Dear Genl. [John H. Cocke]

….
P.S. I am truly sorry that we were disap
pointed in the action of our Virginia Convention.
Secession is in a minority & likely to be in one
unless the Lincoln (or rather Seward)
administration attempt coercion, then
we may secede, & arrest but too late I
fear to prevent a serious collision. Would
that she had gone out of the Union
before the 4th Mar., as events seem to show
that that would have been her true
policy.

[A. L. Brent]

MSS 640