1862 February 12 Richmond, Va.

Richmond, Va. Feb 12, 1862

Dear Bro Cocke [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have but recently
returned home from a long tour in
the South and embrace the first opportu-
nity to write to you--My father-in-law, Rev
J. B. Taylor informs me that he has written
to you and I suppose has probably an-
swered your inquiries.

I thank you most kindly for the $50
as also for the two phamplets[sic] one
your own tract and the other from
the pen of Newman Hall. We have
not published either from two facts
1. Paper is so scarce that it cannot
be gotten except enough to fill
our former contracts--This difficulty
will, I hope, be removed soon.
w. col Thos J. Evans of this City, so renowned
as a temperance lecturer, has written
a tract which just meets the present
necessity and having promised to
publish it we must first put that
through then commence the others.

I have thought of you very frequent-
ly of late and have felt a deep sym-

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pathy for you in your afflictions. May He
who alone can give true and unfailing
consolation be your strength and refuge!

Enclose this hasty note. I am now
flooded with work and therefore can
-not write you such a letter as you
deserve--But I will now and then
send you a line and will keep you
posted as to our operations.

Praying that the God of all grace
may be with you and bestow upon
you every good and perfect gift, I
am dear brother,
Yours in Christ
A.E. Dickinson
Gen. Supt &c

Baptist Minister Alfred Elijah Dickinson, 1830-1906, had served as pastor of the 1st Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Va. before asuuming the post of General Superintendent of the Baptist Colportage Board of the Baptist General Association in Virginia. In September 1861 he published the popular Hymns For the Camp.

MSS 640