1861 August 23 Richmond, Virginia]

I received this morning my dear Lucy yours of
yesterday & return you many thanks for writing so
regularly: before getting your letter the box was
delivered to me at Camp containing some beans[?]
a tin bucket (I suppose butter) some cakes, eggs
&c all which are very acceptable and go to
make our table quite out of the range of usual
camp fare; the comfort you send also will be
one indeed, and it is just what I wanted--I have
not called at the packet office to see about the
other box for distribution to the soldiers now
about the city most needing plain articles, but
I will endevour to see it has the proper direction
I forgot to mention the socks which you put into
my box which are just the thing I wanted &
was about to get some & suppose will have to try
woollen ones, as winter comes on--I took out
of the things I brought with me such clothing as
I thought there was no need of keeping & have put
them with Mary's trunk which I want to send home
by Billie this afternoon. I take you have received
my letters regularly I have written whenever I could
get an opportunity as I shall always do--I
wish you would say to Irving that he may agree
as to the 45 cents pr barrel with Seay & 7 cts pr box for
grinding & tell him to send up that part of the

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wheat which is the fair without being
the best-and tell him to have it well
cleaned, & request Seay to do what he
can to make a good article of Superfine
Flour--The boat with the Hay has
not yet come but I look for it to
arrive tonight--I saw Col Pendleton
today, he says he will be at our camp
this afternoon between 5 & 6. & that he
wants five Companies including mine to be
ready to go with him on Wednesday
morning next--but I yet think he is too
fast--the equipment of the Companies is
not enough advanced, but they may
be able to hurry matters up--I will write
again by the mail on Monday. I hope
all continues well with you how grateful would
it be for me to come & spend a few days
with you, but I cannot see any opportunity
now--Give my affectionate love to the dear children
to Mary & John & Sterling Kisses to dear Lelia
& all love to Nannie who I hope is coming on finely[?]
on horseback & to Miss Bal & All at Low[er] Bremo & [Bremo] Recess
& believe me ever my dear Lucy yrs most devotedly
Cary C. Cocke

Lower Bremo and Bremo Recess were two adjacent Cocke family plantations on the James River in Fluvanna County. Mary, John and Sterling were family "servants," i.e. slaves.

MSS 640