1861 Sept[ember] 17 Head Quarters 5 Brig Camp near Fairfax C H

To Genl Beauregard
Comdg 1st Corps Ar[my] Pot[omac]

General

I acknowledge with
pleasure the receipt of your letter of the 11th
inst: as it is manifestly dictated in the
kindest spirit--But I regret to find still
a difference between my own recollection and
understanding of what passed between General
Johnston and myself and his recollection
and understanding of the same as stated in
your note--I had a short & hurried in=
terview with the General after calling at his
Head Quarters--finding him absent and after=
wards meeting him on the road late in the
afternoon--I send with this a copy of
a note addressed by me to the General through
Col Rhett his Adjt Genl--which will explain
my own view of the passage in my report to which
General Johnston objects--and the modifications
which I felt called upon to make in certain
forms of expression which the General objected

[page 2]
to and which appeared to have conveyed to his mind
a meaning far from any intended to be conveyed
by me--As to what passed between General
Johnston & myself I have stated in my report
according to the best of my recollection and
understanding of the circumstances--I had
stated that I have no recollection of but one
order given by hm My sole & intent object was
to seize the right moment for changing from the defensive
to the offensive with all that fraction of my command
not actually engaged--the circumstances were
critical-- I pointed out to General Johnston
the positions & explained the main circumstances
affecting the position of my command in question
He determined to have the troops moved into
battle & to abandon

[Cocke's draft ends at this point]

MSS 640