Minneapolis, Minn., Public Library, June. 20, /14.

 

Mr. L. W. Hopkins:

 

            My dear Sir,

                                    Of course your letter of the 13^th has given me great pleasure. It is in fact deeply gratifying to have a veteran of the Confederacy tell me that my account of the Civil War is impartial that I have told the story truly, and done justice to both sides. This I worked hard to do, and to have a man like you tell me I have fairly succeeded is worth more to me than reams of commendation of the ordinary kind. As to the circulation of my history I have felt it must stand on its merits. I wrote it, and can do little more. I have sent your letter to my publishers, the Harpers, who certainly will be gratified as I have been, and I hope will be stimulated to take action along the lines you suggest. Meantime I I give you a most cordial epistolary hand-shake. Though I fought on the other side, / I hold, and always have held in profound respect, the men who confronted us. I know of no finer type of men than many who were in your ranks and shall always bear testimony to their valor and good purpose.

 

            I read now but little, my eyes having failed, and am not so fortunate as to know your books. I have, however, asked this library to procure them, and shall have them read to me when they are received. The record of any soldier of J.E.B. Stewart would be interesting, and I am sure yours will be especially so.

 

            As to my own service, I was in but nine months, though I saw in that time some severe campaigning. I was a corporal in the 52 Massachusetts and was in the Port Hudson campaign of '62 and '63. My diary of the period was published in '64 under the title of "The Color Guard", now long out of print, though my friend Dr Bernard C. Steiner, of your Pratt Library, may perhaps furnish you a copy, if you care to glance at it.

 

            Thanking you warmly for your very kind letter,

 

                                                Yours very respectfully,

                                                            James K. Horner.

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