John A. Cobb to Howell Cobb. E.
Macon [Ga.], March 4th, 1861.
Dear Father, … A package came by express today from Washington containing two presents from Col. Colt (the revolver man) one [for] Mother and one for you. Yours is a large horseman’s pistol (revolver) in a fine case.
Mother’s is a book. On the back it has “Colt on the Constitution, Higher Law and Irrepressible Conflict” “Dedicated by the Author to Mrs Howell Cobb.” On the inside it is a pistol case containing a fine ivory handle revolver and in the handle is engraved “To Mrs. Howell Cobb from Col. Colt.”
From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.