1861 June 20 Bremo [Fluvanna County, Va.]

To his Excellency
John Letcher
Governor of Virginia

I recieved on the 18th of June inst a communication from
Genl Lee commanding the Va Forces, informing me I had been
appointed Lieut Col of Va Volunteers accompanied by orders in
event of my acceptance, to report without delay to Genl Beauregard
at Manassas for duty with the 8th Regt Va Volunteers--on the day
following I addressed a letter to Genl Lee respectfully declining
the commission of Lieut Col Va Volunteers from your Excellency
dated the 17 of May, under which as named above a post was
assigned me by Genl Lee--I cannot account for the delay there
has been in the forwarding this commission, but as it is entire-
ly to your excellency I am indebted for the high & honorable
appointment, it is now proper I should make known the reason
which induces me to decline so desirable a position-- At the
time of the tender of my services to your excellency in April
(which with my means I state hold subject to the conditions there
in named), we were just upon the eve of hostilities with the
Federal Government, which at that time had on its army list

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many true and loyal sons of Virginia, educated to
the army & practically skilled in military affairs, all
of whom since the opening of this iniquitous war upon the
South, have withdrawn themselves from the Federal Service
to come within the limits of their native state--and I feel
these officers are entitled by education & experience to
meet in the best manner the present emergency in their
line of the public service & possess superior claims to
fill the important posts of field officers over our forces, and
also, before I had the honour of receiving the appointment
from Genl Lee, I had been elected by a portion of the
citizens of my county Captain of a Company of volun-
teers which was organized on the 6th inst and which I know will
soon be ready to enter the service.

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I can in conclusion but express to you excellency
my deep & grateful sense of the honour you have conferred
upon me in the flattering appointment postion
you assigned me which was more than I had any
right to expect & in respectfully asking your acceptance of
the validity of my reasons for declining that appointment

I am most truly your obedient servant

[Charles Cary Cocke]

one of two drafts of Cocke's letter to Letcher
MSS 640