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PHILIP ST. GEORGE COCKE A.L.S.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
PHILIP ST. GEORGE COCKE A.L.S.
<b>50. PHILIP ST. GEORGE COCKE </b>(1808 - 1861) Confederate brigadier general charged with Virginia's defenses along the Potomac, later led artillery, cavalry and foot soldiers at Bull Run. The war shattered St. George Cocke physically and emotionally, and he committed suicide on Dec. 26, 1861. Excessively rare fine content war-date A.L.S. "<i>Philip St. Geo. Cocke</i>" 2pp. 4to., Manassas Junction, May 10, 1861 to Virginia Gov. John Letcher. Writing only two weeks before Virginia's vote to secede and the occupation of Alexandria, Cocke suggests the appointment of a major to head militia forces in Alexandria. In part: "<i>...Major Montgomery D. Corse recently in command of the Va. Volunteers in Alexandria...[is] under command of Col. Terrill...I learn that Maj. Corse had some experience of service in the field, with our armies in Mexico during the late Mexican War...[now] at the head of his little band of volunteers in Alexandria...much was actually done in obtaining intelligence, keeping up a line of videttes...protection of the railroads and other property...I do not hesitate to say that in my humble judgement Major Corse would prove himself a valuable & efficient officer...</i>". On May 24, 1861 at 2:00 AM eleven regiments of Union soldiers crossed the Potomac and into Virginia in the vicinity of Washington. Seven hundred Virginia militiamen, under Cocke's command, were stationed six miles downstream at Alexandria, an important port and railroad center. Warned in advance of the invasion, all but 35 were able to retreat through one end of town as Union troops rushed in the other. Slightly uneven left margin, else fine condition. Cocke is virtually impossible to obtain in war-date material! <b>$3,000-4,000</b>