University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, January 2, 1863

It is with pleasure
that I again seat myself
to drop you a fiew lines
I arrived safely in camp
Monday last. I was very glad
to see the boys and thay seemed
glad to see me with them again
My health has been very good
since I left home I thought
Saturday night in Staunton
was one of the lonliest nights
that I ever spent I had a
very nice time coming down
on the cars I had very little
or no trouble with the box for
Jake he would make me eat a
meal or two with him for fetch
ing it down to him I meſs with
Christ Abe Trotter Lightner Abury
& Brittonthare is some talk of

us forming a new meſs I
suppose you have hurd of our
victory in Tenasee I think
the picture of our confederacys
is brightning and I hope before
long we will be a free and in
dependant people the army is
in the very best of Spirits
the boys are mostly speculating
as soon as Plunkett brings a
load the boys buy him out
& then sell at a small profit
I believe Abe has made twenty
Dollars today. Well thay had one
on gard last new years night
the boys all said if thay had
have been in my place thay would
have staid untill after newyear
I am very well sadisfied that
I have got back to the company
We have a very nice camp and I hope we may stay hear
for some time we are in
eight miles of Ginnie Station
We have plenty of wood put the
water is not very good,
I was very much obliged to you
for the fine pickle you sent
me to eat on my departure
from Greenville. You ought
to have seen me part with Hattie
I know you would have sent
me a larger pickle. I found Cous,
Jimmie looking rather badly he
has not been well for some time
I gave him the apple as you
requested with your simpathies
in his late distresses. I found
Bros, Charles & John well and harty
I have taken a very bad cold
since I returned to camp put
hope it will soon ware off I have
been very cheerfull ever since I got to camp thare is no news of
importance to write I expect we
will hafto go on picket tomorrow
The boys are mostly all well
Curg is looking splendid.
John Meeks arrieved in camp
today our Company no. over
forty for duty I would have writ
ten soon but we had to moove
and then build us bunks
oh kate how often I think of
you. and wish for the time when
I may be your true and constant
companion you are constantly with
me in my dreams be cheefull my
Kate for by the will of providence I
will soon return write soon as I
am allway glad to hear from you
good by my one dear Kate as it
is almost dark