University of Virginia Library

Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, September 22, 1864

I recieved your highly
appreciated letter of the 13th; by Abe the
20th. You can not imagine with what
angsity I berused ove its contents to
find out how that absent one was getting
along. I hope this may still find your
health improving & enjoying many blessings
My health is very good & hope it may contin
so. On the 19th we had one of the hardest
Battles that was ever fought around Win-
chester or in the Valley of Va. And the
wosrst of all I hov to acknowlegdge we
ware badly whiped. Many brave Southerners
bit the dust, thare in our noble cause. By the mercies
of a great & good God I am still spared
I cannot be to thankfull for the many
speccial providences that has protected
me thus far. His loving kindneſs has
been very grate towards me & my prayer
is that I may so walk as becometh one
of his true followers. Our Comp came out

very well I think. only one wounded.
Wm Plunkett recieved a flesh wound
in the thigh. & was loſt in Winchester
He was wounded just as we ware fal ling back into Winchester. Our defeat
was I think caused by our Army being
scattered. Our Devision the day before
went to Martingsburg. drving the Yankee
cavelry from that plase. We fell back
the same day to Bunkers Hill. twelve
miles below Winchester & Roads[1] Division
was camped some ten miles below
Winchest.& before we could get
to Winchester the other portion of
the Army was nearly whipt & at the
same time thay ware trying to cut
us of from Winchester. But we
arrived thare in time to meet
the heaveist onset of the Battle,
& succeeded in driving the enemy
near a mile when evry thing lay
quiet except skirmishing untill
the middle of the eavning. When the
enimies cavelry drove our Cav. back then making three or four desperate
charges on the left flank of our
lines driving them back in confusion
which soon demorolised the hole army
We have to morn the loſs of many
brave men and officers. Maj. Gen. Roads
was killed early in the engagment
one among the best officers in our army
Colonel Funk[2] was mortally woundedthro
ugh the bowels & left at his home in
Winchester I hope he may recover but it
is doubtfull. Maj. Newton[3] was wounded
in the ankle bone broken is on his way home. He acted very bravely in trying
to rally the men. All say he convered
him self with glory. Capt J Bumgarner[4]
was killed also[5]
Lieut J. B. McGuffin
My Cous, R. Brand was badly wounded
one thigh broken the other a flesh wound
had to leave him on the field his comp
told me he beged them to take him of
the field, but the enimy was so close
that they could not. all that tried
to get off ware wounded & killed but one poor fellow I pittie him & hope he
may be kindly cared for, Cous & Koiner came
out safe. We are now lying in line
of Battle at Fishers Hill. Both canon
and musketry are loudly booming on
our front The enimy are trying to
drive in our skirmishers. We may
be closely engaged before two hours. We
are strongly fortified & have a
commanding position I think by
the blessing of God, we may be able to
give them a sound thrashing I am fear
ful they may advance up the Page Valley
& cause us to fall back as we have only
a small cavelry force commanding it
I hope you will not take the capture of
Jake to much to heart I cant help but
think he is not in as much danger
as if he was hear. I hear the roar of canon now in the Page Valley. I was sorry that your
cous, had a relaps of the fever hope she may
soon recover her former health uxcuse me
if I failed to answer anything in your
letter I have not taken time to look over
it May the blessing of a great & good God be with you the news from yours as ever