The following is the typed, translated text from the letter that follows:
Head
Quarters Valley District
March 18th, 1862
Honorable J. P. Benjamin
Secretary of War
Sir,
Lt. James W. Dale of Company ‘C’ 5th Reg’t. Virginia Volunteers,
a native of Delaware, is deservious of obtaining a conformation of 2nd
Lieutenant of Infantry in the C.S.A. At the commencement of the present
war, he was a cadet at West Point of eleven months standing, and was
discharged from that institution because he refused to take the oath of
allegiance to the U. States. I am reliably informed that a wealthy Uncle of
Philadelphia, offered to secure him a Captaincy of a company and give him
$20,000. dollars if he would join the enemies of our country. Since the 18th
of May I have observed him at the battles of Falling Water and Manassas, and
I can safely say that there is no better young man in the “ Stonewall
Brigade” a better and braver officer. Separate from friends, and desirous of
making arms his profession, he appeals to the land of his adoption for a
position, which his devotion to our ‘Cause’ made him forget. If it is your
pleasure to commission him, he will give you no trouble during the war, as
he will be a Captain of a Volunteer company for that period.
I
am Respectively
Your Obedient Servant
Wm. J. H. Baylor
Lt. Colonel and Inspector General
Valley District
