1861 May 5 Amelia Academy

My own Dear Friend
[John H. Cocke who is listed on Academy stationery as a "patron"]

Mrs.
C. Cocke informed me today
at Emmanuel Church that
you had been at home
nearly a fortnight & that
your health was dread-
ful & your Spirits worse [or possibly worn]
Would it were in my power
to fly to you & give all the
aid & comfort in my pow-
er. That this is impossible
[?] duty keeps me
here & all I can now do
is to write a few lines of
inquiry to know how
you are & to assure you
of my deep distress at your

[page 2[
sickness & sorrow. May the Lord
relieve you & comfort ^'you.' Write me
if only a line to let me know
how you are & whether you
will be at home at Whitsun
-tide.

Harly is gone to the wars. I
parted with him in Richmond
on Monday last. I took him
to my room & we kneeled down
& I commended him as only a Pa-
-rent could, to the Lord. We
rose, embraced, wept & I kissed
him on each cheek as when
he was a little boy, "Father will
he leave a moments" -- I did so
He then knelt down & gave him-
self anew to the Lord. We parted
with the blessed assurance of meeting
in Heaven if never again on earth.
The first thing he & others did after
arriving at Culpepper C.H. was to
secure religious exercises twice a day.
Pray for my Dear boy, my beloved
Friend that the Lord may preserve
him & strengthen him for every good
work. May God bless & preserve you.
ever yrs.
Wm. H. Harrison
Gen Jno H. Cocke

MSS 640