1862 August 28 Petersburg,Va.

[following letter has several holes obscuring the text]

                                                     Petersburg, Va.
                                                                Aug 28th 1862
Gen Jno H. Cocke
           My Dear Bro.

                       Often, very often have I longed to hear
from you since last we parted.  I hear that the Lord has
still spared you--we are truly in the midst of trouble-
Little did I think, when we talked and prayed together
with so many of your friends in different parts of the
North, that they would ever turn so much against us.
I doubt not there are some, who are opposed to this
unholy war, but they are few--[hole] passed through
[hole] ome time since the wa[hole] ed
In my own section Wil [hole] were filled
with the army as early as it [ole]  Our little town
did all it could for our dear [hole]iers--My wife
was as busy as a bee--she worked hard, for the
sick, and to cloth[e] the soldier--We felt happy in all
this--But what was my surprise to find men seeking to do all they
could to make money out of our struggling government,
even those who were most rampant for war-
My heart was sick at the sight.  But God will
I doubt not overrule all things for good in the
end--Our dear church was most seriously affected
by the war--Most of our Brethren entered the service,
I was appointed Chaplain in June 27th 1861,
with the consent & advice of my Brethren.

[page 2]
I was appointed Post Chaplain at Williamsburg
by Gen McGruder, to the Camps & Hospitals--I had
to break up housekeeping at last, and spent my
whole time among the afflicted and in the
field--The winter past I saw many of my dear
men die happy in Christ & I have witnessed joy
and sorrow on the dying bed of many a man--
I had hoped that the War would have terminated
ere this--How disappointed--we were compelled
to leave our happy home--I came to Petersburg
and here I am Post Chaplain again by
Order of the Secy of War
But my dear [hole] I have lost my all--My Sister
Mrs Young [hole] & paintings, our furniture &
our enem[hole] and sold in New Yo[hole]
We have the [hole] twelve years labor[hole]
It is hard [hole] But we must submit
God I hope will not leave us nor forsake us
in our time of need--I am willing to suffer with
the South, as is also my dear wife, tho' I am from
Scotland, and might have gone there--Yes I am
willing to suffer--I feel that we are right, and
that God will give us the victory at last--
Most deeply do I sympathise with you in
your affliction, through which you have
passed--Yet I rejoice, that you can hope in
God--This, Ah yes, this is our only comfort and
support--I have felt anxious to see you
to sympathise with you in all you troubles--

[page 3]
A few years more, and all will be over--
Let us rejoice, my dear Bro. in the prospects of
the Gospel--
I am happy to tell you, that over 100 precious
souls have been converted by God since I came
here--that is I have found that number--
God is in our army with his spirit--Many a
Mother's heart has rejoiced over the intelligence
sent about their Sons death in the Lord--
I shall be very glad to hear from
you at any time.  Please write-
Mrs Young sends christian regards, and
believe me as ever

                              Your aff Bro in Christ
                                         [hole]            Young
             
docketed
Young, Rev. Wm M recd
Sept 2 1862
Ansd Do 8 Do

MSS 640