Genl. J. H. Cocke

My Dear Sir

I left home three weeks since

with the expectation of paying you a short

visit in either going or coming from the

army in Virginia, but was subjected to

delays and through the carelesness of a porter

in changing baggage at Charlotte my Trunk

was changed for another and when I arrived in

Richmond found that I had another

mans Trunk I remained there four days

hoping that it might be found and

finally concluded to go on to Manassas

after supplying myself with a few articles

of clothing to meet pressing demands. the

mishap of the loss of my Trunk pressed

on me heavily for it it was many things

sent by relations to the young men that

went from this neighbourhood also letters

for them and I could not relieve myself

from the disappointment, I was also quite

unwell with cold and the continued

rainy weather all the time I was in

camp made it very unpleasant to me

I did not reach the encampment of

the 5th Ala. Regt but stoped at the 11th near

[page 2]

Bristoe; commanded Moon of

Greensboro, Ala–and sent for Joseph to come

and see me. my time was thus spent in

delays and disappointments, untill I was

compelled to return to Richmond to meet

Mr Alfred Hatch, as previously agreed upon

to return home. I was very much disappoin

-ted in having to give up my trip to

see you and the country in which you

live but will hope yet to do so before we

are seperated in this our earthy pilgrimige.

I have been very much depressed

in consequence of Joseph’s exposure in the army

he is far from a robust man and I fear that

he cannot stand the winter in the climate

the army now occupies, he has a young

and somewhat helpless family. and I am

fearful on his account. your very acceptable

letter o f the 15th came to hand the day after I

got home and it has given my Wife and

Fanny great comfort to know that there is a

friend near their Dear ones. It is the impress

-ion of many persons with whom I have

conversed in coming from Va. that Lincolns

government will be enabled to raise the means

and men to prosecute this unrighteous war

against us, and our only hope is to fight

it out–if this be their determination we may [have]

[page 3]

many trubles before us, but relying on the

Supreme Governor of the universe I have faith

to believe that we finally will succeed–but we

must expect many valuable lives as the sacrifice

God is Great and in his hands we must

put our trust . It I think is the prevailing

feeling of our people; in our Ranks are

many truly pious people and I find some

preachers. I was introduced to one while in

camp a soldier in the ranks whose face bore

the impress of a soldier of the cross. these are

strange times and there are some things

hard to be understood–It has been raining

for the last three weeks and our cotton

crop will be cut off very much. some say

one half at the time I left here the 7th Aug.

I never saw a better prospect for a large

crop of cotton and also of corn the corn

was made but I am told that a great

portion will damage with the continuous

rain I saw Smith Powel yesterday he reports

your people are well says that his uncle

was down about the time I left home and

expects him again next week

Jack Cocke’s wife died at his

Fathers during my absence from home had

been sick a long time- My family are all

well and join me in kind Regards

B[ayard?] Borden

[page 4]

N.B. On my return home retracing my steps

as I went on I found my Trunk at

Charlotte N.C. in the rail Road office

in rechecking at that Point. the Porter

had taken another Trunk so much like

mine that I did not discover the mistake

until I had reached Richmond and

went to a room to change my clothes

I saw at Richmond your son Charles

and intended to visit his encampment

but was quite too much indisposed the

day I had set apart for that purpose

yours truly

B. Borden

Borden’s son Joseph Borden, 1828-1913, was at the time a sergeant in the 5th Alabama. As his father notes he was not healthy and had a large family of eight children. He was wounded in 1862 but returned to action in 1863, and then resigned a few months later suffering from severe rheumatism.

MSS 640