1862 December 12 [Folly Farm near Staunton?]

                                           Friday Dec 12th 1862

Dear Henry [Cochran]

                          The entire family has been in a great

state of commotion about our for the past 3 weeks-

Every one made some conjecture-I said that you had

been put into a smalllpox Hospital & not allowed to write-

Pa said he expected you had been sent off some where

& ma said she expected you had taken yellow fever-

You never saw such a State as we were all in-

We sent two telegrams, one to you & one to the

Surgeon in charge--& Howe was all ready to start

yesterday himself, when your letter arrived--We

hear regularly twice a week from Brother John

& he has to write out of doors-with the air cold enough

to freeze his fingers, & only his knee as a table-

Poor fellow it must really be painful for him

to write, & I think it a great show of feeling

for us, in him to do it--Pa says you must

never write less than once a week--he will take

no excuse-You need not feel bound to write

a long letter, but just enough to let us know

that you are alive--I was sorry that

[remainder of page torn off]

[page 2]

can get.  I have not bought anything for nearly

two years, or at least since the War--

Shoes are selling here for 25$--I fortunately

got two pair for $25 just a week ago

We hear that the Yankees have crossed

the Rappahannock at Port Royal and

great cannonading was heard yesterday

in Richmond--How I hope that we may

be supported & give them a terrible whipping

driving them helter scelter out of the State--

       I have been very busy twisting &

knitting cotton for the soldiers--the

ladies of t his place  have formed a society

to give clothes to the destitute, to sell at reason

able prices to those who are able to pay &c

a splendid idea as Wertenbaker asked Dr

[Mann?] $90 for a coat, $50 for a pair of pants & 30

for a fest--The ladies have furnished one

[tear]  company gratis & sold $600 worth

[remainder of page torn off]

[page 3]

There are 5 cases of smallpox at the Harris

Hospital--we think that Nannie Howe ought

to come home--I expect to break out every day

because they visit here everyday & the Dr

who stays in the smallpox rooms writes notes

to cousin N very often--I have often heard

that it could be carried in letters--

Pa is getting ice--very slowly tho' as he

only has his waggon & cart-

We look for Willie now by every train

& with joyful expectation--He has promised

to bring us [two pies?] Butter, eggs & honey--

Be sure to write soone & try to write

regularly-or else Ma & Pa will have

duck fits-

     Yours sincerely & affectionately

                      Mary P C

[page 4]

[in another hand]

Yr father says it is important to

yr mothers peace of mind that you

should write at least once a week--

She gets so nervous & excited when

she dont hear from her absent

sons that it is a serious injury

to her

Henry K. Cochran

Camp of Instruction-

Raleigh No. Ca--

MSS 9380