1861 October 25 Camp near Centreville

Head Quarters 5 Brig

My dear John [B. Cocke]

Mr. Grant arrived last evening
and tells me that he received no letters or
package for you--I know not therefore who
brought the letters which I wrote you were handed
to me one day by a courier and I can not trace
who brought them--So as to inquire about the box
of clothing In your letter (received with the letters of
the girls above referred to) you say you intended to
send your letters & the box by Mr Grant with whom
you had met at Richmond So I now suppose
since seeing Mr. Grant that you must have sent
all by some other person--but by whom I am unable
to learn & so far have heard nothing of the box--
Perhaps it may yet be delivered here I write
to order those you may inform me and also enquire
yourself
You will have heard of the brilliant fight of
Evans near Leesburg in which he repulsed three or
four times his numbers & captured several
hundred prisoners & six pieces of artillery--

We suppose the enemy to be slowly & cautiously
advancing to make fight with us here but
of course we know not when or exactly when he
will come--Perhaps the advance upon Leesburg

[page 2]
was intended by him if successful as a preliminary
or part of a more general movement--We are
throwing up entrenchments upon the higher places
near Centreville which clearly indicates that
our army intends to make a final stand &
a fight here--and it may come at any time
the enemy chooses to advance--but when that
may be no one can foretell--The sooner however
the better for us--Providence so far seems to
have preserved our cause in every battle and
we must still trust that the bravery of our
soldiers and the over ruling arm of a just
and merciful God will again give us the
victory whenever a battle shall take place

Tell the dear girls I thank them from my heart
for their affectionate letters--Tell them dear John
& remember yourself, that this apparently cruel
separation of our family May be intended to teach
us all that there is no real safety & dependence
but in trust & faith in God--All human hopes
are transitory and that we must seek by earnest
prayer the guidance & protection of our Father
in Heaven--and that you all may trust in Him
and find comfort & protection & hope now & hereafter
is my earnest prayer now that I am seperated from
you and feel that none but the Omnipotent can
protect save & guide us all

[page 3]
Tell your mother that I wrote her a very hurried
letter by last mail to reply to her last dated the
1st inst.--That I trust she will excuse the many
defects of my letters which I am sure she would
to a great measure do if she could form any
adequate idea of the difficulties & distractions
attending letter writing situated in camp as we are--

Your Uncle Charles [Cary Cocke] is encamped about a
mile further in the turnpike between Centreville
and Cub run. He is well--He is in the
2d Army Corps now commanded by Genl Smith--

I still wish you to remain with the family
and not to come up here until I write for you
I suppose you can find some person to be trusted
to deliver the box of clothing--or write to me
if you have sent it on so that I can find it--

Write both to Manassas & to Centreville--sending
duplicate letters--We have a courier going
daily to Manassas for letters--as there is no
mail I believe to this place--The family should
direct their letters to Manassas

With love & prayers for you all I remain my
dear John
Yr afft father
Philip St Geo Cocke

Major John B. Cocke

MSS 640
[to be continued]