My dear Father

I have received your two
highly interesting & affectionate letters [?]
through the servant who brought the horse
belonging to brother Charles from Bremo the
other a day or two since–

I have just arrived here an hour or two
ago from Culpepper C H. bringing with me all
the [?] force I had there & [?]
that other troops should follow as soon as
armed & organized–

The enemy entered & occupied Alexandria
in strength yesterday morning our little
force just having time to take the arms
& escape to this place & the cavalry
also escaping except one troop that of
Capt Bale of Fairfax some 70 troopers
taken prisoners by the enemy by surprise
Brig. Genl Bonham of South Carolina is in
command at present on this line. My position
being fixed as that of the 1st Col in the Volunteers
but of the Volunteers of the state so that I am
second perhaps in rank here although that
not be so very long as troops will
doubtless be brought forward rapidly to the
front at present we have about 2500 men
of all arms.

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another South Carolina regiment expected today–
The war has now fairly commenced by the
invasion in force of Virginia soil–God defend
the right!–

I met Courtney in Richmond when [?] for
four days coming there on Wednesday morning last
& she leaving for here the evening of the same
day– I left John B–at Culpepper C H
I probably shall not return there–But form
my regiment & remain with this Command–

I have a thousand things to say to you but
have no time. In three months last past I
have lived a century of events & emotions
Greater events are at hand! May God prepare
me to act my humble part in them in a
manner worthy of the cause & of the Country!

When you shall care to know the history of
the action of the State Convention & of the Council
of State (and I have a second to [?] of it all)
in regard to my Commission–my rank & my Command
in this line as well as of the spirit to which I have
met the most extraordinary proceeding in regard
to the said Commission Commmand & rank ever
practiced by any Goverment under heaven to-
wards a man in high military position–you
will have no cause to regret either my own cause
& just–& present position. I shall leave a
[?] record behind me for my children and

[page 3]
my family–I feel that I am on the line of duty
with a clear conscience–and can not be
[?] for my propriety–God helping me!

Tell brother Charles I see he too has been
Commd as Lt Col of Vol–& may be thrown in
this line—Tell him his horse shall be
at his call–I shall write to him soon
The horse will remain at culpeper C H
in John’s care—

With leve to all I remain my dear
father
Yr. affct son
Philip St Geo Cocke

Genl Jno H. Cocke
Bremo Bluff

Cocke mentions his brother Dr. Cary Charles Cocke, his son John Bowdoin Cocke, his wife Sally Elizabeth Courtney Bowdoin Cocke, and a family slave Sterling.

MSS 640