1862 January 6 Recess [Fluvanna County, Va.]

Dear General [John Hartwell Cocke]

Though you will
have had recent tidings of us,
through the Doctor & sister Lucy, who
went down to Belmead on Satur
day, I have determined to hold
further intercourse with you on
paper, inasmuch as you will proba
=bly be comparatively alone after they
leave you. I think it was their in
=tention to go on to Richmond tomor
=row or next day, unless the Doctor
succeeded in having his furlough ex
=tended I need not
tell you how much Sally and
I have thought of you, and of
the stricken household at Belmead
since our return home. Be assured
that our prayers continually ascend

[page 2]
to the throne of grace, that as in the
years that have passed, strength has
been vouchsafed you from on high
in the times of adversity, so now the
same gracious God would comfort
and sustain you in this trying hour.
And may He also so overrule this
dark dispensation that all those
who are now bowed down under
His chastening rod, may be led to
acknowledge at the last that it
was "good that they were afflicted."
On the day of our arrival at home
we received a letter from Philip announ
=cing the birth of Miss "Betty Blossom Cabell,"
& that mother & daughter were doing
well. The day after this event poor cousin
Polly died, (29th Sunday) and was to be
buried at Edgewood. No particulars
were communicated, but we hope to
hear something more tomorrow, & if
we do I shall write to you again in
a few days, unless in the meantime

[page 3]
you return home. We cannot help
hoping that you soon return
to us, & make our house your
headquarters at least during the pe
=riod of Lucy's absence in King Wm.
Sally has asked for some space
to add a postscript, I will therefore
close by sending my our love to one &
all with you, not forgetting our friend
Miss Nancy. Should you see Mr. Tyree
again, remember me kindly to him
also.-- Your messages to Mr.
Hughes have been delivered and every
=thing is going on very satisfactorily-if
you will write me word the extend
of the sheds you propose to cover I will
have the necessary amount of bark
edge plank sent up.--

Yours as ever,
Arthur Lee Brent

[page 4]
I cannot let this go without a line
to you my beloved Father, even to say, what
has already been said, how constantly
we are thinking of you & those around
you; & how unceasingly our feeble
prayers are offered for you & all
in that stricken household;
We shall now be hoping soon to see
you here; & you must tell little Charley
I shall hold him to his promise to
come home with you; as he told
me he intended to do. I think Lucy
will soon be coming back & I cannot
but hope that Brother Charles may
soon be induced to believe it is now
his duty to resign, his health evidently
requiring it as well as for many other
reasons.--I am not without hope you
will go with him as far as Richmond, &
from thence home. Love to all, & say
to cousin Nancy, I shall hope to hear from
her in a few days, & believe me
your devoted Daughter
S.F. Brent

Letter concerning the suicide of General John Hartwell Cocke's son General Philip St. George Cocke written by the latter's brother-in-law and sister Arthur Lee Brent and Sally Faulcon Cocke Brent, with references to the late General's younger brother Charles Cary Cocke of the Fluvanna Light Artillery and his wife Lucy Oliver Cocke, and also to General Philip St. George Cocke's nephew Philip Barraud Cabell.
MSS 640