| | 1 | Author: | Spillman, Robert | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, May 26, 1864  | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | With pleasure I avail my self of the first opportunity to respond your ever dear
letter of the 1st
inst which was recd the 4th. I have been
very anxious to reply sooner but could not possibly do so my dear friend I can
not find words to express the delight with which your letter was received and
read, just at the time of its reception the two grand Armies in Virginia began
to move. That day we had been under arms & in the saddles alday. all was excitement
looking forward to the result of the coming great battle. of course it was a time for excitement, curious thought &
sadness. late on the evening above mentioned, when I
felt that our thoughts prayers & vigilent acts should be directed to the
great task before us to be performed, I, for my part felt quite dejected & very anxious as to
the issue of the next few days, Just then your pleasing & ever welcome
letter came The well recognized hand writing upon the back sent a thrill of joy
to my very soul & when I had given its interesting pages a carefull perusal you must know that my countenance wore
an expression of delight for just then a friend past
by & remarked "Bob that must be a letter from your lady love. See boys
said he how his brow is lit up. I answered no, but told him that it was from one
whom I love as such & true it is there is no one who has a larger space
in my heart than the one to whom I am now writing. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 2 | Author: | Armentrout, J | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Jacob Armentrout to Amanda C. Armentrout, July 64 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I am fine & we have beenthey are
Gordons John I think is going this evening
so I thought I would write to you I was in Richmond to day & was much pleased with the city. We rested one day
& then we had to drill we hav had pretty weather
since we hav been here excpet hot this has been very
severe the Wheat is nearly all distroyed oats is
good & some corn loooks well Cousin Ott he is his very day I have but little at Culpeper Cort House if so we will go in the morning John is going to start so I
must close hope God will bless you all. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 3 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, August 13, 1864 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I avail myself of the pleasant opportunity of droping you a few lines which I
hope will reach you safe & find you in the full enjoyment of health
& prosperity. I have not heard from you since through your letter of the
2nd of July which I received while at the Hospital, I
answered it immediately telling you that I should leave for home in a short time
which I did. I left Richmond the 13th day of July. When I
last wrote I instructed you to direct your letter to Sorrells, Essex Co but on
my way home I learned that the mail was not running to that office owing to the enimy having broken up the Mail route while on his line
of March to Richmond but Since I have been home the line has been reestablished
consequently letters sent by the directions given you will reach me safe. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 4 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, December 28, 1864 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | The ever dear white winged messenger from your hand of the 23d just came duly to hand yesterday which found me comparitively well & truly glad to hear
from you. Tis useless for me to undertake to give you an idea of the pleasure it
affords me to receive a letter from you or to discribe the feeling & interest with which each & every
line is carefully read. Would that I could be the recipient of such dear letters
every day but truly it is a pleasure that such a character as I do not deserve.
Well Christmas is over, it past very quietly with me I met with no gay crowds or
rather visited no place where there was merry making. Christmas day I went to
Church & heard a very good & appropriate Surmon delivered by Doctor Duncan of this City in the after noone I called on a friend for a Short time
& at night went to Church again. Thus past the day making the fourth
Christmas Since the war all of which I have spent away from home. The only treat
I had during this Christmas week was the receipt of you Ever welcome letter
which was handed me yesterday about noone. I am just
learning how to appreciate such
pleasures. it was always very agreeable to me to
correspond with my friend, but situated as I am now makes it doubly so. a way from my home & among Entire strangers leaves
me quite a lonely life, it is truly more monotonous here than it was in all my
Experiences in camp. tis true, I believe that I have made many freinds while here but I am deprived of the social
comforts that I enjoyed with my company for there, I have a fond brother whose
society has been the greatest source of my pleasure ever since I have been old
enough to duly appreciate a brothers love and were I deprived of a correspondance with you dear Kate - dreary, & all most
comfortless, would be Every hour of my life. Just think what a pleasure to have
some dear loved one who, though separated from me by many miles, still I have
the pleasure of speaking with though it be through the silent medium of the pen,
tis truly gratifying believing as I do that I am honored to night with this
pleasure of writing to one who loves me with a pure
sisterly unselfish love on whose word I may, with impunity confide,
believing that her pure heart knows no treachery, one whom I love above all
others of her sex, save her to whom I have given my heart & hand, with
the promise that the arm & hand
which wields this pen shall shield her fragile form, through a life time that I
hope may be as pleasantly ahead as the few short hours are now in writing to my
dear Sister Kate. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 5 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, January 12, 1865 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Again I have the pleasure of responding to your Ever dear & affectionate
letter that reached me to day the perusal of which was done with no little
degree of pleasure. I can not find words to express my self on the present
occasion could I but wield the pen of a novelist, I might passibly be able to
give some faint idea of my high appreciation of your dear letters and the pure
unselfish friendship you have to long & so repeatedly expressed for me
how often in my silent musings does my mind wander back to the days when I had
no knowledge of you, before I was honoured with your
acquaintance & your friendship. how different
were the lonely hours spent then, no fond anticipation lay before me of a day
that would bring with its natural charms a messenger from a dear dear friend in the distance, a letter from you dear Kate. How sad
& still how pleasing are the many changes since first we met, both
combined are truly almost incomprehensible. think, for a moment, but a little
more than a year ago we were as those who had never lived to each other but time
with its many changes find us now as it
were bonded & bossom friends. how pleasing it is to me to think that I have the esteem &
confidence of a friend so pure, so noble, as your self. Tis truly an honour not
merited by me I can scarecely realize that one so insignificant as my self
should enjoy such pleasures as are realized from such a pleasing correspondence.
Well dear Kate, you had need not expect a
long or interesting letter this time as my mind is restive it seems that it
cant possibly be concentrated or centered upon any
one particular subject. Not withstanding the present moment is a time when I
should feel or rather be able to produce some sentimental language for now it is
about Eleven oclock at night. No sound breaks the
stillness of the night save the constant roar of the rapid waters of the James
River as it rushes madly over the rocky falls wending its way along the winding
current towards its mother ocean. Other than that, all is quiet. The blazing
stars shine brilliantly high up in their orbit while the gentle moon sheds its
silvery light over all nature. Still I cant feel
sentimental since I cant find words to express my self
to night. I hope you will excuse my brevity
& I'll promise to do better nex time, but that
is a promise that I aught not to make,
as I'll be most sure to break it for I am
not endowed with the mental faculties which enables one to write a communicative
or interesting letter. still I am fond of writing, if I
cant interest or give information. I dont exactly agree with my dear little friend Lou. She
seems to think that letters should not be
written unless it bears important news, or something cheering or animating but
it is not so with me. I like to speak at a distance with my dear friend through
the silent medium of the pen tis truly a pleasure that I would not be deprived
for the world. I could not dispence with such a
pleasure while I am blessed with the power of writing I must profit by it. Well
dear Kate the old Bacon Clock has just told by its lonesome ring the approach of
midnight hour, so I must close. My love to all with a full portion for your
self. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 6 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, January 29, 1865 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your very kind & dear letter of the 21st
inst reached me safely a three
days ago which found me quite well & truly glad to hear from you
& to hear that you with your Fathers family were
well but I am very sorry to hear of your unpleasant feelings from the tone of
your letter you appear to be in a measure greatly troubled. your language was such as would lead one to believe that you feel
like one forsaken, like one enshrouded with the dark shaddows of gloom wending this way as it were in some isolated
region amid trials & troubles unspeakable with no one to cheer you.
no sound of a merry or well known voice to brake the stillness of the midnight hour. no strong arm to shield thy fragile form in the hour of apparant danger. no fond eye to
meet the steady gaze as you look to the dark
& untried future. dearest Kate, would that I
was capable to day of speaking to you with lanugage that would cheer your
drooping spirits, to clear remove the dark cloud from oer your way & brighten your path with the
briliant sunshine of joy & consolation, but as it is using one of your
expressions "You must take the will for the deed." I am exceedingly anxious to
have the full causes of your troubles
not that I could feel that I would be able to soothe you in the least but I would be very glad to know all
that in any way gives trouble or displeasure to my dear & ever faithful
friend Kate. If the secret of your discomfort is not too profound I will be much
gratified to know all about it, with a promise never to divulge it to any one.
well for a change of the subject I will give you a
little of the news of the day. it is generally believed
that our Government is about to send commissioners to confer with the Federal
authorities preparatory to coming to some terms of peace. may the blessed Lord grant that they may be able to come to some
honorable terms of peace. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 7 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, October 15, 1865 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your very kind long looked for & ever welcome letter of the 11th just reached me safely about 8 oclock last night. I was truly delighted to hear from you. I felt
exceedingly anxious about you when I wrote to you in September I was by no means
sure that my letter would ever reach you. consequently I laboured under many fears
& doubts as to whether I should ever hear from you again or not & to be deprived of a
correspondence with so dear a friend as I claim you to be would be truly hard to
bear with. Ah! my dear Kate I am sure you can form no idea how much I missed the
pleasures of your dear sweet letters during our long silence. I was truly
deprived of a pleasure beyond the comprehension of many but now that our
correspondence has commenced again I feel perfectly delightful I hope that
nothing may happen to prevent a regular
correspondence as long as we continue to be such devoted friends. I am satisfied
that marriage on my part will never make me forget my dear sweet sister Kate as
for my dear little friend Lou she is well aware that you & I are devoted
friends & correspondents & I know her well enough to be
perfectly satisfied that one of her kind & gentle nature will, or does
highly appreciate your true & unselfish friendship for sure, but as for
marrying, indeed my friend that is something that I certainly dont expect to do soon my present situation will not admit of any
thing of the sort. were I to get married now I dont think that I would be doing any lady justice in
consequece of my embarrassed situation in life. I am fully determined never to marry any one until I feel capable of
placeing the object of my affections in a paralel
condition to her present one or better it if possible. Therefore I fear it will
be a long long time before I can realize any thing of
the kind. Well enough on that subject I
am truly glad to hear that your dear brother & friend Willis are safe at
home after the great fall of our poor old Confederacy. it
is truly a great blessing that they were spared to return to their homes
& loved ones. I assure you that I have really enoyed peace &
quietude since the close of the war not withstanding that it did not end in
accordance with my desire & at first I was truly thunderstruck, but when
I considered that the grief of one could not possibly do any good I concluded I
would try to enjoy peace & the sweets of home once more & try to
thank God that it was no worse & that a few of us were spared to tell
the tale. You see from the steading of my letter that I have left old westmoreland for a season & am at this
time staying at this place where I expect to be for several weeks. will try to keep you posted as to when I shall remove from
here so that your letters may always be properly directed so they may reach me
safely. you must write to me as often as you can your
letters are such a great comfort & satisfaction to me. You must remember me kindly to your Pa
& Ma & sisters & all enquiring friends if there be any,
but of course I dont expect there are any from the fact
that I have no acquaintances in that section of the County. With much love for
your dear self believe dear Kate to be as ever | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 8 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, December 22, 1865 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your most dear, & ever welcome letter of the 3rd
inst. reached me safely a few days ago which found
me very well & truly glad to hear from & to hear that you
together with your father's family were enjoying good health &
prosperity, with the exception of the little bad feeling which prevented you
from attending Church but I truly hope that ere this reaches you, you may be
fully restored to perfect health again. Well Sis.
Kate it is now drawing very near
Christmas. Many in this place are in anticipation of a gay time, at balls
& parties but I dont expect to be here during
the Christmas. My calculation is to leave here Christams night for home if I am
not disappointed. That is if the Steam Boat does not fail to make its usual trip
from Baltimore. I cannot tell now whether I will return to this place soon or
not, it depends altogether upon future arrangements. I reckon you had better not
answer this, until you hear from me again as
there is no regular line of communication to my County & as it is near
mid winter the Steamers are about making there last
trips. Consequently we are soon to be
deprived of the only means of Public conveyence or Communications with this
place Should I return to Fredericksburg again I will write to you immediately. I
truly hope you may spend a pleasant time during the Christmas. I really wish it
was in my power to visit you this Christams I am sure I could spend a pleasant
time. it was two years the 14th of
this month since we parted. Well do I remember that eventfull day. What strange things time has brought about. Two years
ago we knew each other only as strangers tonight I address you my Dear Kate as
Sister & must say as I have often said I love you as such I feel like I
am writing to one who truly merits all
my love, in whose heart I am proud to say I have a place, according to my
unshaken confidence in your most noble & worthy self. Remember my dear
Sister that though we be ever separated, you will ever be a bright star on the
pages of my fond memory if life is spared & fortune smiles I am
determined to see you. I assure you there is nothing that would be more
gratifying to me than a visit to Rose Dale, the home of my much love Sister Kate. The night is growing old I must close
for the present by wishing you a Merry Christmas & happy New Year my
love to all, wish your dear self may God forever bless you. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 10 | Author: | Angus | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Angus to Amanda C. Armentrout, April 8, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Your very welcome missive by the hand of Annie, could not have been otherwise
perused than with some mental effect. I always feel sad, when I think of those
who once were our brother
associates; but they are gone, & their graves, we can not but think, are
the monuments of living spirits, whose bodies have assumed originality. There is
a time for sadness & a time for pleasure; & of the former, we
ought to be submissive as possible,
knowing that it proceeds from afflictions, bereavements, &c. inflicted
for our benefit. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 11 | Author: | Spillman, Robert | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, May 18, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | You very kind and ever dear letter of the 5th of April was
duly recieved which found me quite well & truly glad to hear from you. I
reckon you think very strange of me for not replying sooner but when I tell you
the reason I know you will forgive me. About 5 or 6 weeks ago my eyes became so
very weak that I could not possibly see to read of wrote consequently I could
not answer your letter, & even now, it is with the greatest difficulty
imaginable that I can barely make out to write I am reduced to the painfull necessity of wearing glasses. it is truly a sad missfortune for ones
eyesight to be so seriously impaired as is
the case with me at this time, but I hope by the constant use of green glasses
to have my sight restored. My Brother once suffered with the same missfortune but
regained his sight by wearing glasses. I hope I may be equally fortunate. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 12 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, June 3, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I received your very dear letter of 24 last Wednesday never was a letter read
with more interest than that; it found me enjoying the best of health one of our
dear Saveirs best blessing (but how unworthy am I
for it) I can say dear brother that I was truly glad to hear from you &
do thank my heavenly Father that he put it in your dear good heart to write
Willie dear boy I have wronged you will you forgive me I believe I have found
forgiveness in the dear Lord but will you forgive for I have been the cause of
all this trouble Oh dear brother it will kill me if you dont forgive; just to think that I am the cause of my dear bosom companions being lost, eternially lost. Oh my dear dear Savier
pitty & forgive for I will give you my life for
the salvation of that dear soul yes dear brother I will spend & be spent
for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved; I deserve
nothing but your hatred & contempt can I ever be happy again not untill I see the dear one changed yes a Christian. Yes my dear brother if you allow me to
call you thus last year you started out with prospects bright & allureing & these were your words Kate I am
going to make or brake & for whome for what for an
unworthy creture as I (me) that did not deserve the
notice of a cat let alone the notice of one so pure so noble so good at heart as
thou all went on well prospect bright & brighning
grain came in on evry side I must surely be the
happiest man living. Oh is this not flattering it is (like) an ideal lover or
will be soon but hark I hear a noise & in come a fine looking old gent
(Ah the serpent coils in eden bows) Well
Mr B dont you want to go in pardnership with me you will make mony at
it; at what why haveing your grain distilled I wont go I must make my money some other way my good heart
& God sais I must not go Ah come dont listen at that you will make enough soon to get
married Ah that is charming well I must wait a while & yes I must go
& see K & see what she sais about it Pa
& K both oppose dont care so much for Pa but K
is the one he lays it all out in flattering terms she said do as you pleas & Mr B sais at
last consented & his word goes as far as mine with with me &
farther too; he goes back but concience &
Pa sais
dont go but I am doing it for K when he gets back serpent enters
what say you well I dont know I believe I will; well
lets draw the article but we must have a dram first no I dont indulge her come going in do such business & dont last & yourself besides you have a cough
& it will help it; well K told me to take somthing for my cough & that is the very thing any thing for K
all done for K. come Mr B there is a party a head tonight lets go no I dont care about it I just got a leter from K &
she is very cold & indifferent she is always writing something about
some nice fellow or her dear friend R that I dont
blieve she thinks as much of me as she ought I will
go & a way he goes come Mr B join in the dance I can't come ah well I
will K is perhaps having her fun I will to drove away
sorrow Mr B you are very lively to night but it is all put on what is the matter
with you well I will tell you I fear my first love is blasted Oh my dear her
then thou only knows the agony of that dear heart. Soon the serpent goes to K he
has done his will with B he tell her that B has got to drinking she writes a
hasty & insulting letter & it insults & wonds B sais I dont care I will go & see her & quit her at once I
have done all this for her & this is the thanks I got he comes but love
& pitty enters that good heart I will tell her
all my bad deeds & she will turn
me off but instead it bound her nearer to him & what next the serpent is
at work he tell K much & she believes &
what is the consecuence God knows she suffers for
it but is she a lone no no Oh she ought to be she diserves it all & more but enough of this. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 13 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, July 6, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I received your very dear letter several weeks ago & can say some part of
it made me very happy; I thake this leasure hour to respond but how must I respond not knowing whether
my letters are welcome or not but hoping they are I will try & interest
you. My health is very good & I must not murmer of my happiness for my dear Father only knows what I have borne;
the chastning rod has been severe but I rejoise in Christ that he has been with me or this
feble frame would have sunk beneath the rod. yes
brother you no nothing when the last earthly friend
forsakes you then & not till then will you know (what) what this sis of yours has borne I have felt that I was like
Jobe forsaken by all but thank God he has never
forsook me I hope you will never know what it is to be forsaken by all for there is one that
I dont think
will ever forsake you no neve
I will still remember thee. I hope ere this letter
reaches you that you may be enjoying the best blessing that God ever bestowed on
man & that is religion for it is the cheaf
unsorn of mortals here below & our only sure happiness what would I have done if it
had not been for it. cast down forsaken by all but God I ask what would I have
done I know not. brother are you happy I ask the question I hope to get an
answer from you personaly soon if you are not let
me as a sister tell you where I fear you are rong you
said in you letter you had heard reponse from old
Ang; that has cased
you cheek to light up with anger dear bro do you think
that is right for you to let that anger rise what does our bible teach us not to
get angry at those that persecute us. let me here cast a verse or two.
"Wherefore my beloved bro let evry man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man work Ah not the
righteousness of God you must lay a side all such things & recd with meekness the engrafted word will change
any dear dear Willie if he has not which
is abe to save your soul". note brother I do not think
you have heard any thing compared to what I have heard but thank God it did not
make me angry it made me pray for those that talked about me & you
& treat them kindly & I feel that God will help me to live right
though my temptations are great do pray for me that I may be able to withstand
all these trials. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 14 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, July 23, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I have been waiting for a letter from you but have waited in vain have come to
the conclusion that you have forgoten me or must
perhaps changed again ha ha if so Willie let me
know, you know I cant think you that ficle. Your brother C said he would carry this note or I reckon I
would still wait for to hear from you why have you not ritten or been down do come down Saturday & & bring
me some good news for I havent got any good news but
I have bad news somthing that gave me the blues for three or 4 days but I am
quite cheerful now was a little sick this eve was
gathering cherries & almost fell off of the tree the jar maid me sick. I cannot tell you what gave me the blues but
I am all right if you are one smile from thee will drive that gloom away Willie
I have not got anything yet for my will untill I hear from you
or see you & much rather see you the girls think best for us to have
waters & then for you & I to take a trip to Rockingham Ronoak or Buckingham I think myself it would be very
wise but of corse if it does not suit you I will not
insist Charles has put me in the notion of visiting Buckingham but enough of
this. Dear Willie I am very anxious to see you I hope you will not loos what Mr C owes you but if you do dont let it greave you we can make a liven of corse we will have to
commence unable in life but we must trust in God he will help us if (I) we be
energetick & have faith Willie dont
promis yourself any thing but me I have got nothing
but I mean to strive to have you value me more than you wou value any other earthly thing I know dear one you are not going to
marry me for wealth for I cannot promis myself
anything from any the things that are mine now but I dont think that will make any diference
with you but I must close we are all well & I hope this will find you
well & happy yes happy in Christ yes Oh dear one strive to be a good boy
& let us be happy together there is hardly any hour of the day but what
I think of those recent promises may God in his mercy help you to keep them this
is my only prayer Oh is good let us trust in him & pray to him for more
faith Willie do come down with C Saturday
pleas excuse all imperfections. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 15 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, July 29, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | This is a beautiful Sabbeth morn & all nature
seems to be sending up its praises to the great & good God yes I say
good (good when he gives supremely good
nor less when he dinies) & it is Him who
deserves the prais for he does all things well. Willie
I was not well this morning nor have not been for a week & could not go
to church so I thought I would respond to your dear messive that I Recd last Thursday Oh you
know not how I felt when I got it I feared to open it my hand trembled when I
grasped it & saw it was from you; but you will say what caused the fear
now do not centure me for my weakness, I feared it
would be cold & indiferent &
perhaps bid me neve to right
again but when I saw dear Kate it cheared me up yes I
filt strong again & thought perhaps ther were some hope & now I am replying with you
last request (write soon) yes I will try &
comply with evry request that you make though I have
been denied of evry one I have made. I will try
& return good for evel, I am resigned to my
fate. but I must hasten to respond to
your dear sweet letter. you say mine caused your sensitive nature to mourn over
the past my dear friend I am sorry that I caused you to morn over the past for it is wicked for me to mourn over it let alone
being the cause of another one to be sad forgive me for making you thus. God in
his goodness has some wise devise for doing this so I
am willing to bare though the chastning rod has been sever it has
brought me nearer him & maid a better girl of me & I hope ere long dear brother that you
will exclame God is good & does all things
well. Willie you wish a relies you have loved me I do
not doubt that but your affections have changed & you soon wish to be
free again & can I hold thy pure & noble heart bind it to me
that is so impure as mine for I have been the cause of you being unhappy
& I know not but what I am the cause of you loosing your religion though I hope not so Willie I am not worthy of
you. I love you & can not help it but Willie I will never harm you love
works no ill to any one I never expect to love another nor do not wish to no
could I trust another could I ask my dear Father to chang that which I asked him to do but with in my bosom no never, but can I claim you when you are chainged; Oh my Heavenly Father forbid no no Willie I care not what
may be my fate I can not hold thee to me if you do not wish it nor can I spurn
you no Willie I blame myself in part for it yes the letter that I wrote last
winter just after Christmas I blame for it yes dear Willie I will take half of
the blame or all of it if it will make you happy for I have bore the blame
& centure of the people for it &
swore then it yes Willie I have bore the burden in the heat of the day I caused
& cast it all uppon thee now but will bare half of it with you. I will tell you some things that
has (come) been said to me Kate you look sad you kicked Billie thinking you
could do better & I dont pitty you one bit what
could I say I dened the charge but it is generly believed that I did kick you yes I am blamed
with your drinking which I neve did believe you did
though you thought I did no Willie I could not believe it I would see you laying
dead drunk in the mud I would (not) think it was not you there oh you said the
next to the last time you were down her if I ever kicked
you that you would get to drinking but Willie here is the hardest thing I had to
endure that I had kicked you & you got to drinking on the account of it
& that now I had lost my mind on the account of it Oh Willie is it not a
wonder that I have not lost my mind
as be blaimed with so much that I hope I am inosent of & yet I bilieve it is all for my own good "all work together for good to those
that love God yes dear Willie God in all his ways is just & merciful
& if we rely trust him though we pass through
fire it will not harm us. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 16 | Author: | Amanda C. Armentrout | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, August 17,
1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I expected to send my letter this morn to the offise
but did not so I thought I would write (some) & tell you that I am quite
well this evening & dear brother for what else can I term you now as you
wish to be free & let me beg you to try & be happy I am very
very happy this evening I feel that God has blessed me this day yes dear Willie
I have wept for joy & I can say with a thankful heart thy will be done
Oh my dear Father not mine though doest all things well but dear one are you
happy yes you are free are you as happy as when you were bound to your fond K or
has the first of this letter caused a sad thought to enter thy borow say dear one are you happy or would you ask her who is pening this to come to thy bosom again or what is the
cause of thy unhappiness Oh my dear one true happiness is not found in this
world now dont get angry with me & I will tell
you what my belief is; I beleave that you love me as
fondly as you ever did but you do not enjoy religion as you once did & you are not happy if you
have tryed to study up what was the cause will I have
desided I have changed I know you think so but
not that true heart as it once was & what does it say if I would scorn
you what would you do. Now Willie let me beg you once more to come to see me as
a friend an enimy as a lover a brother or anything you
wish I will be happy yes do anything that you ask me & it is in my power but I beg you to come as soon as you
get this if you do not get it before Saturday come to show people that I am not
to blame & that we are friends we are expecting a nice time at the
mountain the 7 of next month come & lets join our
party & lets be friends now dont my heart will
not deny no pitty if nothing else will bring you I will
receive you as my friend but I must close now may the rich blessings of our
heavenly Father rest upon you try & be happy, we know not what blessings
are in store for us but come dear one do come | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 17 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, September 2, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Again I attempt to write you a few lines with the earnest hope that I may soon
hear something from you it has now been
nearly four months since I have heard one word from you so long &
anxiously have looked for a letter from you
that I have all most dispaired of ever hearing from you again. I often fear that
something serious has happend or that it is possible
that I am now writing to the dead. I truly
hope & pray that the sad thought is in
correct you know not my dear friend what
anxiety of mind I have experienced since you have been so long silent. I have
had all sort of imaginations but can come to no conclusion. I earnestly hope now
to hear from you & have all fully explained or if I have lost my dear
friend Kate & this letter is read by her dear parrents any surviving friend that they will speedily favour me with a letter that would bear to me sad sad
news for not withstanding we are comparitively strangers you have always since
our earliest correspondence felt to me like a sister the Christian like
character of your correspondences is so characteristic of one of who is a true
child of God. That it has drawn out my fondest attachments for you are such. I
will not write much more. if you are yet alive (& God grant you may be)
please answer at the earliest
opportunity with a continuation of my imperfect prayers for your preservation I
will impatiently await tidings from you | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 18 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, October 7, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I have not received a line from you yet but concluded I would not wait any longer
this is a beautiful Sabbath morn & I wish you were here to go to church
with me Annie Mollie Jake & George have gone & I thought I would
stay at home & write to the dear one that is far a way. I expect to go
to prayr meeting this evening Oh how I wish you were
here to go with me for I feel some what
lonly have not had time to have the blues much but
am anxiously looking for-ward for Saturday to arive
& to bring my dear one with it the time will not appear long for I will
be so busy that I will harly have time to think but do
not disappoint me for you know Willie I will be very uneasy if you dont come think it very strange that I have not got a
letter yet have sent twice to the office but hope I will soon hear from you I
expect you have forgotten Kate as she is so selfish I reckon I had better look
for a sweetheart this eve perhaps I could find one that would thake your place Well Willie dear this is the first time I have had
a pen in my hand sense you left me I am getting carlous would have written to cous Mollie C but have forgotten her address so I cannot write untill I see you will write to cous Joe this week & Dottie I have been too busy to write to
them we are all very well I have had a slight cold but feel very well now hope
this will find you well & happy & in fine spirits &
above all striving to do the will of our dear Mother remember thy dear Kate at
the throne of grace & pray that
I may over come the selfish feeling that rise in my bosom for you & that
we may both draw nearer to each other by the strong ties of holy love it makes
me very sad some time when I think I have caused thy dear bosom to heave a sigh
for my selfishness but it is my nature & hope you will love me dearer
for it after while but you will say how can I love you
dearer I do not know that you can but that it will make you happy to think that
you have it in in your power to wound & to heal Willie you think me very
childish I acknowledge I am but can not help it my love is so strong that it
makes me thus do not let it greave you I hope by the
grace of God to over come it & make you very happy it is my disire to make you happy & I believe I can but
enough of this. I have no news to write the boys are not done cutting up there corn yet the rain prevented them yesterday we had a
hail storm Friday evening it did no damage here, in the neighborhood of cousin
John Crist it broke out most all of the window pains
& cut the parlor so it will harley be worth
saving it has made quite a change in the weather I expect it will get cold
before we want to see cold weather I wish we could get maried before it gets cold I am anxious to be with you; I suppose
you were teased enough about having me in Augusta but I think it was for the
best but I cant stay much longer I hope it will save
you the trip over the mountain I shant
promis you that though I expect I will have you to
come to old Augusta evry two or three weeks after
something for ro ex what do you think of all that but I
must close I would like very much to accompany this do not let any thing in this
cause one sad thought but be cheerful & happy pleas excuse hast & all imperfections I
will try & look my prettiest Saturday eve write very soon. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 19 | Author: | Spillman, Robert B. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout, October 13, 1866 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | Yours of the 19 of Aug & 26 of Sept have been recieved. Oh I cannot find
words to express my joy at the receipt of your letter of the 19 August twas
after I had waited so long & anxiously for a letter from you that I had
concluded that something had happened & then wrote that my letter might
be opened by your Pa in order that I might get some information of you. meantime
your dear letter came on in other words an Angel's visit. I seized the dear
letters messenger & with anxious eyes & heart full of joy
unspeakable I perused its contents with un
parralelled interest & pleasure the relief of my anxiety was so
forcibly impressive that I could but (umanly or childish as it was) press the
dear sheet to my lips & cover your name with numerous kisses. I really
was never more delighted at the receipt of a letter all my life. One would have
supposed from emotions, that I was much in love with than that of friendship. Sweet dearest Kate you know I have long
since defined my position fully, I have claimed to love you only as a friend
& as a proof of the fact have openly told you of my fond relations with
another a friend of early life whose constancy & devotion I can scarce doubt. our attachment
was formed in early life. long separations during the
protracted perils of war & blood Shed, my reduction (by the same) to
comparitive poverty has made no change in the
dearest objects of my undivided affection like you my
dear Sister who has proven to be a devoted friend. She
too has proven to be all that one could be, who holds the place she does, in my
hearts dearest affections and nothing prevents the consumation of what has been
vowed between us but my limited means & the depressed condition of the
Country. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 20 | Author: | Armentrout, Amanda C. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Amanda C. Armentrout to William F. Brand, September 1, 1867 | | | | Published: | 2002 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Civil War Collection | UVA-LIB-BrandLetterscivilwar | | | | Description: | I have just returned from my friend Rachel's & thought I would write you
a short note my health is very good better than usual I think & I am
trying to be very cheerful though I get the blues very bad some times. Pa has at
last consented for to have some waters & get
married at home so I have chosen six girls though I expected to have 7 but I
want the privlege of inviting one gent as water & will give you the same privlege you can invite a lady to wait as I have but
(on) six chosen but wish to know immediately what lady you wish. I have my two
sises R.C.E. Shuey, Kate Shields & cousin
Josie of course I will expect you to have Mr. Linzy as a water to make the 6th I do not know how to spell the name; Oh how I
wish you were here that we could make the arangement you are so slow a bout writing I
think you are so careless a bout writing Willie dear
will you always be so it has a bad tendency now you can not imagin my feelings when I
think a bout it but then I think it will not be long
that I will be from you & that you will strive to make me happy. Alas how long long did I await to hear
these words the other night Kate I am
striving to live a better life to become a good Christian my dear one are you
trying to do this Oh I do hope you are you cannot imagine the joy those few
words would create within in my bosom I think the tryals that I have dayly would be nothing if I
but knew that all that you can do is being done; if I allow myself to think for
one moment that you are not doing that I almost shrink from the situation or
position I have taken but I feel that you are trying for I know you will not
have me brake that no I know you want
to make me happy & that will make us both happy dearest remember me in
your dayly
prayrs but enough. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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