"That Col. Cooke arrested me on the 9th of Sept. 1851, and preferred charges against me, which charges Genl. Wool says, would not promote the interest of the service by being made the subject of investigation; that he relieved me from the duties of Quarter Master and Commissary of Subsistence, appointed another in my place; and that when released from arrest, he did fail to restore me to those duties, notwithstanding Genl. Wool’s positive order (a copy of which is enclosed.). It has been my endeavor throughout the difficulties which Col. Cooke has attempted to bring upon me, to appear before my superiors not as an officer desirous of giving trouble, but as one who asks respectfully for justice, and protection from treatment on the part of his Comdg. Officer, unwarranted by regulations."
"…This being a school of practice, I came here determined to do my duty strictly and zealously, and to aid the Comdg. Officer to the best of my ability. I now know that Col. Cooke mistook my zeal for a desire to go against his orders, and a desire to divide with him the honor of command. (I refer you to his endorsement on my letter to Genl. Walbach of Sept 8th ’51.) All the officers who served with me here, know that I was misunderstood by Col. Cooke..."
(Letters Received by the Adjutant General, 1851, L194)While Cooke and Love tangled at Carlisle Barracks, the writing of Scenes Beyond the Western Border continued to exhibit surprising flights of imagination. Below, invented dialogue from the December 1851 installment of Scenes Beyond the Western Border shows different and distinctively literary agenda, with echoes of Melville's Moby-Dick and a foretaste of Pierre:
"There has been a change; Destiny has new shuffled the cards of our small fates; they had been stocked by some attendant imp, who was leading us (and tickling us the while with exciting chimeras) to the D—."
I. F. "Nay, Friend, I belong to earth—from thy flight descend not lower: as your old fashioned friend, I feel interested in your surface wanderings; but let your double-refined poetry and romance go 'to the D—.'"
"I submit. But the Reality I think is too darkly, coldly real, the earth very earthy; but, to please you, mark—I now attempt a lower level."I. F. you remember stands for "Imaginary Friend."
("Scenes Beyond the Western Border," Southern Literary Messenger December 1851)
"But imagination utterly failed him here; the reality was too real for him...." (Pierre)
"Hark ye yet again,— the little lower layer."
(Moby-Dick)
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| Scenes Beyond the Western Border Southern Literary Messenger (December 1851) |
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