[following letter has several holes obscuring the text]
Petersburg, Va.
Aug 28th 1862
Gen Jno H. Cocke
My Dear Bro.
Often, very often have I longed to hear
from you since last we parted. I hear that the Lord has
still spared you–we are truly in the midst of trouble-
Little did I think, when we talked and prayed together
with so many of your friends in different parts of the
North, that they would ever turn so much against us.
I doubt not there are some, who are opposed to this
unholy war, but they are few–[hole] passed through
[hole] ome time since the wa[hole] ed
In my own section Wil [hole] were filled
with the army as early as it [ole] Our little town
did all it could for our dear [hole]iers–My wife
was as busy as a bee–she worked hard, for the
sick, and to cloth[e] the soldier–We felt happy in all
this–But what was my surprise to find men seeking to do all they
could to make money out of our struggling government,
even those who were most rampant for war-
My heart was sick at the sight. But God will
I doubt not overrule all things for good in the
end–Our dear church was most seriously affected
by the war–Most of our Brethren entered the service,
I was appointed Chaplain in June 27th 1861,
with the consent & advice of my Brethren.
[page 2]
I was appointed Post Chaplain at Williamsburg
by Gen McGruder, to the Camps & Hospitals–I had
to break up housekeeping at last, and spent my
whole time among the afflicted and in the
field–The winter past I saw many of my dear
men die happy in Christ & I have witnessed joy
and sorrow on the dying bed of many a man–
I had hoped that the War would have terminated
ere this–How disappointed–we were compelled
to leave our happy home–I came to Petersburg
and here I am Post Chaplain again by
Order of the Secy of War
But my dear [hole] I have lost my all–My Sister
Mrs Young [hole] & paintings, our furniture &
our enem[hole] and sold in New Yo[hole]
We have the [hole] twelve years labor[hole]
It is hard [hole] But we must submit
God I hope will not leave us nor forsake us
in our time of need–I am willing to suffer with
the South, as is also my dear wife, tho’ I am from
Scotland, and might have gone there–Yes I am
willing to suffer–I feel that we are right, and
that God will give us the victory at last–
Most deeply do I sympathise with you in
your affliction, through which you have
passed–Yet I rejoice, that you can hope in
God–This, Ah yes, this is our only comfort and
support–I have felt anxious to see you
to sympathise with you in all you troubles–
[page 3]
A few years more, and all will be over–
Let us rejoice, my dear Bro. in the prospects of
the Gospel–
I am happy to tell you, that over 100 precious
souls have been converted by God since I came
here–that is I have found that number–
God is in our army with his spirit–Many a
Mother’s heart has rejoiced over the intelligence
sent about their Sons death in the Lord–
I shall be very glad to hear from
you at any time. Please write-
Mrs Young sends christian regards, and
believe me as ever
Your aff Bro in Christ
[hole] Young
docketed
Young, Rev. Wm M recd
Sept 2 1862
Ansd Do 8 Do
MSS 640