My dear Miss [Hetty] Cary

Permit me once more to remind
yourself and you sister of the promise made by you
to visit the line of this army–a promise so long de-
ferred in its fulfillment that many an anticipant
has become heart-sic, and hope has become the
parent of despair.

“Piaceva madre di figlio crudele”

Now I am instructed by the General to say
that your presence is absolutely required to restore the
morale of the army; and of course the presence of
your sister and of you charming cousin, Miss
Constance, is included in the requisition. If
you resolve to obey the command, I have no
doubt you can dispose of the services of one
or more male friends to constitute your es=
cort. The General likewise instructs me to say
that, although never honored with an intro=
duction, he has yet seen enough to excite his
admiration of that combination of beauty,
intelligence and patriotism, which forms
an attraction strong enough to bring the
world to the feet of their possessors.

[page 2]
Our residence, of course, is at your disposal,
you shall have an escort of cavalry; and
the General will appoint you on his staff
as Aide-de-Camp.

I hope I shall not be
deemed presumptuous in saying that I expect
an answer to this invitation–if for no other pur=
pose than that, in your autograph, I may
possess a memento of one of the most pleasing
episodes of my life. Enclosed I send you
a copy of the verses written on the cars, which
I trust, will possess at least the merit
of legibility.

Very respectfully
Durant da Ponte

P.S. The General not wishing to make any
partial discrimination between two sisters
so lovely and so deserving, send the en=
closed button, as complementary to the
one bestowed before.

[separate sheet of paper enclosed]

Sonnet
On Seeing Miss Cary’s Pistol

Ah! why should I this useless weaon fear
When thou hast deadlier weapons at command?
Why seek to fly when I could welcome here,
The death inflicted by so fair a hand?
For deadlier, far, than pistol or than lance
Than sword or dagger, or than barbéd dart,
Are those bright rays that ‘neath thine eyelids glance,
Strike through the breast, and pierce the willing heart,
Then tell me not ’tis death to linger here;
Or that thy hand with Lethean gifts is rife;
For it were sweeter far, to perish here
By hands like thine, than centuries of life,
And if ’twere speedy death to stay, then I,
Shouldst thou command, could only wish to die,

Durante Da Ponte, 1823-1894,journalist, editor, and occasional painter served on the staffs of Confederate generals Earl Van Dorn and John B. Magruder.
Hetty Cary, a famous Confederate belle, later married Confederate General John Pegram.

MSS 1415