| | 21 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1864 October 28  | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I recieved your truly
wellcomed letter last Monday eav- My friend J brought it out to me I have not had a chance to talk with him yet.
He is look ing quite well,
he is fearfull the Provost gard will be troub ling him before long. I hope they will let him remain
at home untill I get able to
ride around with him, I wish Ano would get
that provoking card about Staunton to let him alone, for I suppose
She knows as well as I know that he is not
able for duty yet. I saw Miſs Lottie the other day She looked as nice as the first roses of
Spring. But alas I stand a poor chance since
brother J. came home, He seems to be the beau
idle of all the
ladies, well my D— I suppose such
as the above will not in
terrest you as you will be
ancious to hear how I am getting
along, My health is ery good & my wound is
doing very well. I hav'nt suffered by very
little yet. It only hurst me when I attempt to hopp about. Know dou
bt you will think me very unfor tunate or lucky in getting home so often with flesh
wounds, The
Battle of the ninteenth
was hard & bloody. Up to the time that I was wounded victory
was entirly in our favor. We had captured
almost evry thing the enimy had,
but I have understood late in the eavning thay ware reinforced by the 6
corps & our army suffered another stampe-
de Our poor unfortunate Comp suffered heavily, went into the fight with twelve men,
had two killed & four wounded
one of the latter since died. I suppose you have hurd all the casualties
Mr Heizer died at MtJackson before his Father got thare. You Uncle Burks would have me to come down &
stay a few days with them so that I could be near the
Docter if I should need any medical treatment
with my
wound, It is a worse wound than my other an disables me more in getting about, but I hope
by nice treatment that I will be able for duty in forty or fifty days.
I went to see your cousin
L while I was in
Stanton. She introduced me to
Cenmer. He">Mr Cenmer he is a
very nice young man. L tried to rig me about him but I think she failed in her attempt, de'st Kate I would like very
much to see you I know I could talk much better
than I can write I expect to go home tomorrow
eavning if brother J comes after me.I have been watching the road for you &
An but I suppose you ware
just talking. I think I will be able to get about in a couple of weeks
if I have luck. Then I am sure I will not delay in coming to see my little bird. I am so glad you are
enjoying good health. hope the roses may continue
to gather on your cheeks. br
evry
person said I looked like haI had been sick when I
came home. hard marching had pulled me down a
greateal. but I think know I will soon way a hundred
& sixty. I am glad you have hurd from your
brother Hope he may be kindly treated
& soon return home. I must soon close
write soon as I will be glad to hear from you. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 22 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1865 February 14 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I avail myself of the present opportunity to drop you a few lines I arived safly in camp the
night of the 9th, Had some very roughſ
weather to come down
in, I thought that when I was in Staunton that if I
was at home I would stay
thare untill the weather would mod
erate, But I had gone tofar to turn
back, While in Staunton I visited your Cous,L.— She gave me a comple
te scolding. I pretended at first that I had'nt been down to see you since she was out,
& told her that the last time, I was
down I was treated in a manner that lead me to
believe that the next time that I went, that I
would be dis
carded. & that such feelings would keep my lover from the idle of thare
heart, She told me that she did not believe me, Butthat I was getting
geleous, wich you may know I
desired I then told her all,
The weath
er has been very cold down since
I came down We have no snow hear I am very cirtain that it is not leſs than fifteen inches deep
in the
valley I suppose you have hurd the glad tidings t,hat all our prisners are going to be exchanged, But
our hopes for pease are all crushed thare is noghtin left us now but
fight.
untill our broud foes shall nuckle
& acknowledge our independence If
we should surrender now to our
enimies we would I believe be one of the most
downtrodden Nations in the world, So we had better con tinue our
strugle untill we have all found a
home in our mother earth
The boys are all well & in muc
betterspirits than I expected to find them
Thay had a fight last monday
week
none of our Co, ware
hurd, I expect a god many of the boys will go to Cavelry if we are consolidated &
Capt Willson takes command of
us I intend to go rather than surre
nnder sutch a
tyrant, I wish we could get men enoughf hear to save our old 8 for it has been
a faithfull
Co. & I hate to see its name die out.
John Sane. is getting a transfur to
Gen.
Lees
body gard. Grieer &
Volentrare are getting transfurs to the 18th
Cavelry & Tom Campbell to mounted
artilery The boys are all ancious to have thare names of the rolls of Co 8 for
fear of consolidation
Thare was a letter in camp from Sister waiting for
me I answered her letter several day ago she was quite well
Dear K you
must not scold me for not writing sooner for we are kept so busy hear building our breas
work that one hardly has time to write our fortifications are about a mile
ourfrom camp Thay are
twelve feet thick & seven feet high with three rows of abbetters in frunt look like will
be imposible for Mr Yank
ever to get near us, I have no news worth your
attention evry thing is quiet along
our lines, How did you enjoy yourself the eavning that I left I
suppose you thought it a very cold
parting indeed it was to me, but we have
always to be governed by sircumstan
ces, Dear Kate believe me to be holy thine for I am sure evry
pulsation of my heart beats love to thee & I hope it shall
never nv nv
change
others have loved you & may love you
again, but never as devotedly as I have
no other I dou'nt think could
ever have the influence over me you have I
want to make it my future busineſs to live and act for your
hapineſ I must close soon My health is very good
hope this may find you enjoying the
same write soon give me all the
new & believe me to be your true &
confiding lover, | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 23 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1865 March 22 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | As I have a good opportunity to send a few linesI hasten to make use
of it. My health is very good indeed & hope this may find you the
same, I have no news worth
communicating, Thare are a thou sand diferent
rumers afloat.
Gen, Johnson{1} attacked the eni
my at
Bentonville North
Carolina{2}
& drove them back one mile captur
ing three peices of Artilery
& some few prisners
when night came on & the conflict
ceased, The enimy
during the night was reinforced with fresh troops & fortified.
thair position, I hope this is only the
begining of favora- ble news from Johnsons
Army It is reported hear that the
enimy attacked Longstreets Corp in thair
entrenchments on the north side of the James, the 20th charging him three succeſsive
times & was each time hansome ly repulsed. I pray almighty God to give our men brave hearts & strong
arms to withstand the shock of arms this spring so that we may be able
to teach our foes that we can never be subjugated while we can
raise an army,We are camped Near Pete
rsburg. Our Corps relieved Ander
sons We are camped in line of Battle. The Enimy are camped
l in line of battle half mile in our frunt. Thair Pickets are about two
Hundred yards in our frunt, & our pickets fifty yards in frunt of our
breastworks I am on picket
on third of my time, The duty is not very hard in daylight, but after dark you have to be
very wachfull we are not allowed to sleep
during the nights we are on picket The
Yanks seem to be very sociable I believe
if it ware not for our officers the men would all
be laughf ing & talking together. in fac the Georgians on our right are constantly
trading papers & topa
cco for coffee They call us all
Johnnies Thair is no firing in our frunt, But is kept up con stantly after dark in frunt of
Roads{3} Div. I declair it looks like foolishneſs to see
men thus opposed to each other to be fight ing. I am certain if this war was left
in the hands of the
privats peace would soon be
adjusted. Thare was right smart
mortor shelling hear the
th.
It is a magnificent sight to witneſs mortor shelling after
dark, But is not very plesant to be exposed to the dangerous
misles, Many are under the impres sion that thare will be no
regular engagment fought hear I hope it may be so. This is any
thing but a beautifull camp. Most of the men
llike groundhogs live under the ground I do'nt think it will be very healthy hear in the summer season, Our foes
have again been desecrating our once lovly valley. Thare raid
was a very suc
seſsfull one. They done a
great deal of damage to our railroads & canal, But I will hope on & hope ever
that thare is a better day
comming, If you see brother John try &use you in finance in{4} getting him to return to his old comp.
both brothers have a notion of joining some cavelry
command I would rather stay would not do so at presant. I have written a long letter to J. advising him to
return hear our cavalry papers came back
disapproving Dear Kate believe me to bear thee
the same strong & pure devotedneſs that I have hear always expressed I must close soon write as
soon as convenient give me all the
news generally Now may a great
& good God be with thee & thine | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 24 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1865 August 11 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | It is with pleasure I once more grasp my pen,
to write a few hours away in converse with thee, I recieved our highly appreciated
& unexpected letter a few days past,
Believe me it was more than wellcome. I
can not help saying this is at
presant an out of the way
plase for me, as I can not hold a regular as I would wish to do;
with my fading
lilley; Thare is no mail runing out hear yet, & in all
prob
ability will not for sometime to come, I am once more writing by candle light. But hapily not
listnig to the lone tread of the Sentinal on
his nightly watch. But to my Bus that seems
to be hurrying wheat into a State of readineſ for the cook; Grain is coming in dayly,
& I am kept busy the largest portion of my
time, I am willing to be kept busy night &
day for the long four years you spoke of in your letter I look forward & sigh
but if it may be Gods will
thare is pleasure in store for me I hope,- I am like Abraham of (old) not
only willing to searve four,- but
fourteen to accomplish my desire; Alas I ought
not to write so childleſs no
one knows the deferent changes
that may occur in the next four, or or
seemingly, with us,
a century; At presant
health is a blooming & future antise pations are Spread out before
us as a beautifull picture But alas in the next four years
one of us, may be called to give an account of our
Stuardship
hear on earth,-if so let it be
S earth has no charmes that heav
en cannot surpaſs, The night
is growing old, I imagine you are now lying
upon you coutch your spirits wandering
in some fuiry dreamland— profbably with Willie by your side smoothing your pathway, This is a beautifull
night all nature seem clothed in brid
al-Splender, The majestick queen
is midway in the heavens, & seems looking down upon this troubled world of ours, with a smiling face, & the thickly doted
little twinklers seem to say to one,
admire, & reverance, the
omnipotent creator of all things, ah the
weekneſs of man is so easily seen when we take a view of creation we are continually working &
striving for some great end, but Sudden ly
fall,& are soon forgotten in this world & others follow our
landmarks. I have had quite a plesant time
since I came up
home, “Did I say home”
“Yes“ for
whar was I ever better treated
unleſs by the side of “Midie”
thare was a bicknick given to the Soldiers of this neighborhood We had a magnificent dinner evry thing good that could be scraped up
theese hard times, I acted the
cavalier with Miſs Lindsay a very
interresting lady. After dinner all
came down to the
Mill, I had several interresting
te,detetes with the
fair ladies The Ladies & Gent—men of
Cars Creeſk
honered us with a Stor
m
several nights bast I made my self as agreeable as I could among Strangers I do not know when I will come
down in a month or so at fartherest believe me to be your ever
devoted lover Excuse me if I have failed to
answer anything in your letter I will
answer them in full when we meet When you write
Direct your letter,
to Alone Rockbridge Co
Va | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 25 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1865 December 12 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | It has been so long since I have tried to put up a letter that I am at
a loſs to know how to commence. When I cast my eye up at the
top of the page & see the heading
Alone,
It calls forth a short sigh, & I imagine
shall it always be so, I am alone at heart, while company are around me inviting
me to be cheerfull I noticed in the last Specta tor the Marrige
of Mr Peck & your Cous, Lizzie, Does this not create a sigh in my breast If I had been a child of for tune I might have been blest with a smiling bride, and alas I wait on the
uncertain future, when thy noble heart may change towards me, & eaven
score
eaven the omble path I pursue why is it
that fears torment me, on thy account Well I know you have never
giv
en me of late room to doubt
you consistency, Sometimes I imagine I
see you looking at
me; and saying; I once
loved you, but now I pity you. Weell I know thare is know tender cord in thy posom
but wich I can cause to vibrate with feelings
of pity, The last time I was in your presance you desired to be united in the holy
bans of marriage in Nov. The month is past & you have never hurd from Mr. Dear Lady
can I account for my inconsistancy
It must be my carleſsneſs & fate, If I could have willed it to my sadisfaction you would now be with me,
But well do I recolect that I have
hurd you say time and again that you never would
be willing to marry me, untill I had some
little home of my own to take you too. at that
time I coinsided with you
But know I fear many moons will grow old before I can claim
a home of my own.own or such as I would have a
little lot I would not have if I it was made a presant to me I believe I could keep a mate at my presant acupation with ease. & would be willing to risk it next fall. & at presant but we have
not house room. as
Mr C, has
a
young couple living with him this winter. His wifes
bro, Why am I writing thus,
what makes my heart throp & say
oh Kate what must I do to make thee happy. While I am writing I
am sad. I know not what recep tion this may meet
with. “Maybe” cold &
formal, Once I believed the sight of my scribling created a
pleasent sensation. But that
time has propably past. & may be
left to morn because I was the dupe of time. Time
waits for no one & I have been wait
ing for time. I may wait on & in a few short years I may sleep
with my mother earth. Dear Kate I intended comming down in four weeks from the time I was
down, But my ocupation is so
confining that I cannot always go when I desire.
& I have neglect
ed writing untill I am ashamed to write, Busineſs & love are two
conflicting eliments, Belive me I remain yours
with unchan
ed devotion. & if you will wait
untill another Summers
Sun shall paſs I will give the
my hand with my heart. if not your will shall be
my desire I do not know when I will get
down during hollodeys I hope I will bring this
to a close hoping you will excuse all my past errors & love me as
your Willie boy | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 26 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to
Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1866 May 24 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your letter of the 30th of Apr. came to hand last week & I have been reflecting
in whatmaner to answer ever
since I will use candor;
& be brief. I cannot do you;
& my
self,- justice unleſs I write in the same
style my last was composed. I have been laughſed at & ridiculed on my sad & indifference to pleasure of late, &
what caused it; yes the cause was your hapineſs, but how I am ever to accomplish
that, is beyond my scope of comprehension. I fear
theconse
quenses of marrying when my af fections are not satisfied
would probably endanger both your
futurehapineſ & mine.
From the tone of your letter you seemed to be under the impres
sion that I had formed an attachment to some
lady of wealth. I canpositivly affirm
that I never have addresſsed
no lady, with your exception, Your letters & andring,
you requested to be brought back. I am sorry it is not in my power
to bring the letters into existance I have
had no private place to deposit them, tharefore in yoursummonys they ware all committed to theflames
Your ring I will bring or send to you the first oppor tunity. My letters I hope you will burn or destroy in some
way. most convenient with your
feelings. I thank you for your
kind & holsome advice I sin cerely wish this day; that I was at peace with God; I know I am a sinner, & will be lost
unleſs I change & seek forgiveneſs of him who
gave us our being.
how I pray thee not to let mallice eradicate evry feeling
ofrespect in your person for me, God knows thare may be a change
& I may race the day of my
blindneſs,-But do not
wait on me; I will not attempt to allure you with any rash
promises. The long long past was all brightneſs & sunshine but alas now all is dark yes
dreary in fact I have
not a charm to bind me to earth I will not
commit to you the many evil thoughts that has
filled my mind
Probaly our corispondance had best seace I will leave
it to your
discretion, My health is just tolerable. I
hope this may find you in the best of heath & your
cheek blooming with the freshneſs of
spring- Please do not let any one read this
letter as I do not wish to have anyweeknesſs
exposed; I will close hoping you will still
remember me in your prayers | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 27 | Author: | Brand Civil War Collection: Jane Brand | Add | | | Title: | Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from Jane Brand to William
Francis Brand, August 13, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2000 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your welcome letter reached me not long since and not to delay any I
will answer it immediately Excuses being always plentiful I will not
let any definite one arise
Be negligence no one for not writing sooner. Pray do
not think I have forgotten you. If there is any such feeling lurking
in heart, banish every such feeling
for I know you cannot have such an evil spirit against one who has
ever loved you. Truly I have not been at home much in three months I spent two monthin Marion I was pefectly
enamored with that place I must
acknowledg that I enjoyed my visit there splen-
didly After the excitement of examinations
subsided the town became comparatively dull for a season but all were
willing to abide that monotony to enjoy a little rest. No doubt all
appreciated repose. Some of the exibitions were very entertaining
Griffin young Ladies bade adieu to the halls of
learning to begin their careers in the worlds
broad field of battle The thoughts of that place
have recently had two tournaments and contemplate having still
another. They are becoming so common I have lost all interest in them I wish you could have
seen one of the nights representing Don Quixote
accompanied by his page Pancho Panza and encased in complete armor Really he was one of the most hideous being ever was ever was
seen During my visit I attended a large Sunday school Picnic. The place designated for the picnic
was Poplar's spring about five miles from Marion. The roads being good
we arrived at the springs about 8 oclock Four or five hours passed gayly by and about 1 or 2
oclock dinner was announced and such a display of
luxuries were spread out before us as might satisfy the palate of the
most fastidious epicure We paid our
respects to these dainties pretty generally and after two or three
hours of unallayed pleasure we took up our line of march for
home. We expect to have a picnic in our neighborhood this week.DoNo doubt we will have a gay time
I being necessitated to teach,
at present is devoting my leisure hour hours
exclusively to study, prepar- ing to enteringupon
what avocation when I think proper.I am compelled to get married or teach
andand between the two evils I prefer teaching yet a
while. The man that I marry will have be something superior to
the common herd of mankind. He will have to be such if he can
ever win my affections for my heart is now dead to every emotion of
love. I hope you will pay me visit this fall. I would be so glad to
see you. The crops are very good in the lane brake, but not
elsewhere I send you my photograph and hope
you will send yours in return. Don't get frightened
at it Excuse my paper and
pencil | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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