My dear John

I have just received your
letter of the 21st inst. also one from your mother
of the same date by which I am glad to hear so
fully and satisfactorily from same of the continued
health of all–and many other particulars–
Say to your mother I wrote to her a day or two
since enclosing a letter to Mr. Wm H Harrison
and a check for $250 to pay the boy’s
board & tuition–Tell your mother if she
requires money to buy clothes for the boys
or other expenses to check for it herself
as I authorized her to do some time since–

In regard to your military position I feel
that it[sic] very important for you to act with
promptness & decision–You will have to serve
in some capacity– and by this time you know
the importance of finding a proper position.

As volunteer aid you would remain out
of commission–and should you love that place
would have to get a commission there or go

[page 2]
in the ranks–and the longer you remain out
of commission the greater will be the difficulty
of getting commissioned–I would therefore advise
you in case I do not myself resign (of which I am
now thinking) to remain as the A A Adjt of the
Brigade & apply for the Commission due thereto
and then if at any time you give up the staff
appointment or lose it by my death or resigna-
tion–you can better retain your Commission
and go in the line or[?] resign–

I am sure you will never be content to be
out of active efficient service whilst
this war continues–which threatens our
very hearths honor liberties and all that
is dear to men–I think too you had
best return here until all this matter
shall be agreed upon and settled–because
if you are to remain A A Adjt I would have
no right to grant leave of absence–and you
might lose all claim to holding that place
by remaining away—already there is some
irregularity to Clarke’s acting in both capacities
only to be justified by you both having been
thrown out of Commission.

[page 3]
and on the report of the Brigade staff made
to day in accordance to orders–you are reported
absent of course– You will therefore see the ne-
cessity of prompt decision & action–and return
to settle these various points–

We may have another battle any day
indeed I do not see how matters can
remain inactive much longer–May
God give us the victory again whenever

Phill[ip] [Barraud] Cabell is here but will probably
return again soon to remain some time–

Tell my dear Charley I have not forgotten
his letter–& my baby too & often I think
of the little letters she sent me–I hope
to be able to write to Charley before long—
Tell him how glad I was to hear from his
grand pa he was so good a boy w[?]
he stayed at L[ower] Bremo & such a comfort
to the old gentleman [ i.e. General John Hartwell Cocke]–

With love to the boys to the dear girls
and all the house—particularly to Aunt
Mary & cousin N I remain my dear John
Yr affec father–Philip St Geo Cocke

MSS 640
With
we have another battle!