1861 Dec[ember] 6 Camp near Centreville

My dear John

Your mother wrote me from Richmond
that in consequence of our dear Courtney's sickness
she had called you down there and that you expected to
return on Monday last--and I was glad to learn
by your mother's last letter that the child was
so much better she expected also to be able to go up
by the cars of thursday--accordingly I wrote
last to meet her at Belmead--I find by your
Mothers letters that those addressed to her in Rich-
mond did not reach her I wrote these letters there
the last dated [?] on the 1st of December contained a
check for $500. "to the order of Mrs C B Cocke"--
I hope she got this in time--but the mails are so
uncertain I fear this too may have been delayed--If so
write to Mr Ballard to send you the letters--and if it
then comes give notice to the Cashier of the Farmers Bank
of the loss of the check--so that it will not be paid --if
it should fall into other & dishonest hands--

It has been an enormous trial to me that I am de-
tained so long from home & especially that I was unable to

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go to your Mother and our sick child in Richmond
if only for a day--But the situation of officers here now
is so critical that orders the most stringent are in
force & of course Regt officers have to set an example
of self sacrifice--Many are getting off on the plea
of sickness and other pleas and thus it is that so many
are away--and thus it appears to them at a distance
that any can go--but the fact is as stated above
Of course a sense of honor & duty bids every one
to his post now who has any sense of either--In fact
this army stands between the enemy and all that is
dear & near to the human heart--Stil[?] we trust that
a kind Providence will enable it again to achieve
victory against adverse odds--and thus save
our country from the barbarous invaders--
In regard to business matters I deem to employ Mrs Talbott
for the next year & wish you to say so to her and that
all [?] the wages and keep[?] that I do not propose any
changes of them.
Hope you have procured salt for preserving the pork--I am
told one bushel per thousand of meat will do if properly
used--How much wheat has been delivered? and what

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disposition made of the proceeds?

Keep the mechanics imployed in building on your place and at
Belmead--The masons to quarrying chiefly. & Edward Shands
to doing any building you may plan at Beldale--in the way of
quarters &c &c &c & also an addition might be put to
the Mill house or a store house built on opposite side
of the road on the hillside in front of mill door[?] By all
means keep them fully employed--

Mr [Giles Buckner]Cooke from some unaccountable cause has become
disatisfied with his position of Adjt of the Brigade &
resigned & the resignation has been forwarded to the War
Department so I suppose the place will soon be vacated
This has arisen as he owns from some difficulty with
Mr Garrett by not [?] to discharge Mr Garrett
The fact is military life here is proving very trying and
he has imagined difficulties when in fact there should have
been none. I am greatly disappointed in Mr. Cooke's
course after all that I have done & all my kindness to
him. That he should think of leaving his post at this
most trying crisis--But these "times that indeed
try mens souls"

Mr Smith will return to active duty of the

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office and as I trust something soon [?] will take
place or this time I shall make as few changes as possible
for the present.

What has Richd Kennon determined upon Will he get
the appointment under Col Jennifer?

Joseph Watson[?] arrived last night & brought me two
letters one from our dear Lucy & one from Charley
for which pleas give them both my best thanks

I also received the military glass you sent me and
the netting made by my dear Lucy as a head covering
Tell Sally B that I also received her letter some
days since & for all their tokens of affection
I feel that I shall be able to make but poor return
in the way of letter writing--But will avail myself
of the first opportunity to write to each of the girls
and to my dear little Charley--

I regret that so many of the family were absent at
the time of Miss Nesblit's visit to Belmead--I fear
she must have had rather a quiet if not dull
visit---

With love to all our dear ones and kind regards
to the servants I remain
Yr affectionate father

Philip St Geo Cocke

MSS 640