Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 11, 1863

Sister had a letter last night, giving positive information of William Cocke's death. He was instantly killed on July 3d and fell without a groan. She bears this confirmation of her worst fears better than we could have expected; the long suspense has broken the shock in some measure.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 25, 1863

Last night Sister and P. came: Sister does not allude in any way to William, nor have we mentioned his name to her. She must surely believe in her heart that he has perished, though she will not allow it to herself.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: Tuesday, November 10, 1863

Hear that there was fighting yesterday all day at Callihans, six miles west of Covington; that the Home Guard and cadets were being pushed on as fast as they could move, in order to assist, and expected to arrive at 4 o'clock, P. M. So my husband and Bro. W. may have been in a battle — may be wounded — may be prisoners — may be killed — all is uncertainty. These torturing rumors are very hard to bear.

Exceedingly cold today. A Flag of Truce note from Julia to W. — Father is sick, to add to my anxieties. Had a letter in reply to mine to Judge Ould about William Cocke. Mine was sent on to Washington City, and is returned endorsed, “No record of W. F. Cocke.” So that settles the question; he perished in the assault upon Gettysburg. I have to communicate this to his mother. What awful times we live in!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 170-1

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: July 11, 1863

We rode out to Bro. Will's today, Sister, the children and I; had a pleasant day; returned at nightfall, to be met by the alarming news that of Sister's two boys, Edmund [the Captain] is slightly wounded, and William missing, perhaps killed!  . . . The household is wrapped in gloom. Mr. P. thinks from what he heard of the fearful loss in Pickett's Division, that William is most probably killed.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 168

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: July 7, 1863

Mr. P. started this morning for Harrisonburg, on business. We hear this evening startling tidings — that a great battle has been fought at Gettysburg; 4000 Southerners captured; 12,000 Federals killed — three generals among them, and three wounded. I do not feel disposed to give half credit to the news; we always hear such exaggerated accounts at first. Sister's sons [Mrs. Elizabeth R. Cocke's] are with Longstreet, and her anxiety is intense, as that division, it is said, lost so heavily.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 168