First published in 1964, Horace Montgomery's study of the life and career of Johnny Cobb, focuses on his experiences during the Civil War, his romantic relationship with fellow aristocrat Lucy Barrow, and his position after leaving the army as head of the numerous Cobb plantations. Barrow and Cobb corresponded frequently and candidly about their hopes and fears as they experienced the antebellum south's drastic changes during and after the Civil War. Horace Montgomery uses these letters to reveal a personalized and detailed portrait of a Confederate aristocratic family, including their performances in battle, their responses to tragic news from the war, and ultimately their struggle to remain prosperous despite their eventual downfall.