1861 Sep[tember] 25 Head Quarters 5 Brig[ade] Fairfax C. H.

My dear John

I have just received your
letter of the 21st inst. also one from your mother
of the same date by which I am glad to hear so
fully and satisfactorily from same of the continued
health of all--and many other particulars--
Say to your mother I wrote to her a day or two
since enclosing a letter to Mr. Wm H Harrison
and a check for $250 to pay the boy's
board & tuition--Tell your mother if she
requires money to buy clothes for the boys
or other expenses to check for it herself
as I authorized her to do some time since--

In regard to your military position I feel
that it[sic] very important for you to act with
promptness & decision--You will have to serve
in some capacity-- and by this time you know
the importance of finding a proper position.

As volunteer aid you would remain out
of commission--and should you love that place
would have to get a commission there or go

[page 2]
in the ranks--and the longer you remain out
of commission the greater will be the difficulty
of getting commissioned--I would therefore advise
you in case I do not myself resign (of which I am
now thinking) to remain as the A A Adjt of the
Brigade & apply for the Commission due thereto
and then if at any time you give up the staff
appointment or lose it by my death or resigna-
tion--you can better retain your Commission
and go in the line or[?] resign--

I am sure you will never be content to be
out of active efficient service whilst
this war continues--which threatens our
very hearths honor liberties and all that
is dear to men--I think too you had
best return here until all this matter
shall be agreed upon and settled--because
if you are to remain A A Adjt I would have
no right to grant leave of absence--and you
might lose all claim to holding that place
by remaining away---already there is some
irregularity to Clarke's acting in both capacities
only to be justified by you both having been
thrown out of Commission.

[page 3]
and on the report of the Brigade staff made
to day in accordance to orders--you are reported
absent of course-- You will therefore see the ne-
cessity of prompt decision & action--and return
to settle these various points--

We may have another battle any day
indeed I do not see how matters can
remain inactive much longer--May
God give us the victory again whenever

Phill[ip] [Barraud] Cabell is here but will probably
return again soon to remain some time--

Tell my dear Charley I have not forgotten
his letter--& my baby too & often I think
of the little letters she sent me--I hope
to be able to write to Charley before long---
Tell him how glad I was to hear from his
grand pa he was so good a boy w[?]
he stayed at L[ower] Bremo & such a comfort
to the old gentleman [ i.e. General John Hartwell Cocke]--

With love to the boys to the dear girls
and all the house---particularly to Aunt
Mary & cousin N I remain my dear John
Yr affec father--Philip St Geo Cocke

MSS 640
With
we have another battle!