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which never paled, and which afforded
General Early great satisfaction.
I have selected from a bundle of his letters a hurried note written in 1874 while
Senator Daniel was a candidate for Congress,--in order to show the friendly relations existing between these two.
my Dear General:
The three tickets enclosed were elected here to-night by overwhelming majorities.
I shall have 60 votes on first ballot.
I ask that you will do me the honor to nominate me in convention.
It will be glory enough whether I succeed or not. I beg that you will come and help me now. You said, in
Richmond, you “raised me.”
Come then and stand by your boy.
Yours truly, John W. Daniel.
After an interval of eight years, there is a letter telling of
Daniel's desire to write the life of his friend.
To accomplish this purpose he seems to have collected a vast deal of material.
The answer to his request has not been found.
December 3rd, 1882.
my Dear General:
I have wished to talk with you about a contemplated undertaking in which you are not disinterested.
With your permission and good will in the plan, I desire to render such contribution to the history of the war as I may be able to do, in the shape of a volume to bear the title “The Life and Campaigns of
Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early.”
I have some elements of qualification in familiarity with some of your campaigns and a very good general knowledge of the conditions under, and means with which you conducted others.
My mind continually recurs to the war and not a day passes that its various scenes and phases are not revolved over and over again.
It would be a relief to work on the subject, and did you consent to my doing so in the manner indicated, in a year or two I could prepare the work as well as my poor abilities permit: and while, to tell the truth would be ever the uppermost thought, it would be a labor of love to me to recount it in the themes proposed.
If for any reason you do not wish me to write such a book, your wishes would of course control me, but unless you object, my mind is made up to the undertaking If you approve there are many things in which I would need your assistance.
Think over this matter and let me know your views.
Most truly yours,
John W. Daniel.
