1862 February 19 Centreville, Va.

Centreville Feb. 19th
1862.
My Dear Father,
I had
expected to have gotten
ere this time a furlough
for the purpose of visiting
Richmond and making
arrangements for the
formation of the Company
which I am engaged
in raising for the
next Campaign.
I desired very much
to see the Secretary Of
War and procure from
him information on
Several points without
which I shall meet
with Considerable
Embarrassment.
[page 2]
In the first place I
should like to be informed
at what place the men
are expected to rendez-
vous with their horses
preparatory to going in
to Service. 2d. Whether
men whose term of ser-
vice expires later than
others will be permitted
to leave their old Com-
panies at the same time,
or not. 3d. Whether I may
recruit for the Company
from the present Mili-
tia force. 4th. How many
is necessary to an organ-
ization. 5th. Whether men
giving me their names
now are legally bound,
provided that I finally
succeed in procuring
[page 3]
a sufficient number
for embodying the Com-
pany.
These are all important
considerations, and are
questions which I should
be prepared to answer.
I know no method
by which I can succeed
in obtaining the atten-
tion of the Secretary of
War than by request-
ing you to get Capt.
Baldwin or some other
friend to bring the
matter before him.
Correspondence from
a subordinate officer
like myself is generally
treated with utter
indifference by such
high functionaries as
[page 4]
as the Secretary.
I am so far progress-
sing satisfactorily in
enlisting names for my
Company and so far
have about 45 relia-
ble ones on the roll, with
the prospect of additional
recruits from the Wise
Troop, and the Lynchburg
Beauregard’s near Norfolk.
I received a letter yester-
day from the latter
Company saying that
some 10 or 12 of his
Comrades desired to join
me. I can, I am satis-
fied succeed if no dif-
ficulty but that of
getting members is
encountered.
[page 5]
My health continues most
excellent – indeed better
than it has been for
years, and I am never
troubled with headaches
which were once so
frequent and annoying.
The Cause I doubt not
is my simple diet.
We eat but two meals
a day, one at 9 o’clock
in the morning, the
other at 4 in the Eve-
ning, and coffee, &
bread ^’ & butter ‘ are generally the
sole dishes composing
them. I find that
my appetite, and health
are both improved by
pursuing this system,
and having found it
to operate so well ex-
[page 6]
pect to continue it.
All were well at
home at last accounts.
Hoping to hear from
you soon I 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 6154