University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, October 15, 1864

I recieved you long
looked for letter yesterday. I eager-
ly broke its seal, & berused ove
its contents; you cannot imagine
with what angsiety I had waited
I had begun to think that prob
ably you ware sick; It seemed an
age since I had hurd from the
one I respect above all others, you
can well imagine my uneasineſs
Sometime I thought I had been
forgotten; then again some gay lad
might have changed the current of
thy affections & you feared to brake
the news to me, I supposed you had
not recieved my letter of the 21sst & 26th 
I wrote 4 pages the 21st then wrote two
on the 26th but the mails ware very
unragular about that time, know
doubt it has come to hand over this

I would like very much to have
got home while we ware camped
in the lower edge of the county.
I could have gone when bart of the
boys went, but I was not very well
& the time so short I did not
feel able to make the trip, While
at Wanesburro, I visited my Uncles
Was very much pleased with his
young wife, She is a very nice lady
& seems very kind to the motherleſs
children, Cous Mat give me a regu-
lar scholding for visiting them so
often & hoped that I would not be so
distant in future, She said it
took all my time to visit the Trouts
while at home I tried to make her
behive better but she would not
listen to me, While camped at Bucks
Mills I visited Mr, Browns was kindly
treated She said that if I went
back that he would write to you
that I was carried away with the
Misſs Trotters. Thay are very nice girls & I think would please most any man
of moderate taste; We have orders to
moove & it is late so I will have to close
for the eavning, 16 th We are laying
quiet this beautifull Sabbath morning
I wish that I ware some plase that
I might go to the house of God &
try & spend the day in his servise
The 13th we had a little brush with
the enimy before Strausburg We
drove them back in double quick
capturing several hundred prisners
I think thay ware surprised in meet
our Infantry, the prisners said
thay expected to find nothing but
Inbotons Cavelry. The 14 we had a
slight skirmish with some Cavelry
I don't think thare was any loſs
on eather side, We are camped
now in rearfour old fortification
at fishers hill I believe our army
would make a very hard fight now.
All want to wipe out the old stain
of Fishers hill & Winchester I think the people are to hard on Early
The army has not entirely lost confi
dence in our old ,leader I fear
he uses to much of the poisened
water but do,nt think he is ever past
tending to his duty. as he is our
leader we ought to all have confidence
in him, or he cannot gain no import
tant victories, Cousin R Brand was
badly wounded at Winchester & left
on the field of Battle, John Wright
got to camp last eavning, & Robert &
Luke Taylor the eavning before, We
have thirteen now for duty. I will
keep up with the rest of the comp.
in the regt, My health is very good
at presant, and hope this may find you
the same, We have orders to clean
our guns for inspection. Invariably
we have to violate the sabbath by having
inspections on the holy day I must
soon close My kindest regards to all
enquiring friends; recieve my love
as the best token of our frenship,