My dear, dear wifey

In writing to you this morn-
ing I hardly know where to commence–I have
written to you twice in the last two weeks, but cant
say whether you have gotten my letters or not
the mails are so irregular–the last letter I
received from you was dated the 18th (friday)
but you attended to Dr. McGuffey’s preaching the
next day which induced me to think that you
wrote on Saturday, as you would be more likely
to make a mistake in the day of the month
than in the day of the week–at any rate I sent
you quite a long letter by young Wills who expected
to be in Charlottesville on friday the 18th in that
letter, written partly on Youngs farm & partly at
Harwoods Mill, I told you of my having been
attacked with the chills & fever–in another letter
neither of which have been acknowledged
written to you & Ma together on last Wednesday ^
I told you of my having been sent to this place
as an invalid; not exactly as an invalid either
but in order to get all who were not able to
stand a very rough time out of the way as Genl
Magruder expected an attack hourly. I have
been here now one week and feel entirely
recovered except a little weakness and will rejoin
my company as soon as I can get an opportunity,
The company have had quite a hard time of it since
in the rain without their tents. Genl Magruders
fear of an attack seems to have been unfounded.

[page 2]
I have received no letter from wifey since the 18th
but hope there is one in camp for me; though I
ought to have gotten it if you directed it to Wmsbg
as it would have to come here before it went
to camp-by the way, if letters and parcels &c
intended for me are directed to Yorktown, I think
I would get them sooner–but do not trust anything
of value which you may wish to send me, except
in the hands of reliable persons or in a way which
you are convinced will carry them direct.
I have received several of the things sent me
by Mr. Southall, the overcoat, gloves, likeness, a
couple of pamphlets and your letter–the
other things are probably at camp–those I men-
tioned were brought up here to me by one
of the men–the gold dollar was not in the letter
and unless you gave it to Mr S. is doubtless lost.
But that is no great loss as a soldier can send
his letters without prepaying the postage, though it
will have to be paid when it reaches its destination.
Besides I expect to receive part of my pay when
I get back to camp which with money due me
by the men will amount to one hundred and
thirty (130) dollars–this with the ninety odd dollars
which you ought to have will keep you afloat
this winter–the overcoat and gloves will be worth
their weight this winter, in confederate notes.
From what I can judge, I think Doct Coleman came
up last week to be married but as there was no
clergyman in town it was postponed until this evening.
I think they go about it in a very matter of
fact way, making no fuss and like they were
used to it–Miss Helen sends her love to you
and tries to plague me about thinking & talking
so much of you, but she cant succeed there.
Mrs. Saunders and Miss Lelia also desired me
to send you their love I showed them your

[page 3]
likeness and they were in admiration at its
faithfulness and beauty.
dont forget to ask Mr. Godwin for an abstract
of my bank account since the first of July
and send it to me in one of your letters–
Where is Aunt Sarah? Ma has’nt mentioned
her once in any of her letters that I recollect
Give her my best love if she is in Ch:ville
and tell her that one of her letters would be very
acceptable– writing from this section of the
country is a serious matter–paper coarse
foolscap 75 cts a quire–Miss Helen is out and
this I happened to pick up in the parlor-Give my
love to Pa, Ma, Mittie and the rest at [lynhaden?]
your Mother, Pa, Aunt Chloe Monkey &c
and believe me as ever
your very loving
Husband

(Confidential) *I wonder if C. C. could
do anything for me
suppose you try him

My own darling wifey
How much I thank you for the daguerreotype
it was so kind in you and so much like your sweet self
it is even more of a consolation to me than I expected
it would be-it is so much pleasure to look at the
image of a countenance really so lovely and so very
dear to me–I have it now before me and were it
[?] the original I would be the happiest man in
this peninsula–I catch myself frequently talking
to it and kissing it, just as I would you–I have
thought so much of my darling in the last week
that I would almost give all I am worth to be with
you ten days–such a hankering to see you comes
over me some times that it makes me sick–My
own precious darling! my love! my life! & my every
thing! when shall I see you–I almost feel like
[?]thing a substitute and leave war to those who

[page 4]
havent such a darling wife as I have I hope
and pray that something may turn up so that I
can see you before Christmas. I want to be with
you the 18th of Dec and tell you how much happiness
you have conferred on me during the last year.
I have seen more happiness during the last year in
the love and affection and possession of my precious
jewel than I ever did in any other five years before
wont you tell husband in your next if you have been
sick lately?–O for one sweet kiss, from my darling
May God bless, preserve and make happy my darling
wifey is the prayer of her devoted loving husband.

Dr. Coleman was married tonight at Mrs Tucker’s
quite private they immediately came over here and
have taken lodging–Charles Carrington has been
appointed quartermaster at Yorktown and the Rev.
Mr. Wilmer assistant.

Mt’s Nannie L. Cochran
Charlottesville
Virginia

Howe Peyton Cochran, Sergeant, Co. H, 1st Virginia ArtilleryMSS 9380

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, Co. F, 24th Ohio Zouaves]

Last night a bout 8 o clock
there was a house caught
or was set afire a crost
the river it was a two
story store house it soon
was in a blaze there was
no other hous near to
catch from it so they
could not get it out
and it burnt down
it had not been a fire
long till the long roll
beete and we had to
fall in for battle for
we expect an attact.
we marched out in
battle form and
marched out to our
drill groun and
throughed out our men
to com mand and flank
the road we sated for
a considerable time but
there was not report
of sentinels and we was
or dered back to our quarters
be fore the fire broke out
we was have ing a good
time for there was two
men from Waynesville
arived and we was
just enjoying the nuse
whe the word a hous is
afire and the enemy
is coming but they did
not com they are to
cowardly to attacked
us even whe they have
the advantag they will
not stand fire

MSS 13405

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, Co. F, 34th Ohio Zouaves]

I have still a bad cold
and do not feele very
well Bill Hosier has got
the measles and is in
the hospittal but I hope
he will be out soone
News came that our boys
was coming in to day
one or two have come
in the rest are not far
off we had orders to go to
the river to day to wash
up all our pants and
dry them I do not know
what it is for unles
it is be cause we are
get awful durty and
some of the boys are
they do not try to keepe
clean.

MSS 13405

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]

Played as usual did nothing
important Whittled some on a
Pipe which I spoiled. Charlie was
reprimanded by the Col for not
practicing more Commenced having
two meals per day
cold night clear day fine

MSS 10317

Camp near McLean’s Ford

My Dear Creek

I am happy to inform you that the Box
came duly to hand, the contents were all safe except the
two bottles of Pickles and one of Catsup which were Broken
they did not however damage anything in the Box to
hurt, and the contents were very exceptable to us, as the
weather is now getting very cold here and warm clothes
very much needed, I think I will do pretty well now for
the winter, if I had the Balance of my homespun Uniform
The pants fit me finely and are the very thing I wanted.
I also recieved a long letter from you a day before the
Box came, I am sorry to ear of the manner in which
Harvins people are behaving toward you, but christmas
is not far of now and tell Papa not to let him stay
a day longer on any consideration, we have treated the
old rascal to kindly, and this is the manner in which
he repays you in my absence, I thought he was a man
of a better principle but I have been mistaken
I was very much alarmed when I read of the sow taking
hold of poor little Maggie, if she is getting dangerous put
her up and kill her right away, as she may try it
again when you are not there [to] protect the child, I
should never have got over it had she been crippled.

[page 2]
I will not need any shoes from home as I sent to Columbia
to Mr Oliver by Breazeale, to make me a pair of Heavy Boots for
the winter, Breazeale will call and get them as he comes on, I dont
know of anything else I will need except a pair of woolen gloves, if
you can get them before Stephen starts back and send me a pair.
Tell Ma we are very much obliged to her for the dried Beef
and wine, they are both rarities in the camp.
I lent Gus McAlister twenty dollars sometime before
he started, and I told him to pay it to you, so you can
get Papa or Jink to get it from him for you. I do not need
it here just now. You said Gilkison had never come nigh
you since he came home. I understand he is a pretty hard
case to get money out of anyhow, so you had better get
uncle John Todd who lives right by him to get corn or wheat
or anything of that sort that you can dispose of for cash
from him to the amount, if you cant get the money.
Give my kindest Regards to Grand Ma, and tell her I will
try and find out uncle Addison the first chance I
have, there is a Texas Regiment not very far from us and
I expect he is in it, if he is I will have no difficulty in
finding him.
The Boys wishes me to return their thanks to you for the
nice pelmettoes you sent, they are all very proud of them. I
kept the feather with yours and Maggies hair in it for myself.
I dont know of any news in camp just now that would
interest you, there is rumors of Battles every day but nothing
certain about them, while i am writing this I can

[age 3]
hear the heavy booming of cannon in the direction
of Evansport on the Potomac, but that is nothing new
to us, as they have a fuss there every day or two, firing
at the yankee ships trying to pass our battries, our
boys suceed sometimes in capturing one or two of them
laden with clothing provisions &c for their troops, which
pays us very handsomely for the powder and shot used
in taking them. Generals Johnston and Beauregard are
both here at present, and the general impression is that
they expect another attack at this point, I hope it
may be so, for we are prepared to give them a tremendous
whipping this time should they be fool enough to
attempt it, our men are all in the finest of spirits
and anticipate great results, for our Cause should
a battle take place, no one doubts his abilities to
whip at least four yankes and the late affair at Leesburg
has given us all fresh courage, so that altogether we will
be pretty hard to whip.

I had a letter from Tom yesterday he thinks our little
Maggie is the greatest child he ever saw. I will write
him as soon as I finish this, tell Jink he owes me a letter
I should like to hear from him, should we have stirring times
I will give him all the particulars
Give my kindest Regards to all the family, tell Billy Smith
Gambriell has been and is still sick with dysentary but is
fast improving. Kiss our little angel for me, and tell her
I will ship the Hog for biting my little pet, and reserve
to yourself the warmest affection of you devoted
William
[on back of page 1]
Dugan is quite well, noting further from James
w.a.

Captain William Anderson, Captain Co. J, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366

[letter written as an addendum to Lucy Skipwith’s letter of October 28]

Dear Genl
We received your letter yesterday
and were truly glad to hear from you & to find
that you are not confined to a bed of sickness
We have had a great deal of sickness since
I wrote last, but have not had an occasion to call
in a physician but once. they are all now much
better, we have only one patient & she has a rising foot.
We have not had as much sickness as our neighbors
in a great many places their have been fifteen or
twenty down at the same time, We have had as many as
five or six We are getting along very well picking
cotton considering the sickness we have had. They are
now picking in the Melton Field. The hands are picking
very well they average from one hundred & fifty to two
hundred each day & have averaged as high as 232.
Eliza has picked as high as three hundred & eighty four
I keep the different fields of cotton set down
to itself. We have sixty Bales packed & are hauling
it to the Landing. We have not gathered Boleyn
Field of corn yet. Our Hogs are in very good
order We have 43 to Kill this winter. We have
turned out several Brood sows. Mules, cows & colts
are in very good order. Old Moll is improving
very fast & her colt is growing. the carriage
mares are in good order & worked well the
last time we worked them, I think they
are pretty well broken

[page 2]
The Guinea grass has been cut for Hay.
We made a very good crop of Punkins but they
are rotning[sic] very fast. Uncle R. was down the
first of the month he wrote toyou I hope
you have received his letter he told me to
say to you that the annual conference would will
meet in Greensboro 11th December & that you
had better come out in November if you can.
He also says he thinks you had better not
order any Flour until you come out, as we
have some very nice. Howel, Sippia, Charles,
Morris & Eliza are the bets pickers. The young
hands are improving very fast.
There are two limbs buried from the
Mulberry tree in the garden & seem to be
growing. The grafts are all dead but three &
they are growing very well. the little Mulbery
tree in the yard is growing very fast
We have attended to saving all kinds of seed.
I understood from Armstead that he was
Hauling corn last week. I have not seen
Wiles for several days. He has been a little
unwell. I read your letter to him.
Yours respectfully
Smith Powell
Gen J. H. Cocke

PS.
Mr Borden’s, Capt Cocke’s and Miss Averys
families are well
yours &c
S.P.

MSS 640

My Dear Master [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have written to you every month and hope
that my letters has been received.
We have not received a letter from you
since you letter dated September the 2nd.
I hope that you are not sick.
We have had a great deal of Sickness
among the people both here and at New
Hope, mostly chills and fever- but we are
now much better than we have been.
we have had more Sickness up here so far
than they have had at new Hope.
There is a great deal of Sickness in the
Neighbourhood at present, mostly
chills and fever, but I hope that the sickly
Season will soon be over. We have had a
very pleasant fall so far-we have had but
very little cold. we had one very cold morning
last week- and a very frost[?] we have had
several hard rains since my last letter to
you. mr Powell was down the 8th inst. – and
staid two days. he said he was well
sattisfied with what work had been
done in his absents. he said he had not
received a letter from you for some time.

[page 2]
he wrote to you from place giveing you and
account of the birth of Betseys child. She has
increased to my surprise and I see that she
was in that way when she came home from
Columbus. She has a fine child and a white one.
We have preaching regularly at the Chapel.
There is no revivals of religion nowhere in
none of the Churches–we have our family
prayers every morning, as master Smith is
going to write I will say no more–your
Servant Lucy. Skipwith.

John H. Cocke

Lucy Skipwith was a slave trusted to manage one of John Hartwell Cocke’s Alabama plantations.

MSS 640

[From the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

9 P.M. This pleasant Sabbath Day has been spent in peace and quiet–The sun with all the brightness and warmth of a summer’s day has warmed, cheered, and enlifened us–forms quite a contrast with many a Sabbath Day sent by us in long and toilsome marches–Genl. Lee is here yet–

MSS 38-221

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio Infantry]

Played as usual. waited on B[oys?]
some who is quite unwell, Had fine
dinner of roast Beef mashed po-
tatoes Procured some Laurel roots
one piece from Carnifax. An attack
was made on a Boat coming up the
river no damage. Have done
nothing to must do better hereafter
very fine day clear cool

MSS 10317

Head Quarters 5 Brigade

My dear John

I have just received the box of clothing
all safely–opened it & delivered to the servants S[?] &
Tyler the articles for them–and retain what is for my-
self–This will give us an abundant supply for the
present–& I write to relieve your mind & that of
your mother of all uncertainty about the package
which may have been caused by my previous letters.

They have just sent me from Richmond a
Commission as Brig. Genl. dated 21st inst: This com-
mission does not in the least change my purpose which
as I wrote you some time since was fixed to remain
in service until after something decisive had transpired
in the line of military operations–If I survive
such events it will be time enough to think
of subsequent action–A few weeks at most
will I think develop the designs of the enemy upon
this line–and it may be in much less time–In the
mean time my consideration of duty, patriotism
and honour conspire to indicate clearly to me the
course marked out for myself as the only one
possible for me to pursue under the circumstances–

I am trying to have [?]Cocke commissioned as
A A Adjt Genl of the Brig & have written to the Secretary
or War upon the subject–I still think you ought

[page 2]
to remain at home at home at least for some time longer
if possible to reconcile your Mother & sisters to their
situation in my absence–It is not possible for me
to conceive any plan so proper & safe for them as
our own home especially if you remain with them–
and I forsee great, almost insurmountable objections
to so large a family of unprotected females & young
children going to board in a town or city. I do trust
in God that you mother & sisters will be reconciled to
the idea of remaining at home under your protection–

I have received a letter from Mr. Ed. Cunningham
in which he writes that my taxes amount to $1406.89
state & county for 1861–I suppose this includes Beldale
I send my check on the other side on the Farmers Bank
to Goode Sheriff of Powhatan–You will insert
on the check the initials of his first name–and get
his receipt for the taxes upon the tax bill when you
deliver to him the check–

If you can sell our wheat to any of the millers in
Richmond (who are responsible) or get Deane to select
for the best current prices we must let it go-in order
to raise money for current expenses. I hope they
will be able to dispose of the flour also–Ask them to
deposit proceeds of sales as they are made in the
Farmers Bank to my credit–or if of your produce
to your credit

I regret very much losing the agency of such a

[page 3]
house as that of Crenshaw & Co and if the break between
yourself and the house is not impasable-and I see
not why it should be–it will be our best policy to
continue their agency if they will agree to act–
They are business men & having means there is no danger
of losing by them–and besides they are able to
advance to us when we may find it convenient–
Few other houses are in such situation–
So continue with them if you can bring about
a satisfactory explanation o& agreement with them–
If not then we must get T.S. Deane H. & James to
act as our agents & Commission Merchants–

With love to all the dear ones I
remain my dear John
Yr afft father
Philip St Geo Cocke

Maj Jno G Cocke
Belmead

P.S. Address all letters to Manassas

MSS 640