University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, May 16, 1864

In all probability you
think that I am dead or forgot
ten you as I have kept silent
for so long. I recieved your
letter on the eve before the battle
of the fifth while we ware cooking
rations I was truly glad to hear
from you. I was wounded on last thirs
day the 12tha flesh wound in the
right arm near the sholder I have
no doubt but you will expect me
to give you a full account of the
casualties of our company on that day
but I am soray I can not I was
wounded about nine oclock & went

back to the field hospital & got
my wound dreſsed & stayed thare
untill twelve oclock; when all
that was able to walk ware ordered
back to some other hospital &thare
was none nearer than Lucasa C.H.
I beged them to let me stay untill
the fight was but they said
I could be of no use & would just
be in the way Capt Dempster advise
d me to go on to some hospital
Sam A Lightner Mays & Hight, ware
wounded & came home with me
all slight wounds; Lightner wounded
in the right hand Mays " in the
left side & Hight on the right sholder
Jake was safe when I left him
he was with me after we fell back
from our breastworks & I dount
think our Brigde went in any
more that day I have not the
least doubt but many of our boys ware taken prisoners; The eni
my maſsed thare troops in front
of the second Brigade & at daylight
charged the second & drove them
from thare breastworks & following
them closly captured many. by having
that gap open thay soon attacked our
Brigade in front flank & in the rear. the front line was deper
esed & a grate many of our boys jum
ped over the breastworks & took
after the Yanks capturing on of thare
coulars Colonel Funk then told us if
we did not get out of thare we would
be all captured. Then we commenced
retreating to our second line of
works. & while & was croſsing the
field I was wounded I am very
thankfull to the great & good God
that I came out so well the air
seemed filled with the laden mesan
gers of death I do not know wheth ar Brother John came out safe or not
he was on the skirmish line
& when the enimy advanced he
fell back on the left of the Regt.
Abe came out safe I heard from him
friday I hope to get the all pertic
ulars of the battle tomorrow. Jim
Vines, Kelley & Sayton was take pris
aners last thursday week the 9th.
I was very sorry for him but hope
he may be well treated Cicero Bare
was mortly wounded since died John
Pilson has lost a leg amputated above the
knee. Jim Trusler was killed
dead Willie Gardner was killed a
grate many wounded from diferent
parts of Augusta The Yanks have
fought with more desperration
than they ever fought before
Sometimes I can but cry. oh Lord,
what demon has taken posession
of the people that they are so thirs
ty for blood. Lord ease thare apatites I suppose you have hurd who
all ware wounded in our Comp the first days fight, all my
meſs have been wounded but
Crist, Rubush Abny was woun
ded in the ear Shot a round
hole thie size of a maug ball
in the left ear he will always
be nown as croſured Abny
Trotter recieved a flesh wound
in the left thigh & Grieaver
was wounded in the foot I sup
pose his wound is very painfull
Since the commencement of the
fighting our Comp has had fif
teen wounded & one has died
Tom Shannon Campell he was
mortly wounded last teusday
moroning & died that eavning
poor fellow I went and talked
to him & tryed to cheer him,
He said oh Bill I can not be
cheerfull my wound is to painfull
he was soon moved of & I could
nt get to say much to him. Our
division has lost heavily in pris
oners & wounded. When we com
menced fighting we had four
Brigadeer Generals & one Maj
Gen. now we have none able
to command. Johnson & Stuard
captured; Stafford &
Jones ware killed. Walker bad
ly wounded in the arm. All
our Regimental field officers
came out safe Cousin William
Koiner was badly wounded last thurs
day. The night before we started
from our old camp Capt Lam
pster Jim Vines & George Bolunture
came out to enquire the way of
salvation oh how I wish our
army would become an army
of Christains then I am sure we would be invincible our
God would smile upon us & we would
seen be a free & happy people
I saw your Father today. he
was well & said all ware well
at home Rachel C came up
to see me to inquire after
her brother he was well the
day before the great Battle
I was glad to hear you ware well
pleased in Rockbridge & was
happy try & make your older sister
cheerfull & happy in her new
home with a kind husband by
her side to console her evry want
dear Kate you asked me whether I
had any objections to you send
ing your friend your picture
What objections could I have I
am sure I am not your master
or lawgiver I would advise you to do as you think best I hope
you have not delayed sending
it to him on account of my
delaying writing so long Abney
had all my paper & envellopes in
his portfolio & took it with him
when he was wounded & we ware
almost constantly in the ditches
waiting for the enimy to advance
You asked me my reasons for tel
ling your cousin about our enstr
angment. She gueſsed as much by
my not going down to see you She
asked me wasn't she right & I could
not deny it; She seemed sorry & hoped
it would all be made up & for my saying
you mistreated me I deny it.
dear Kate I fell sad this eavning I often
think I would be happier if I was taken
out of this world & could be with a kind
Mother in heaven My prospect for worldly
hapineſs is dark forgive my wekneſs in
thus writing. My heart seems filled to over
flowing
this eavning We recieved news this eavning from
camp thare has been fiften wounded
& twenty three missing Jake
is still
safe so is Brother John & all the
Ruebushis if I had thare names
hear I would send you a list
but I know but part & I will not
send any I hope this may find
you well My health is very good I hav fallen of some ten or fifteen lbs since
I was wounded my arm is getting
tired I will stop Ever pelieve me
to be your true friend & please
write soon as I shall look for
an answer in a few days