1862 January 22 Centreville

Centreville Jan. 22nd. ‘62
My Dear Father
Without any
special object in view in
writing you at the present time
I do so merely to prevent your
being occasioned any anxiety
at my silence.
A perfect calm reigns
through the entire army just
now, and we have nothing but
our position to remind us
that there is such a thing
as a yankee opposed to us.
Occasional firing on the
Potomac is the only thing
that ever interrupts the
general stillness, and that
is forgotten almost as
soon as heard.

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Our manner of life
is by no means in accord-
ance with my taste, and
I find that it is making
sad inroads into my educa-
tion. However, it shall
never decrease my desire
or determination to become
a student of Classical,
and literary subjects and
to excel in those depart-
ments of learning. The
more I am alienated from
all advantages of acquiring
knowledge in these branches,
the more I feel the importance
of such a possession.
Should the war close
tomorrow my highest
ambition would be to
recommence the pursuit

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of a liberal education at
the University, and then to
devote myself to the law
as a profession. If the
war should be brought to
a termination in two, or
three years it will not
then be too late to start
out in professional study,
and the experience ac-
quired by service in the
army will doubtless repay
the time lost from in
literary attainments.
I am endeavoring however
to review as well as
circumstances permit such
of my previous studies as
can be most availably
pursued in Camp, and
I hope by these means

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keep up at least a
partial acquaintance
with them.
If you will think it
advisable I will abide
by your suggestion, and
apply immediately for
authority to raise a Com-
pany for the War in
Lynchburg and the sur-
rounding Country, and
should the Entire Militia
force be ordered into
service such a scheme
would probably prove
successful.
I shall write again
quite soon,
Most Affectionately
Your Son
Jno. W. Daniel.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

[as expressed above, John W. Daniel did attend the University of Virginia after being severely wounded in the battle of the Wilderness.]

MSS 158