Miss Kate Armentrout
Greeville
Augusta County
Virginia Miss Kate Armentrout
Mar 24th 1864
Camp Stonewall Brigade
My Dear Friend
I recieved your letter on the 21st was truly glad to
hear from you I had almost given up all hope of ever hearing from you again, but
it seemed that I was blest at the eleventh hour by
receiving a long & affectionate letter, Peace seemed a stranger to my
mind I went to preaching regular & often found my mind wandering on
things that didnt interest my soul. Salvation tonight
I am on gard and as I can not sleep I have concluded to
spend my lonly hours in writing to my best of friends.
My health is very good, I have no reason to complain of any thing. I am only
in all things to say Lord thy will be
done not mine. Thare is no news astir in camp that would interrest. Evry thing is quiet along the
Rapidan. Our Brigade has to go on Picket Monday morning I hope we may have a
plesant time We had quite a heavy snow storm
hear last tuesday
& tueasday night It was from ten to twelve
inches deep the boys had a gay time snow balling; our Brigade bantered Roades
devision
thay come out and drove us back to our quarters we had
no General to command us in the first Battle they had two. Walker seeing us
drove back came out & rallied the old brigade and drove our opponants to thare quarters
capturing one of thare Gen I suppose thare was two thousand engaged on either side. Thare was none killed on either side but
a great many bloodly nooses. Dear Kate wish I was by your side to
night I am sure I could talk much easier than write I do not feel my self
capable of answering your letter but look over my many short comings & I
will try Dear Kate you spoke of kneeling at my feet to implore mercy I pray thee
never kneel to no man, but rather to thy creator in hoom
is our only help, he can change the hearts of those that hate us; to love
& repect us; Dear Kate can you imagine my
hapiness when I came to the words "Willie I
love thee; & my love has been tryed; ah
methinks I can hear those words comming up from thy
noble but storm tossed heart; and they make me feel like a strong man. Then
again Oh God is it not sinfull, you entreat me to
forget, who, my first, my only, and I hope my last lover. Dear Kate is this not
crual; one that loves me one that I love, to advise
me to forsake her, what have I done to bring this judgement upon me have I com
mitted some foul deed that will leave a stain up on my character or am I not
good enoughf for thee I can not bring my self for a
moment to think that you would advise me thus on account of my need of worldly
goods; oh I know you know to well on this last, that God is the giver of all
such gifts you said you cared not for your own hapiness but that you would be hapy in seeing
your friends hapy Dear Kate let me pray the never speake thus again I for
one of thy loving hands will never seace striving untill it may please the almighty to plase me in a condition to make you hapy
Then & not till then shall I be berfectly
hapy, then if you refuse me I can live my days as I am;
when I learn to quit using tobacco I will do it for your sake you asked me
whether I went to see your cous, Lizzie I did not I wanted to see her but could
not I was in trouble I had left a face that I loved with out seeing it &
no other face seemed familiar. Dear Kate let us forget the past & try
& live as two loving friends for awhile; then if it may please our
master may I hope we may be drawn closer friends
You will please excuse all mistakes & if you find
any thing in this to your feelings I pray they forgive me.
I have written to night with a heart that seems to me nothing but love but
its pure & forgiven nature you will please write soon as I am all in
hopes that the day may soon roll round when I may again have the pleasure of
beholding your face & having the permission of once more tuching your ruby lips I would have the never to forget me in your prayers that I may proove a valient soldier
to my country and to my God I must close. Please have no complaint in this
letter my love to all enquireing friends if
thare be any Now may the blessing of a great
& good God be with you friend your well wisher.
