| 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, 1865 March 22 ![](https://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/icons/default/i_tei.gif) | | | 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 |
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