1861 Nov[ember] 9 Hd Qrs 5th Brigade Near Centreville

Dear John
Happening to be at Manassas yesterday afternoon, I
thought I would go to the Post Office and enquire of there was
anything there for me--on reaching the window, where letters &c
are handed out, I spied an advertised list of letters sticking
up close by the window. curiosity prompted me to look
in the C's and to my surprise, I saw the name
of your humble servant with Lieut attached. After getting
and opening said letter I found it to be from you--dated 27th Octo.--with what pleasure I r[e]ad it, after thinking
that you had forgotten me entirely, I'll leave you to
imagine. I must for candour's sake-admit here
what I told your father a few days ago--that the
more I know of you, the better I like you. Yes Sir,
I'm proud to know that the friend of my bosom, though
apparently cold and indifferent to everything and
everybody--is actuated by such high principles
of integrity and honor, in this ample and terrible
struggle for--as you remark--"all that is dear to
freemen." The ideas enclosed in your letter would do credit

[page 2]
to one whose very soul was filled with -- and whose only thought
was of what Beauregard terms- the highest civic virtue--Patriotism.
If every man, able to bear arms in the southern Confederacy
were invested with similar ideas as expressed by you--in reference
to one's duty in this great crisis--it would take the combined
world to subjugate us. How many men are away from their
posts now, enjoying the gayities and festivities of city life,
when their comrades are enduring the hardships of a
winter campaign, and subjected to all the miseries incident
upon this cruel war. But while all this is so, yet in
your particular case--there is another duty, more imperative
then that duty a man owes his country--I mean, a
man's family--you are now acting as the protector of
your father's family, and as long as he remains in
the service of his country, so long will you be justified
in protecting that family. As I stated in my letter
to you--I differ with your father, as to the policy of
substituting you for him: we had a long discussion on
the subject, but he retained the opinion , that for the
present at least-it was his plain duty to remain
where he was. He talks as if the next battle shall
determine for him, what course to pursue. May he

[page 3]
live through it is my earnest prayer, and may he then
return to the bosom of his family, where he may enjoy
a long and happy life is my sincere wish. I thank you
for the kind expressions in reference to myself, contained in
your much valued letter, and be assured that they are
truly reciprocated. Your father is greatly excised as
regards your leaving home--I told him that it
might be admissible, provided Dick Kennon would
remain with the family during the winter. It may
be annoying to you as to the opinion of the world, about
your being at home: but whilst there is a representation
of you family--in the person of your father--enlisted in
our sacred cause--I don't think you have reason to
be annoyed. It is only to those, who shrink from their
duty, that blame and censure should attach itself.
I suppose you have heard, from your father in this,
that I had received my commission as Captain
in the Prov. Army of the Confederate States: it was only
upon the ground--as he assured me was the case--that
you would not be able to leave home, that I consented
to take the position of Asst: Adjt: Genl--thus, I
believe, he intended for you to remain at home, but

[page 4]
I think he has now, an idea of consenting to your return
to the Army at a future day--as he has left the
place of Aid-de Camp open to you, by appointing
Lt. Stockton of the 19th Regt temporarily to the same
position. He gave Stockton to understand that
you might return, and if you did, the position
would be transferred to you. all this--'in confidence'--
I am glad that you saw old Bob, and wish that
you could have been with him longer, so as to have found
out, what he went to Lexington for. You desire
to know where we are encamped exactly. Well let's see if
I can enlighten you on that point--On the road from
Centreville to Manassas--about 3/4 mile from Centreville
is a gate--to the right and left of which--when you were here-
ran a stone wall fence--side gate on the left hand side
of the road, and about 100 yds below the first white house,
you come to, going from Centreville to Manassas: in a
perpendicular line run East- for from the gate, you come
to quite a large house for these parts-around which are
a number of poplar trees--continuing same line about
40 yds you strike our encampment as seen, in enclosed
diagram. I can sympathize with you, in your
not being able to enjoy any of the sports you engage
in -- it was just so with me after I had recovered
from my sickness--You should, however try and be
resigned in whatever position fate should place
you, Oh how heartily do I re-echo the sentiment expressed

[page 5]
by you--"I do wish this cruel war could be brought to a successful
termination, and allow those so long separated from the loved and
cherished ones at home, to return once more" Jack Braxton has
been transferred to Richmond--hence I am unable to deliver your message--Your
messages &c to the different members of the staff were delivered. I am
glad to hear that Joe Hobson was rallying when you wrote me, I
hope by now, that he is entirely recovered. give my respects to him, and
the rest of the family at Brooklyn. I am sorry to hear that you
and Miss Jennie Hobson don't get on well--has anything of a serious
nature happened? she is a great favorite of mine, though I don't
appear to be one of hers. Present me kindly to Miss Nancy and
ask her to do the same for me to Mr Tyne the next time
she sees him. How far have "matters progressed in Richmond
about two miles from [home?]"? You must hurry up that matter
John--there is no time for fooling now. We have been expec-
ting a fight on this line, for some time past; when it will come
I'm unable to say. We have thrown up fortifications, in the shape of
redoubts and breastworks &c, about and around Centreville--an attack
of the enemy will find whether or not they are impregnable. Our
Brigade has been increased in strength by the addition of another Regiment
Col. Hunton's 8th Va.--it has not gotten here yet, from Leesburg---
we expect it in a few days. I have at last gotten those spurs
that Major Skinner gave you. what shall I do with them?

[page 6]
The Major is encamped only a short distance from us and comes to see us
very often--so with John Otey, who is up at Beauregard's Hd Qrs:
Your father has had quite a nice chimney built to his tent, and it is
now quite comfortable. I have got a flue running under mine, and it
came very near to burning me up the other night--the rocks got hot, and
sent the plank floor afire. Can't you arrange your business so as to
run up and see us? Get Dick to stay home for you We all
want to see you very much. Remember me to Dick and
tell him, if he don't make haste and write me that promised
letter, that the war will be over, also the same to "Miss
Lou." Tell Mrs. Cocke that in my opinion the General
anticipates her letters with as much anxiety, as I would
those of my intended, if I had one. Kindest regards to
all at Belmead. Col. Paul was right much disap-
pointed in not meeting you in Richmond in his last trip to
that place: did you get my letter in time to have met him?
Have you heard from Chas. Grandy lately? How do you and
Miss Lelia Harrison come on now? did you ask Dick about his
military saddle. Tell Dick that Genl. Ewell has been assigned
to the command of the 4th Brigade Longstreet's Old Brigade. May Heaven
bless our cause, and you and all others that I love, is
my sincere prayer--Write soon to you friend Giles B. Cooke.

MSS 66