1862 February 6 Centreville, Va.

Centreville Feb. 6th
1862.
My Dear Father–
After giving
the subject due conside-
ration, I have at last
come to a conclusion in
regard to raising a
company for the war, and
I expect to engage at
once in vigorously pros-
ecuting the plan adop-
ted. After comparing
the advantages of, and
the objections to the various
branches of the service
I have become satisfied
that the Independent
Squadron now forming
under Maj. Mason for
two years or the war,
will afford the most favorable

[page 2]
field for success, and dis-
tinction. With this con-
viction on yesterday eve-
ning I called on Maj.
Mason, and procured
from him authority to
raise a company for
his command, which
will be enlisted under
the following conditions.
The Squadron will
consist of not less than
3 or more than 4 com-
panies, respectively of from
64 to 100 men each.
The men will not be
liable to picket duty, or
the usual details to
which ordinary Cavalry
is subjected, and will
not be attached to any

[page 3]
regiment, or other organiza-
tion. Their duty will
be to cut off foraging,
and detached parties of
the enemy, and to attack
any weak point where
victory, and stores may
be expected. Arms will
be provided by the Gov-
ernment. Maj. Mason
is represented as a skill-
ful officer, and I was
quite favorably impressed
by the short conversation
had with him.
Having determined
to raise such a company
last night I commenced
taking names, and to day
I close with some twenty
two, or three reliable

[page 4]
men as members, and
the prospect of numerous
recruits tomorrow. The
men will find their
own horses, and in com-
pensation will receive
$12.00 pr. month of ad-
ditional pay.
The chief difficulty
encountered is as I antic-
ipated that of getting
horses. Many good, and
desirable men have
presented themselves to
me to join on condition
that they could furnish
horses, and could this
obstacle be surmounted
I am satisfied that
I could speedily [form] a compa-
ny comprised of most

[page 5]
excellent, and reliable
men. I propose to obviate
this only difficulty by the
following plan.
Each man receives
on reenlisting $50 bounty,
and a Cavalry man through
the year $144 hire for
his horse. Let each recruit
then on joining the Company,
and being unable to fur-
nish his horse deposit
the $50 with me, and to
that sum I will advance
100 on the ^ ‘[catn?]’ pay which he
will receive pr. month, and
provide the horse.
As I can procure
at least 30 men willing
to mount themselves 3,000
or 4,000 at the utmost will

[page 6]
be sufficient to provide
the remaining number
necessary to the formation
of such a company ^ ‘with horses’ and
this sum I hope to borrow
at not over ten-percent
interest which I will
willingly pay from the
amount saved from this
years salary as 2d Lieut.
You or Grandpapa could
doubtless procure the money
from some bank at
the percentage named
above, and with the
certainty of having it
refunded at the end
of ten – months.
As soon as I find
out that the money
can be gotten I will

[page 7]
proceed to enroll names,
and then procure a
furlough (as under those
circumstances I could)
and go home to make
provision for the horses.
The company will go into
service the first of April.
Could you not procure
the necessary amount
on the conditions mentioned?
The Interest which
I pay will be amply
compensated for by the
Emolument, and the
salary of the office
obtained.
This letter will reach
you Saturday night,
and I shall hope
for an answer on Monday

[page 8]
evening next.
I desire to prosecute
with all fidelity, and
energy the plan now
that I have decided
upon it, and if you can
aid me in the pecuniary
way mentioned my
success will be established.
I continue well, and
with much love remain
Most affectionately
Your son
Jno. W. Daniel

John W. Daniel, 1842-1910, Co. C, 27th Virginia and Co. C, 11th Virginia, later a U. S. Senator and noted orator.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158