University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, April 7, 1863

Truly time has seen
many days paſs & your letter remained
unanswered, I have procrastinated untill
I am aschamed to seat my self to write
eaven to the kindest of friends.
One request I will ask of you that is to
forgive & forget, I intended writing before
I left camp. But after I had a chance
for a furlough I thought I would wait
untill I got home & then I might come
down, But alas it seems that I can
never get away from home, I have had
very bad health ever since I came home.
Some days I suffer with chills & fevers with
violent headeache & pains in my limbs.
Father is very ill with the mumps, though
I think he is getting better, It will be
my time to have them next, as I never
had them, I have had chances to have
taken them before,Propberably I may
miſs them this time, I wou,nt
care if I ware so fortunate

Well I reckon you think, “What
have I been doing towards enjoying
myself” since I came home,
The blues have been my most
constant companion I declair
I never was as lonesome in my life
Time seems to stand still on her
wheels, Tom is busy blowing so if
I wanted to go anywhare I have
no horse to wride. I formed a slight
acquaintance with your friend Fannie
Seems to be a very nice girl, Kind
I think would make a noble coquet,
But you must not tell her that I
ever thought such a thing, well you
know that it is natural for self willed
man to form an opinion of the
fairer sext on first sight. Well I do
not know what to write to interrest you
I promist to answer the questions that
I asked in my last letter in ref
erence to your Cousin Lizzie, But I will
wait hoping that I may see you before
long. Then I can answer you verbaly,
I know that I can sadisfy you in that way
better than by writing I suppose you have
already form some idea of my reason
for asking you I hope that I may soon get my
health & be able to help work some
on the farm as we will be late with
the spring crop I suppose you ware
surprised to hear of me coming
home as you wrote that I wou'nt
come home for six months. Thare if
I could get a furlough, Tharefore
do'nt suppose you are very ancious
to see me, But for my part I never
was as ancious to see you in my life
Though you may think my actions
do not prove it, Well you must
recolect my health & more I have no
way of getting about, Dispair not
I
will be down ear long, And then my
long absence will make it a hapier meet-
ing, Often you are by my side in my
nightly dreams them it seemes that I
am happy, But I wake up & find it all
delusion I must bring this uninterres
ing letter to a close I hope this may find
you enjoying your usual good health
if I have written anything in this letter
to mar your feeling your parden I crave