Hd.Qrs Va Forces

Colonel
The General commanding is in want of
information from you, as to the strength and organiza-
tion of your command, and begs that you will sup-
ply him with it at the earliest moment. The return
due in the 1st inst. by General Orders no 4, has not
yet been received. The General desires particular-
ly to know with what force you can take the field,
provided any movement is made against you
from Washington. How it would be composed, officer-
ed, and what service could be safely be counted
on from it.

Very respectfully
yr obt servt
R. S. Garnett
Adj. Genl.

Col. P. St Geo Cocke
Commng. &c
Culpepper Court House
Va.

MSS 640

[copy]
Attorney General’s Office

Sir:
This will be handed to you by
a special and accredited agent
of the Secretary of War. The object
in view is to enlist your services
and exertions on behalf of the Uni-
ted States Government to obtain
possession of any Telegraphic Dispatches
that may have been sent with pur-
poses hostile to this Government,
or in relation to supplies of Arms
& provisions purchased or forwarded
to the Southern Rebels. All of which
will be fully explained to you by the
Agent of the War Department.

The object of this letter is
to invite and request your prompt
and energetic cooperation, with all
the means at your Command, in
carrying out in this regard the objects
and purposes of the Government.

I am very Respectfully
(signed) Edwd Bates
Attorney General

Wm. M. Addison, Esqr.
U.S. Attorney for Md
Baltimore, Md.

To his excelencey John Lecher Governor of Va

We ^’your’ humble petitioners a portion of the citizens of the Countys of
Orange & Louisa near unto the Po above named haveing formed
and organised ourselves into a company under the Stile of the
Orange mount Horeb home guards composed of men between
the age of 45 & 60 years & the youths under 18 the object
of the guards is charatable purposes and to drill frequently
and learn Something of military tacticks So that if our Section
Should be invaded that we micht make the best defence
possable and haveing no member of our body that is a milatary
tactition the prayr of your petitioners is that whareas Liet
James. W. Payne of malitia rank who is a good drill
master is now a volinteer privat in capt Lewis Williams
com of orange light infantry at Harpersferry that he
may ^’be’ discharged from Such Service upon furlough or other
wise So that he may return to our midst for the purpose of
driling Sd company which drills old men will partisapate
in and may be benifited by Most Respectfully

Robert Collins
Matthew Butler
Thos. R Hardkins
Anderson Talley
Robert C. Talley
Benjamin V. Loving
Dabney Locket
Jacob Locket
George Locket
S. H. Parrott
C. Y. Payne
M. G. Grubbs
W. E. Grubbs
John N Gillispie
James R Robertson
John W. Lancaster
Benjamin C. Payne
Richard N Meade
Dabney Wright
William B Estes
Madison Meade

NB pleas direct your resonse
to Robert Collins
mallory Ford orange Cty Va.

Head Quarters, Virginia Forces

General John H. Cocke

Sir
I am instructed by Maj. Gen. Lee to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of May 4th.

Gen Lee’s reflections on the subject lead him to very much
the same conclusion as that suggested by your military
experience.

The Hunting Shirt as a military dress appears to combine
that economy and usefulness, which are at this time so desirable
–indeed indispensable–in the conduct of our affairs.

Gen Lee desires me to make known to you his sentiments of
respect &

I am most respectfully your obdt servt.
John A. Washington
Aide to Maj. Gen Lee–

MSS 640

My own Dear Friend
[John H. Cocke who is listed on Academy stationery as a “patron”]

Mrs.
C. Cocke informed me today
at Emmanuel Church that
you had been at home
nearly a fortnight & that
your health was dread-
ful & your Spirits worse [or possibly worn]
Would it were in my power
to fly to you & give all the
aid & comfort in my pow-
er. That this is impossible
[?] duty keeps me
here & all I can now do
is to write a few lines of
inquiry to know how
you are & to assure you
of my deep distress at your

[page 2[
sickness & sorrow. May the Lord
relieve you & comfort ^’you.’ Write me
if only a line to let me know
how you are & whether you
will be at home at Whitsun
-tide.

Harly is gone to the wars. I
parted with him in Richmond
on Monday last. I took him
to my room & we kneeled down
& I commended him as only a Pa-
-rent could, to the Lord. We
rose, embraced, wept & I kissed
him on each cheek as when
he was a little boy, “Father will
he leave a moments” — I did so
He then knelt down & gave him-
self anew to the Lord. We parted
with the blessed assurance of meeting
in Heaven if never again on earth.
The first thing he & others did after
arriving at Culpepper C.H. was to
secure religious exercises twice a day.
Pray for my Dear boy, my beloved
Friend that the Lord may preserve
him & strengthen him for every good
work. May God bless & preserve you.
ever yrs.
Wm. H. Harrison
Gen Jno H. Cocke

MSS 640

My dear brother
Sterling arrived yesterday
riding the Taly Ho! horse & bringing me your
acceptable letter—I return you my thanks
for the brotherly generosity with which you
have so promptly responded to my demand
upon you for your best horse at this
time when you might yourself have need
of him. Nor am I unmindful of your
strong love of a good horse doubtless expressed
at his [?] of which nevertheless[sp?]
my dear brother [?] my appreciation of
of your generous unselfishness

I am glad to learn that all was as well
as usual with you, and that papa’s cold
was no worse–I feel grateful for his letter
and consoled to find his views in current with
my own in these trying times. I send you a copy
of my Proclamation of today post for the
papers. It will [?] you as to the work
before me–A small volume would scarcely
suffice to impress to you the events of the
last two weeks of my own history–I [?] [?]
skeleton as most of it is on record in my
military papers & private military journal

[page 2]
Just now I can say no more—Came up here it
but two days long ride from Bremo—Sterling
send[?] it slowly in a walk arriving here the
2d day by 3 o’clock—the horse all the better
for the exercise Come here and see me
& talk over matters & see for yourself
I have kept all quiet at Alexandria in
sight of the enemy, w/h [?] [?]
[?] at Alxa having left Belmead on the [?]
The 21st at 12 P.M. by [?] train—The night
of the same day I was [?]—I stood a
[?] of the enemies frontier [?] [?] [?]
[ ? ]
for Washington & Anapolis through [?]
& [?] if I had not far then to [?] & keep from
the [?] I [?] for myself an awful panic
would have seized the C[?] – but I left all
quiet & then proceeded to take up
my Head Quarters at this place My procl
mation will explain to you the work [?]
before me.

                                       Fort Palmetto
                                                         May 5, 1861
My Dear Wife
                        As this is Sunday I propose to
devote the day to reading the Bible and also
to writing you a few lines.  This seems as a
day of rest because all duties are suspended
except guard mounting and dress parade.  Yet
there are numbers playing card and some
fishing.  The boat which plys between this point
and the city is about to leave and with it
a number of men from the different com-
panies go on their way home.  What a source
of pure joy it would be , if I were among
the number.  The news came here last evening
that we would be removed from this point
in two weeks.  I think I will go to the city and
forward the articles to you by express.  Do let me
know a day or two before you forward the box
that I may get it immediately.
                                                    I suppose Wm.
Creight is to-day in the enjoyment of every pleasure
that he could wish, and will no doubt sit up
to Marg like a sick kitten to a hot brick.
In speaking of the unpopularity of the Colonel  I cannot

say why it exists.  The commander of a regiment or
of a company must conduct himself very
circumspectly or his popularity is at an end.
Rion has done his best yet for some unknown
reason, he is very much disliked by a large
portion of the regiment.  Probably a concentration
of the regiment would remove many of the little
differences, yet this must be tried.
                                                 Do say to Cousin
Anna that I would like her to make some
of those shirts left with her.  You can get her a pattern
I am ^ ‘not’ positive yet  I may be up home the latter part
of this week.  The boys or a[t] least a number of them
are very anxious to go to Virginia, and wish
me to go with them.  I would prefer going
there to remaining at this post, where we are
subjected to an unhealthy location.  I am told
that a number of the boys from Winnsboro will
go.  I do not know how or what will be the result.
I see by the papers that 3 women are among the
volunteers from the North, dressed as bloomen.  Do you
ever hear from Aunt Phebe.  Write me soon and let
me know if communication has been cut off with the North
If not, I will write her a good long letter.
                                                              How is Nett’s
school getting on, hope she has several of the little ideas
teaching them to shoot.  I would like so much to
peep in upon you this afternoon and see those                                                                                

very dear to me.  We do hope that these matters will not
last always.  Hoping soon to meet you
                         I am your very affectionate husband
                                          J.M. Phinney
                   Write me all the news tell Will to
                pay the pew rent and I will settle with
                him.  Tell me how your funds stand

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

                                                             
James M. Phinney, 6th South Carolina Infantry

MSS 12661

                                       Harpers Ferry   April  ^’May’  4th /61
                        My Dear Pa,
                                       As I have a little time
this evening I will write to you, though I do n’t know
when I’ll have an opportunity of sending a letter
home.  Mr. Winston & the other men arrived saf[e]ly this
morning, there was a great rejoicing & cheering when
they came in, I was very glad to meet with all of
them, especially Jno Thomas, who broke out in
one of his famous “big laughs”.  I was very
much delighted to get so much news to day,
through letters & friends, it took me some time
to get through all of my letters, & the papers, for
which I’m very much obligid to you indeed, I have
not read yet.  The box of cakes were enjoyed very
much by myself & a few friends, I’ve not eaten
them all yet, but guess Ill finish them tomorrow.
The things clothes were safely received, & they were
all very acceptable, I was very muched pleased
with the shirts, they are the very shirts for this kind
of life, I had intended writing for some.
The new uniform is right coarse, but I think it is
the very thing for us, It will be so hard to wear out.
I’ve just finished supper, I told Jno. Thomas, that
the cows did not come up, or I would have given milk.
I’ve just gotten so used to this life, that I do nt mind
it now at all, can eat anything, & sleep anywhere,
I know it is a great deal better for me to be contented
& therefore I am contented, & will be so as long as I
possibly can.  I think Joe is getting right home
sick, but I wo’n’t let him get so when I’m near,
he got a long letter from his Uncle, Dr. Gray,

[page 2]
who seems very uneasy about him, says he can’t
stand the hardships, that he has to stand here.
Dr. Gray also sent him a certificate certifying that
he was unfit for military duty, I think therefore if Joe
tries, he can get off very easily, I would dislike
very much to separate from Joe, but think he ought
to go home, the Dr. spoke of coming here himself
to try to get Joe off.  I’ve stood thus far, a good
deal better than I could have expected, have been
well the whole time, with the exception of a cold,
which is about well now, but that long march
came very near breaking me down.
I was very glad to hear that Westheimer had been
cleared out, hope he will be kept away now.
We were all mustered into regular service yesterday, & are
now subject to the order of the State, for any len[g]th
of time, we did n’t like it much, but had to
submit to it, like it or dislike it.  We are all getting
very tired of this place, but I had rather stay
here than to go to Norfolk or any of those lower
places, we may have to go to after leaving here,
It is very healthy here, & they say it is always so
We use Cook’s school room for our kitchen.
I believe I’ve told you how we manage affairs here,
We can’t go to bed until after nine oclock, the
roll is then called & every man  is to answer to his
name, the Reverlee is beaten at six in the mornin,
& every one is to arise and answer to his name again
I have n’t seen a great deal of Uncle Phil Ashby,
as I’m so closely confined, he was down to see
me last night & the night before, he expects to
join the Culpepper Min. men.  I must stop for the night

[page 3]
so I bid you a good night.  P. E. Jones

Philip Edloe Jones, Private, Co. E, 13th Virginia Infantry

MSS 13407

       Fort Palmetto
                                 Saturday Night             May 4, 1861
     My Dear Wife
                           Your very welcome and interesting letter
was received to-day, and I very much regret to read
of the children and yourself being unwell, but hope
it is nothing serious.  We are very much displeased
with our location and are anxious to be removed
from this point, to a healthy location where plenty
of good water can be had.  We have the most
miserable water I every drank and every one in
camp is more or less affected.  The news came to us
to-night that we would be removed to some point
up the country.  I will not be too sanguine as the
matter may result differently.  I expect however to visit
home to latter part of next week or the first of
week after.  You need not look for me until you see
or hear from me again.  What in the world has put
Shannon and Kittie in the notion of boarding, and
as you remark who pays Emma’s board.  I was
under the impression that Knight and her were
about to marry.  You may send the box and be
sure and put plenty of butter in it.  I expect
I will bring the covering up with me.  Do write me
and let me know what kind of a dress you bought
from Kitchen’s and let me know what kind of

a hat you would [fragment torn out] to have for Anna.  I forgot to send
the lawn by [fragment torn out] Creight.  I send the clothes and the
Boquet by him.  I wish you could have seen it when
fresh.  It was varnished but did retain its colors.
On Friday when William was leaving for home I felt
quite homesick and would have given much to have
been able to go with him.  I was sorry not to be able
to send something up by him.  I will bring something
up when I come home.  I have not yet seen any of
of [sic] our lady friends.
                               It is now after eleven and I must
close.  Give much love to all and accept a very large share
From your affectionate husband
                                                   J.M. Phinney
                       Write me soon.
                                       
James M. Phinney,  6th South Carolina Infantry


MSS 12661

My Dear Wife

Your welcome letter
of 20th inst was received on yesterday
Write very often–nothing can be
so interesting to me as your letters.
Some of the other wives you think get
more letters than you do–and you
women measure your husbands love by
the number & length of their letters–
If so tell Annie Lewis that that Will
is the most affectionate husband in
the Camp–I will write to you Love
about once a week and half a
page at a time–I cannot with
justice to my eyes write longer
letters. This will be handed to
you by Maj Preston who will
tell you every thing you want
to know–Kiss the children for
me and for yourself take my
best love Ever Yours
E.F. Paxton

Elisha Franklin “Bull” Paxton (1828-1863), a University of Virginia alumnus, a friend of Thomas J. Jackson and a lawyer and bank president without previous military training, entered the Confederate Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Rockbridge Rifles in Col. James F. Preston’s 4th Virginia Infantry.