shot because the horses and limber were out of sight below the crest of the ridge.

And having indulged in so much of the history of the two battles in which you participated with me I must tell you something of myself. I have lived here 14 years--practiced law-- made good money, and spent it to care for and educate my children--six in number--boy at the top and the foot of the class, with four daughters between--having lost one little girl at Paducah before coming out here. My baby boy will soon be a voter--21 in Aug next--have one daughter married--has two girl children-twins, and is now living with her husband Mr Albert Sidney {illeg}nett at Fort Worth (Tex). I will be 63 years old next Sunday and am in good health--and my whole family are I am glad to say in good health. {illeg} good health is one of the attractions of this country.

Of course all my tribe--voters and non voters-- are Kentucky and Texas Democrats--free silver democrats, and anti-expansionists--in this last of which and only this, we agree with old gut-headed Cleaveland, who so ingloriously sold us out, along with Carlisle and Bill Lindsay and other apostates, to the gold bugs and money changers of the world.

Do you ever meet Maj McDowell of the glorious old 2nd Ky, or any of the other dear old Comrades of the dear old Brigade? If you ever meet any of these remember me to them. I love you all--God knows I do.

It gives me unbounded pleasure to know that you are prosperous and happy, and I sincerely trust you may live long and prosper, and enjoy the society of your six boys and the darling girl, to all of whom I shall love to be remembered always as well as to the fortunate lady who was so successful as to capture as gallant a boy soldier as you were.

I must tell you before closing that notwithstanding the three score years and more that I have passed, I still feel like a four year old, and believe I should enjoy commanding the men of Cobb’s Battery (and, the Good Lord could--but never did permit a braver set of fellows to live) as much as I did in the War between the States--especially if the lines of battle were drawn up again for the same causes that actuated us in 1861-65. I am still a State Sovereign Democrat.

God bless you and yours and believe me
Faithfully Comrade!
R Cobb

Write me of any of the old comrades you meet. "

And the second 5 years later

"
Wichita Falls, Tex Oct 6th 1904,

My Dear Thompson,

Mr {illeg} promptly delivered the bottle of E. H. Taylor Jr and Sons' spiritus frumenti, which came to me like a "balm in Gilead": First because it came as a reminder of a true and faithfull comrade of that kind of men who made Cobb’s Battery famous and linked my name imperishably with the cause of our beloved Southland--the cause of real liberty on the Continent: Secondly because the excellence of the spirits awoke within my memory the glorious recollection of grand Old Kentucky; the old Kentucky of the halcyon days of my youth. Accept therefore, my thanks for the {illeg} and for the remembrance of me which it evidences.

I wrote you long ago in reply to a letter you wrote me; but no reply has ever been received: and as had on it the usual return notice, I supposed it was lost in transit, or that you had passed away to that goodly land where no material mail routes, and communication can only be had in the spirit: so that your present was thrice welcome.

I cannot express to you in language adequate, the pleasure it would give me to meet you, and the old comrades once more in this life. I know we'll meet in the world beyond--in the realm where all true and faithful Confederate Soldiers, must go to meet our Breckinridge, Hanson, {illeg}, Preston, Lewis and all the great host who gave up their lives for the cause.

But as I am now in my 69th year, and not "flush" in this world's goods, I must content myself with the privilege of a letter now [and] then from the remnant of the survivors of my old command. Write to me!

Faithfully comrade!
Yours
R Cobb
"

Pretty awesome stuff.
Ray