Miss Amanda C. Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta Co
Va Miss Amanda C. Armentrout
Nov 2th 1863
Camp Dale near Brandy Station
My Dear Friend
I recieved your letters by your Pa last Friday night
was truly glad to hear from you. My health is not very good I have been
suffering for some time with a bad cold & coughf & headache through the day time I think I am getting
somwhat better & hope ear long to be myself again. hope this may
find you enjoying health with all other worldly blessings.
I have sad news to communicate in this; Brother Thomas is no more; He was killed
in the skirmish near Bratton Station the 26th of last month poor Bro never new what hurt him he was shot in the left breast
the ball ranging through or near the
heart. I never new what it was to have a brother shot
down in battle before. It seemed to me at the time that if I had have been owner
of the Confederacy I would have given it to have life restored to his inanimate
frame once more I got his body hauled back to our camp near Brandy I tried all
day long the 27th to get a furlough for John to take his body home but failed
Mr. Anderson came down the eav of the 27th & I
got him to start back next morning with Brothers corpse. Oh it will be a severe
blow on Pa. He had been from home as it ware, but a few
days we ware born, & we must die. The time
allotted to us hear below is short indeed. If we stretch
out over hands, we may almost touch
the
portals which terminate the path of our mortal pilgrimage. If we listen with
attention we seem to hear the labour of him who is
engaged in diging our graves. And if the holy spirit
is pleased to open our ears, we may already descern
the sounds wich proceed from the celestial abodes,
Listen oh my soul to the warming voice, with the deepest attention, "All flesh
is grass & the glory of man is as the flower of the field, fresh
& verdent in the morning. It adorns the meadows, the sight is gladdened
at its beauty, & it sheds sweet perfume around, In the eavning it is cut down & withered. The glory is
departed & it tells us that a few hours must suffice for earthly
enjoyment I will trust continually in God let come what will I know it shall be
for my good The drum beats &
I
have to go on drill just came. Your Pa starts home in the morning I had hurd how badly Mr. Neff treated Kate B I am sorry indeed
never would have thought Neff to be such a man I must say I was duped in him.
The person that told your Ma that I knew he was going to fool her was certainly
mistaken for I never spoke of such a thing any one poor Kate has my simpathies Tell Lizzie I wish her much luck but she
must not get married while the war lasts so all her friends may get to see her
off. Did I not write to you my reasons for not getting to see your Cous Lizzie
before leaving Staunton If I never I will now. I was runing around through town untill late then I
went out to the provost camp fully intending to come back before dark but your
cous, insisted on me staying with them & that I would have plenty of
time in the morning before the cars would start so I stayed
Early the next morning I went to town
the first plase was to Mrs Stevison Shop &
thare was no one thare
then I went to the post office to try and get some postage stamps &
thare
thare was no one up so I waited awhile then went back
to Bro S Shop & no one had came yet I was about to start to Mrs S
dwelling house when the cars warned me by thare whistle
they ware about to be off I was sorry indeed that I did
not get to see Miss L before leaving town as I only had a few minutes
conversation but I was to blame for idling my time the eavning before hope she will excuse me as it can not be helpt now I could not have stayed all night as I had
Brother Tom to take care off. I recieved the cheese you sent me
was very thankfull indeed as it was a nice little
treat then the giver made it so much better you sad you
would like to send me a box; Dear Kate you know I dont
expect such things but your noble heart is so kind & generous that you
seem to never tire in giving I hope the time is not far distant when I may
constantly eat of your paking. Poor Jinnie she has bad
luck hope her wound will not cost her a docter fee.
Again you admonish me to quit chewing topackco It is
my only toothache preserver I had quit chewing for a day or two when my tooth
commenced aching I immediately recommenced using the weed The drum beats for
dress perrade
It is nearly dark & I will have
to close my letter they boys are generally well Hunter
complains of the rhumatism Bro John is well I
would write more but we have no candels I ask your
simpathies in my late berevement I will have to have my tooth pooled then I will try and quit chewing If I sucseed I will let you know you must write soon
nothing more but remain your true friend
W
PS My respects to all the girls excuse bad writing
& speling
yours W.F.B.
Jim Vines has no files not to make
rings with at present lost them all in the campagin to Pensylvania will try and get it made this
winter I am sorry that it is not done as I have such a good chance of
sending it to you yours &c.
W