Saturday, May 19, 2012

1862 May 20 near Richmond, Va.


Camp near Richmond
                           20th May 18862.
My Dear Father –
                                I wrote you yesterday
by Mr. Boyd and today as I find
that Young Green leaves for Lynch-
burg in the morning I avail
myself of the opportunity to drop
you a few additional lines not
knowing at what time we may
be removed from our present
position and be excluded from
such opportunities.
     The battle for the city of
Richmond which has been so
long & anxiously expected seems
just now to be as far off as
it appeared to be when we
fell back for its protection.
     I do not think that there will
be any considerable engagement
immediately before the city but
that Mc.Clellan will more prob-

[page 2]
ably contend for the capital
at two points – near Hanover
Junction, and somewhere on
the line of the Richmond
& Southern Road. It can be
seen at a glance that
apart from the disparity
of forces, and appliances
of War which he can bring
against us, we shall fight
at tremendous strategic disad-
vantages. The Enemy with
his facilities for transportation
on land, & water, can rapidly
concentrate at any point
without our knowledge, while
unless we assumed the offen-
sive we cannot expect to
meet him with anything like
an equal force.
     I feel assured however that Genl.
Johnston who has never yet been
outdone by the Young Napoleon

[page 3]
will be equal to the Enemies,
and if he & his Co adjutors can
sustain their part, I cannot
for a moment entertain a doubt
of the result.
     Our soldiers have the most                  
unbounded Confidence in their
leader, and in the gallantry
of their Comrades, and anima-
ted as they are with the loftiest
sentiments of Devotion to
their government I feel
satisfied that they will prove
faithful guardians of
Our liberties.
     The recent engagement at                        
Williamsburg did more to
reassure me, and to confirm
the Confidence of our army than
any event that has occur-
red for many months.
 I regard it as one of the
most splendid achievements

[page 4] of the war. We had not
more than 8000 men Enga-
ged while the enemy accor-
ding to his own acknowledge-
ment had not less than
30,000 & claimed that we
had 50,000 – With this
immense odd we drove
the Enemy before us a dis-
tance of a mile & a half –
Captured 14 Cannon, &
only left the field on
account of want of provi-
sions, & ammunition.                    
     Adj. [James Lawrence] Meem leaves for Lynch-    
burg for Lynchburg [as found]in the
morning, and I am detailed to
act in his stead until he re-
turns.
     Let me hear from you soon.
I am extremely anxious
to get a letter. Affectly
                Your son
                      John W. Daniel
[page 5 – (The following page (numbered 5 & 6) is glued to the preceding letter so that page 6 comes
                 first. However it appears that in context page five comes first.]    
P.S.
     I have just learned that a
letter over my signature has
been published in the Repub-
lican, and I am exceedingly
surprised as I have never
written any with a view
to its appearance in public.
     I concluded that it must
be the hasty one that I
wrote you immediately
after the battle, and I
feel assured that no serious
oversight could have occurred
in it, or you would not have
permitted its publication.
     Please send me a copy
of the paper. I should like
to see how it appears.
     Young Green who carries
this will return in
a day or so & will afford
you an opportunity of
sending me papers and
[page 6]
letters direct.
     There is a rumor in camp
that Gen. Hill our Brigadier
is soon to be made a Maj.
Genl. and if so Garland will I
think succeed him, in which
Event I think I will be offe-
red  a position – on his staff,
or the adjutancy of the regmt.
     As I have no letter from
you since we evacuated the
entrenchments near Yorktown –
nearly three weeks since,
I hope I may receive one to-
morrow.
      Remember me affectionately
to Mr. & Mrs. Cabell,
      & believe me your affect
                            Son
                     Jno. W. Daniel

Lt. John Warwick Daniel, Co. C, 27th Virginia Infantry and Co. C., 11th Virginia Infantry, 1842-1910. Later a U.S. Senator from Virginia and noted orator.  Known as the Lame Lion of Lynchburg.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 158

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