1861 Sept[ember] 10 Headquarters 5th Brigade Camp near Fairfax Co[urt] Ho[use]

To His Excellency
Governor Letcher

Governor

By a recently
published order of Genl Lee my son first Lieut
John B Cocke Act Asst Adjt Genl of this Brigade
finds himself thrown out of Commission in
the Provisional Army of Virginia. He has been on
active service on my staff since early in April
acting in the above capacity was with me
acting on that day also as aid de Camp in
the battle of the 21st July ("Manassas")

He is a greaduate of the Military Institute of
the year 1856--and is doubtless thereby qualified
whilst he has shown alacrity to render military
service to the State--and desires to be restored
to a position in which he can again enter
with usefulness upon such service--

He prefers the Volunteer service--and I
would respectfully lay his case before your
Excellency and ask that you will despose
of it in such manner as will enable him
to render service to the State in some sphere
of military action corresponding to his
education and qualifications.

I remian governor
very Resptfully
yr most obt.
Philip St. Geo. Cocke

MSS 640

Copy [for John B. Cocke]