1862 Sep. 25 Belmead, Powhatan County, Va.

                     Belmead Sep. 25. 1862

My dear Grandfather, [General John Hartwell Cocke]

                   The boy from your house
arrived a few minutes since, and as he
makes an early start in the morning, I come
at once to reply to your letter.
   The quinces were very acceptable to Sally,
as she had been sending around in the
neighborhood collecting what she could--
  Our anxiety about Dr Brent was somewhat
relieved by your timely messenger, and we
sincerely hope he may soon be restored in
health, for his own sake, as also that of
Aunt Sally, who we know has suffered so
much anxiety.
 Willie went down to Richmond last night
preparatory to going to the University--He will
return in the morning.  His plan is to leave
here on Tuesday for your house and from
thence to the University on Wednesday next
  I shall send him up in my baggage
waggon.

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I have sold my white wheat to be de-
livered in Richmond at $3. You have
made a better sale than I did, by selling
at your landing.
 I have been sowing wheat two days at
my own place, and everything is ready
to commence here tomorrow morning
which will put us cleverly under say by
Monday. My land is in beautiful
order, the weather having been seasonable,
and in dragging it has crumbled like
sand --so you will see I am not so
much behind the time.  I am pulling
a large quantity of fodder, so as to be
able to spare as much long forage to
the Government as I can.
  The news by our papers of yesterday
from our Army, was very cheering
  Burnsides' division nearly annihilated
These late reverses will doubtless cripple
McClelland so badly, that he will not be
able to do anything much for some time
and now I think is the time for us to

[page 3]
strike a decisive blow, before he can
be reinforced with new recruits, or rally
in the least from his late disasters--
  We are all well, except Mamma
who has been suffering very much from
Neuralgia, caused by defective teeth
aching, & Sally who is complaining a
little of Influenza--She has not been
confined to her room however--
  Hoping to hear from you all again
soon and with much love to all
at Lower & Upper Bremo
   I remain yr. affect grandson
        John B. Cocke

MSS 640