University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, August 11, 1865

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