My dearest:

I arrived here safely last eveg
& found all well I might have stayed
a little longer with you without incon-
venience. Uncle P [General Philip St. George Cocke] had sent me a message
to that effect which I did not receive. How
ever I hope you may get yourself & Richard
safely thro’ your present difficulties safely

Dear Pink I cannot too often impress upon
you the necessity of not overworking yourself
in your anxiety for your brother, but I will
trust implicity in your judgment & good
sense–If Richard gets worse or anything
else happens send for me at once by telegraph
to Fairfax C.H.

John Bowdoin [Cocke] is going down to-morrow
& will either hand or send this to you. He
will tell you how things are going on here

I see no prospect of an advance just
now. In fact Uncle P. learned as much from
head quarters yesterday. One of our Regiments

[page 2]
is now advanced to Munson’s Hill near
Arlington heights, but that will be alter-
nated with the others at that post.

Our own Brigade is the only one ad-
vanced since I left here & probably our
head Quars will remain here some time.

We are very comfortably fixed–more so
than at Centerville & have all the “luxuries
of the season.”

As the staff is quite full now, I shall
not have a great deal to do & any time
that you have the least need of my
presence, send for me at once. It would be
better for me to stay some weeks before
going & if they dont do something in that
time I think I shall quit altogether
for this fall at least. There is another
reason which renders this possible of which
I shall speak in some future letter, but
as there may not be anything in it you
mustnt mention it. It is just possible
that Uncle P. may resign soon, for he has
been very badly treated & then I shall go
home at once to stay. By that time the

[page 3]
militia wil be disbanded & all will be
right. Any way you must cheer up &
trust all the Providence of the Good Lord–

John was waiting for me at Manassas
with my horse & was very glad to see me.

Write to me as often as convenient how
Richard is & how you are & give my best
love to Richard –No one more anxiously
hopes for his recovery than I–I suppose
you saw Mr. Heath; he has gone home
for a few weeks on sick leave–

Be sure & get the things you want before
you leave Richmond–Mr. Price or any one
will cash the check I gave you. If I could
have done it while in town I should have
gotten the money myself for you. Write
me about this.

Remember me to Alex & V. & all at Mr.
H’s & believe me to be
ever your devoted
Husband–

P. B. Cabell

Philip Barraud Cabell, 1836-1904, nephew of General Philip St. George Cocke and grandson of University of Virginia founder General John Hartwell Cocke, was one of the few antebellum students at the University of Virginia to obtain a master’s degree. After the war he was a professor at Urbanna University in Ohio, and later a minister of a Swedenborgian church in Wilmngton, Delaware. His wife Julia Calvert Bolling Cabell, known as “Pinkie” had been a popular Virginia belle before her marriage.
MSS 38-111

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]
4 P.M. The unusual activity of our forces here and below at the main camp indicates the approach of a storm–Sergeant James Braton & Private L. W. Cox have just gotten in from foraging trip in the direction of NcVey;s Ferry, they report very heavy cannonading in the direction of Summerville where Genl. Floyd’s forces are stationed–hence we take it that a fight has taken place between Genl. F’s command and the federals. 9 P.M. The quiet which has existed in our camp no longer continues for we have all just been aroused to a sense of approaching danger by news from below, that our whole forc is moving from the “Hawk’s Nest” back in this direction, it being understood that Genl. Floyd has met with a reverse to-day and is retreating–All ordered to sleep on our arms–9 1/2 P.M. Taps and we go to rest–

To His Excellency
Governor Letcher

Governor

By a recently
published order of Genl Lee my son first Lieut
John B Cocke Act Asst Adjt Genl of this Brigade
finds himself thrown out of Commission in
the Provisional Army of Virginia. He has been on
active service on my staff since early in April
acting in the above capacity was with me
acting on that day also as aid de Camp in
the battle of the 21st July (“Manassas”)

He is a greaduate of the Military Institute of
the year 1856–and is doubtless thereby qualified
whilst he has shown alacrity to render military
service to the State–and desires to be restored
to a position in which he can again enter
with usefulness upon such service–

He prefers the Volunteer service–and I
would respectfully lay his case before your
Excellency and ask that you will despose
of it in such manner as will enable him
to render service to the State in some sphere
of military action corresponding to his
education and qualifications.

I remian governor
very Resptfully
yr most obt.
Philip St. Geo. Cocke

MSS 640

Copy [for John B. Cocke]

[From the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys (Co. E, 42nd Virginia Infantry)
This morning the Yankees pick-
ets fired on ours – no dam-
age done. Left camp on Val-
ley Mountain – marched 6 miles
left our baggage and went a
mile or so on Scout – [–]
for the night on a branch of
the Elk River. Read 10 chap. bible

MSS 5526

[From the diary of Harrison B. Jones, Co. H., 33rd Virginia Infantry]

Centerville. the weather
is pleasant to day. Mr
Bell & Grayson was to
see us yesterday
quite a firing of cannon
yesterday in the direc
tion of Alex

Perhaps the Benjamin F. Grayson who was sheriff of Page County

MSS 14169

Respected parents and friends

I was much pleased
to recieved that letter bearing date of Sept. 4th in
f which four of you had an interest we all had a good
time reading & all thoes that it concerned. I have just
been writing to Aron and, as I have a little more time to
spare I thought I would write a few lines more you may
think by what I wrote to Ann that I was sick but
I am not my stomach got foul and I took some
castor oile I have been excused, from duty two days
and, I am all right now. I see by you letters that
you think we are worse off than we really are
it is true we are deprived of many things we could
get at home such as pies and cakes that Ruth
spoke of I should like to be at home where I could
get such things but I am willing to give them
all yup to save the union and constitution from
being destroyed, there is plenty of nice victuls gets
into our camp more or less every day which we could
get by paying for it but as I get enough to eat

[page 2]
and good enough I do not wish to buy
our places to sleep are comfortable I have a bed sack
full of straw and two blankets and overcoat to sleep
under although it is cold here nights I manage to
keep warm you know how we lived at Portland
we live the same here only we get more to eat
we get baked beans three times a week a plenty
of fresh rate soft bread and beef coffee cheese molasses sugar
and we have a mess of boiled garden sauce sometimes
and a little butter once in a while I tell you our
lot is not so hard as you probably think it is I
should be perfectly contented if new you could
manage to get along well at home as the circum-
stances are I know it is very hard for you
but I am here and cannot help you and you
must try and make the best of it I wish you
could have a little more firmness of mind so as not
to fret so much about me it will do me no
good, and perhaps injure your own health in which
almost everything depends I want you to use
the mony I send home for anything to make comf-
ortable you know better what you need, than I do

[page 3]
I shall try to take care of my own health and not
wory any more than I can help and try to think
every thing is for the best The war news here is not
very excitable the rebels tried to cross the Potomack a
day or two ago but they had to go back from whence
they came with some loss on their side one wounded
on our side it is reported that the rebels have left
Manassas we do not know which way they are going yet
but probably we shall in a few days at most our brigade
has been strengthened by the arrival of a company of cavelry
80 strong, and a company of flying artilary with 110
horses and 10 guns I tell you it is a splendid company
one of the 3rd V.I. boys is to be s[h]ot for
sleeping on his post it is hard, but I suppose it is
just. our new fort is going on briskly the brestwork
abaout half a mile long is finished, we are expecting to
move up there soon with our whole brigade I think
the people out here are looking for a speedy close of
the war. I want you to tell the home cowards as
they are called out here to clean the rebels out of
Maine or we shall think they are really cowards.
The boys are all getting along finely I suppose we

[page 4]
are getting 25cts extry per day for every day we work
and they all work every day they get a chance too
We have been under orders to march some time
but we go to bed as thoug nothing had happened
every night I think there is no danger of the rebels
coming this way wih[sic] any force for they know
better than to do it they know we are to strong
for them here I have written some news to Ann
which you will find out our paymaster is coming
here tomorrow and I think we shall get some
money then

Give my respects to all
Enquiring friends

Hiram M. Cash

[Private, Co., K, 5th Maine Infantry]
MSS 12916

[from the diary of Harrison B. Jones of the 33rd Virginia Infantry]

Centerville, the morning
pleasant; I went to the
hospital to see Charles
Chadduck. & some others
at hospital. they seem
to be improving. Bishop
Johns preached at Gen
Jacksons head quarters
he is a very able man

Sgt. Charles T. Chadduck (born 1835) made lieutenant November 28. Captured May 10, 1864, at Spotsylvania. Exchanged December 13, 1864, from Beaufort. S. C. Spratt. Page County, Virginia men in gray.

The Right Reverend John Johns (1796-1876) was the fourth Episcopal bishop of Virginia and also 15th president of the College of William and Mary. After the war he served as president and professor of pastoral theology at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. He regularly visited the camps, tended wounded on the battlefield and preached to Union soldiers in Libby Prison.

MSS 13407

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys (Co. E of the 42nd Virginia Infantry)
Sunday 8
Attended preaching in the
morning – quite a good Sermon.
In the evening Attended the or-
ganization of the Soldiers Chris-
tian & Literary Association of
our reg. chosen soc. [sic] of the
meeting. Quite an interesting
meeting. Read 6 chapters in
bible. Wrote to Bro. William.
Attended the [—]
[–] To day is the
first Sabbath I have spent
in camp for a long time and
enjoyed the religious privilidges [sic]
of the same.

MSS 5526

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

Sunday, September 8, 10 o’clock A.M. This bright Sabbath morning finds us still at Camp Dogwood, guarding the place–we all feel that we are agreeably disappointed for it is so very strange and unusual to rest on the Sabbath that we invariably make arrangements to move as the week closes, but we are allowed to rest quietly today for the first time since we left the “White Sulphur Springs”–Many of us now engage in the sweet recollections of home and absent ones–but not so with all for numbers are now (be it said in shame) are engaged at cards for their wages which they drew yesterday–we were paid off in Confederate notes, redeemable in two years. 9 P. M. This afternoon Col. Heningson had our rifled cannon taken to a position, prepared for it, and fired four times to try its powers–distance more than 1 1/2 miles–splendid shots and very effective–we expect active operations very soon, a crisis is close at hand–9 1/2 taps–We retired for the night after havi g spent a very pleasant Sabbath.

Charles Frederick Henningsen, 1815-1871, a Belgian who had fought with the Carlists in Spain and Kossuth in Hungary before coming to the United States in 1851. Colonel of the 59th Virginia and author of 6 books.

MSS 38-221

My Darling Wife –
I will devote to a letter to my loving little
wife at home part of this quiet Sunday evening – Sinner as I am
I like to see something to mark the difference between Sunday
and weekday. We have no drills on Sunday and generally
two or three sermons in different parts of the camp, which
was not so some time since when every thing went on
as on every other day. This morning we had a sermon from
Bishop Johns who dined with us and this afternoon he
preaches again. We expect this evening a distinguished
visitor Mrs Jackson, so we shall have mistress as well
as master in the camp. The General went for her to
Manassas yesterday evening but returned without her
finding that she had gone to Fairfax, where he imme
diately started in search of her. When she arrives his
Headquarters I doubt not will present much more the app
earance of civilization. But before she is here long
she will probably be startled with an alarm, false
or real of a fight, which will make her wish she
was at home again.
Do just as you please Love about staying out at home
But if you can stay there feeling yourself safe & not
too lonely, it will cost less and I doubt not every
thing will go on better than if you were away.

[page 2]
Among the idle women about town & there are
enough of them I think you might find some one
to stay with you for company and protection if
you think two scared women better able to protect
themselves than one.
Consider yourself at liberty to do just what you please
on the farm and I shall be satisfied. But don’t Kill
the Durham heifers or the Compton cow if they never
calve. They are fine stock and must have a fair trial
Have you ever found out when I got Jordans mules?
I think you ought to keep a note book for the record
of such events. My recollection is that it was between
Feby 15 & March 1 & about Dec 1 you may lookout.
But Darling wife it is no laughing matter and I
heartily wish this war might end and I might get home
with you before that time. It is sad to think of another little
one brought to the crib where our first dear little one was
laid and Papa not there to bid it welcome and pledge it
through life a fathers love and care. But this sad prospect
is in the future of many of my comrades who like myself are
here to forego every other duty and risk every thing to secure
the rights which we have been accustomed to enjoy at
our homes.
And now Love I will bid you good-bye again. I will write
tomorrow & have the Dispatch sent to you. Kiss Mathew
& Gala for me & tell them it is from Papa – for yourself
take a husbands best love – Ever Yours – E F Paxton

Elisha Frank “Bull” Paxton, a University of Virginia law alumnus was major of the 27th Virginia Infantry, part of the “Stonewall Brigade” commanded by his old Lexington, Va., friend Thomas J. Jackson.

MSS 2165