1862 January 3 Columbus

My Dear Sir [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have been absent from
home for some days, & on my return
home last evening, your letter giving
me the sad intelligence of the Death
of your Dear Son & my true friend
was handed to me, I was prepared
to receive it better from your hand,
by a telegraphic dispatch which I
read last Saturday night--

He is gone, but I feel God is
merciful & that, he now rests
from War, cares & anxieties--
He wrote me a letter soon after the
manassas Battle, & in which he
wrote nothing but the hand of
Proficence could have preserved his
life, & his son's 10 1/2 hours hard
fighting- & that he felt God was
on our side through the day
Can a man express himself
thus, who is not a Christian & who
at a time like that, must be honest
in all he writs, or says?--All

[page 2]
the letters I have recd from him
since the Spring were written as if
his trust was in God---
I must stop the subject. My Dear
Wife is very nervous & since reading
your letter took her bed--You
& the dear family have our warmest
sympathies. May the grace of God
be sufficient for you & the family
in this trying & deep affliction--
Our love to you, & the family
yr friend
R. D. Powell
Genl. John H Cocke

[page 3]

P.S. It is the beginning of a new
year, & it is important that you, or
whoever may be authorised to do so
to write me, to go a head in the
discharge of the duties of agency.
Settlements to be made of the current
affairs of the year past. I suppose
he left a will & appointed his excr
as he was out in the defense of his
Country---God knows what is
best for us, & let us cast all our
care upon him who careth for u
"In this world we have our tribulation
but be of good cheer" says Jesus
I have overcome the world "In me
ye shall [have] peace" Oh! Blessed Jesus
Give my Dear old friend peace--Give
peace to the Dear family &
save all at last in Heaven.

Farewell
R. D. Powell

whoever is the excr should
loose as little time as
possible till an inventory
of the Est. &c is taken
by him, & the people
know that all that is
done is according to law

MSS 640