West Point New York

January 11^th 1861

 

Brother David

                        Your letter has remained unanswered so long that I presume you begin to expect me at home, though I believe I informed you through Claytons letter that I passed a successful examination. My time was so occupied with preparing for the examination and my mind so burdened and anxious about the result, that, you may know I had neither leisure nor inclination to write. Since it has terminated fully in my favor, you may feel assured that I feel considerably relieved, although I regret to part with some of my best companions.

 

The examination was fully as critical as I expected, taking five days to examine a class of 75, and out of that number 30 were found deficient. It is quite an embarrassing operation to go throug: we are required to stand up at the black-board nearly surrounded with the best critics in the U.S., between fifteen and twenty in number—swallowing every word we utter, and eagerly catching every mistake, and clothed in their gaudy uniform, with dazzling shevrons and gilded swords. So I assure you it depends upon one's nerve a good deal. My principal mathematical study now is Davie's Legendre; getting eight or ten propositions at a time. I used to consider three or four quite a difficult lesson. My ethical studies / are, Practical Ethics, Geography, and Webers History, the first of which is rather uninteresting but is a small work and can be finished in a short time. You asked me something in reference to my room-mate. we lived three in a room for some time, but one of them was a red-hot Abolitionist, and you may know that I was glad to get rid of him. My preasent room-mate is quite a clever fellow—he was appointed from Maine, and was formerly a sailor. It is quite interesting to hear him tell of his adventures in Hindoostan, Sicaly France and other foreign countries. his name is Cose and is a Breckinridge democrat. We have had some splendid skating this winter and some of the best skaters I ever saw. The winter they say has been unusually temperate this year the river has not yet been entirely frozen up. We dont get much time to skate however except Saturday evenings. I am glad to hear that you have been traveling some, didn't it look splendid to see the boats all round the wharf at Cincinnati? and some of those buildings, I guess, made you stare. I am also glad to hear that you got back with no more than sore feet, for I would not have been much surprised if you had gotten back with sore eyes, and perhaps cracked head. I expected though (to show off as the son of a southern planter) you would have surveyed the city in a more dignified manner than in the latitude of pedestrian. viz: by obtaining a city car and guide to explain the different curiosities. How many parties did you attend during Christmas? and did I have an invitation to any? What is the preasent opinion about the political state of affairs, about M^t Sterling here it seems almost as a fixed fact that the the Union will be dissolved. Mississippi & Florida have virtually seceded and the other it is thought will soon follow. I am proud to acknowledge Maj. Anderson as a Kentuckian. he seems to be the hero of the hour, and has indeed displayed great loyalty to the government. For the want of room I will close. Give my love to all.

 

write soon to                                                                          

Yours &c Rezin

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