| | 1 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1864 May 16  | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | In all probability you think that I am dead or forgot
ten you as I have kept silent for so long. I
recieved your letter on the eve before the
battle of the fifth while we ware cooking
rations I was truly glad to hear from you. I
was wounded on last thirs day the 12tha flesh wound in
the right arm near the sholder I have no
doubt but you will expect me to give you a full account of the
casualties of our company on that day but I am soray I can not I was wounded about nine oclock & went back
to the field hospital & got my wound dreſsed & stayed thare
untill twelve oclock; when
all that was able to walk ware ordered back to some other hospital &thare was none nearer
than Lucasa C.H. I beged them to let me stay untill the fight was but they
said I could be of no use & would just be in the way
Capt Dempster advise
d me to go on to some hospital Sam A
Lightner Mays & Hight, ware wounded & came home with me
all slight wounds; Lightner wounded in the
right hand Mays " in
the left side & Hight on the right sholder Jake was safe when I left him
he was with me after we fell back from our
breastworks & I dount think our Brigde
went in any more that day I have not the least
doubt but many of our boys ware taken prisoners; The eni
my maſsed thare troops in front
of the second Brigade & at daylight charged the second & drove them from thare
breastworks & following them closly
captured many. by having that gap open thay soon attacked our Brigade in front flank
& in the rear. the front line was deper
esed & a grate many
of our boys jum
ped over the breastworks & took after the
Yanks capturing on of thare
coulars Colonel Funk then told us if we did not
get out of thare we would
be all captured. Then we commenced retreating to
our second line of
works. & while & was croſsing the field I was wounded I am very
thankfull to the great & good God that
I came out so well the air seemed filled with
the laden mesan gers of death I do not know wheth
ar
Brother John came out safe or not
he was on the skirmish line & when the enimy advanced he fell back on the left of the Regt. Abe came out safe I heard from him
friday I hope to get the
all pertic
ulars of the battle tomorrow. Jim Vines, Kelley
& Sayton was take pris
aners last thursday week the
9th. I was very sorry for him but hope
he may be well treated
Cicero Bare was mortly wounded since died John Pilson has lost a leg
amputated above the knee. Jim
Trusler was killed
dead Willie Gardner was killed a
grate many wounded from
diferent parts of Augusta The Yanks have fought with more desperration than they ever fought
before Sometimes I can but cry. oh Lord, what demon has taken
posession of the people that they are so thirs ty for blood. Lord ease thare
apatites
I suppose you have hurd
who
all ware wounded in our Comp
the first days fight, all my meſs have
been wounded but
Crist, Rubush Abny was woun
ded in the ear Shot a
round hole thie size of a maug ball in the left
ear he will always be nown as croſured Abny Trotter
recieved a flesh wound in the left thigh
& Grieaver was wounded in the foot I
sup pose his wound is very painfull Since the commencement of the fighting our Comp has had fif teen
wounded & one has died Tom Shannon Campell
he was
mortly wounded last teusday
moroning & died that eavning
poor fellow I went and talked to him
& tryed to cheer him, He said oh Bill I
can not be
cheerfull my wound is to painfull
he was soon moved of & I
could
nt get to say much to him. Our division has lost
heavily in pris
oners & wounded. When we com menced fighting we had four
Brigadeer Generals & one Maj
Gen.
now we have none able to command. Johnson
& Stuard
captured; Stafford & Jones ware
killed. Walker bad ly
wounded in the arm. All our Regimental field officers came out safe Cousin William Koiner was badly wounded last
thurs day. The night before we started
from our old camp Capt
Lam
pster
Jim Vines & George Bolunture
came out to enquire the way of
salvation oh how I wish our army
would become an army of Christains then
I am sure we would be invincible our God would smile upon us
& we would
seen be a free & happy people I saw your Father today. he
was well & said all ware well at home Rachel C came up to see
me to inquire after her brother he was well
the day before the great Battle I was glad
to hear you ware well pleased in Rockbridge
& was happy try & make your older sister
cheerfull & happy in her new home with
a kind husband by her side to console her evry want
dear Kate you asked me whether I had any
objections to you send ing your friend your picture What objections could I have I am sure I am not your master or lawgiver I would advise you to do as you think best I hope you have not delayed sending it to him on
account of my delaying writing so long Abney
had all my paper & envellopes in his
portfolio & took it with him when he was wounded & we ware almost constantly in the ditches waiting
for the enimy to advance You asked me my reasons for tel
ling your cousin about our enstr
angment. She gueſsed as much by my not
going down to see you She asked me wasn't she right & I could not deny it; She seemed sorry & hoped it would all be
made up & for my saying you mistreated me I deny it.
dear Kate I fell sad this eavning I often think I would be happier if I was
taken out of this world & could be with a kind Mother in heaven My prospect for worldly
hapineſs is dark forgive my wekneſs in
thus writing. My heart seems filled to over
flowing this eavning
We recieved
news this eavning from
camp thare has been fiften wounded & twenty three missing Jake is still
safe so is Brother John & all the
Ruebushis if I had thare names
hear I would send you a list but I know but part
& I will not send any I hope this may
find you well My health is very good I hav
fallen of some ten or fifteen lbs since I was wounded
my arm is getting
tired I will stop Ever pelieve me to be your true friend &
please write soon as I shall look for an answer in a few days | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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