1861 Aug[us]t 27 Green County, Ala[bama]

Genl. J. H. Cocke

My Dear Sir

I left home three weeks since
with the expectation of paying you a short
visit in either going or coming from the
army in Virginia, but was subjected to
delays and through the carelesness of a porter
in changing baggage at Charlotte my Trunk
was changed for another and when I arrived in
Richmond found that I had another
mans Trunk I remained there four days
hoping that it might be found and
finally concluded to go on to Manassas
after supplying myself with a few articles
of clothing to meet pressing demands. the
mishap of the loss of my Trunk pressed
on me heavily for it it was many things
sent by relations to the young men that
went from this neighbourhood also letters
for them and I could not relieve myself
from the disappointment, I was also quite
unwell with cold and the continued
rainy weather all the time I was in
camp made it very unpleasant to me
I did not reach the encampment of
the 5th Ala. Regt but stoped at the 11th near

[page 2]
Bristoe; commanded Moon of
Greensboro, Ala--and sent for Joseph to come
and see me. my time was thus spent in
delays and disappointments, untill I was
compelled to return to Richmond to meet
Mr Alfred Hatch, as previously agreed upon
to return home. I was very much disappoin
-ted in having to give up my trip to
see you and the country in which you
live but will hope yet to do so before we
are seperated in this our earthy pilgrimige.

I have been very much depressed
in consequence of Joseph's exposure in the army
he is far from a robust man and I fear that
he cannot stand the winter in the climate
the army now occupies, he has a young
and somewhat helpless family. and I am
fearful on his account. your very acceptable
letter o f the 15th came to hand the day after I
got home and it has given my Wife and
Fanny great comfort to know that there is a
friend near their Dear ones. It is the impress
-ion of many persons with whom I have
conversed in coming from Va. that Lincolns
government will be enabled to raise the means
and men to prosecute this unrighteous war
against us, and our only hope is to fight
it out--if this be their determination we may [have]

[page 3]
many trubles before us, but relying on the
Supreme Governor of the universe I have faith
to believe that we finally will succeed--but we
must expect many valuable lives as the sacrifice
God is Great and in his hands we must
put our trust . It I think is the prevailing
feeling of our people; in our Ranks are
many truly pious people and I find some
preachers. I was introduced to one while in
camp a soldier in the ranks whose face bore
the impress of a soldier of the cross. these are
strange times and there are some things
hard to be understood--It has been raining
for the last three weeks and our cotton
crop will be cut off very much. some say
one half at the time I left here the 7th Aug.
I never saw a better prospect for a large
crop of cotton and also of corn the corn
was made but I am told that a great
portion will damage with the continuous
rain I saw Smith Powel yesterday he reports
your people are well says that his uncle
was down about the time I left home and
expects him again next week

Jack Cocke's wife died at his
Fathers during my absence from home had
been sick a long time- My family are all
well and join me in kind Regards

B[ayard?] Borden

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N.B. On my return home retracing my steps
as I went on I found my Trunk at
Charlotte N.C. in the rail Road office
in rechecking at that Point. the Porter
had taken another Trunk so much like
mine that I did not discover the mistake
until I had reached Richmond and
went to a room to change my clothes
I saw at Richmond your son Charles
and intended to visit his encampment
but was quite too much indisposed the
day I had set apart for that purpose

yours truly
B. Borden

Borden's son Joseph Borden, 1828-1913, was at the time a sergeant in the 5th Alabama. As his father notes he was not healthy and had a large family of eight children. He was wounded in 1862 but returned to action in 1863, and then resigned a few months later suffering from severe rheumatism.

MSS 640