Augusta: Robert Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout,
May 26, 1864
Summary:
Robert writes to his friend Kate of his excitement at receiving her letter, his
recent march, and his religious views.
Miss Kate Armentrout
Lexington
Virginia
May 26th 1864
Hanover Co. Va.
My Dear friend
With pleasure I avail my self of the first opportunity to respond your ever dear
letter of the 1st
instant which was received the 4th. I have been
very anxious to reply sooner but could not possibly do so my dear friend I can
not find words to express the delight with which your letter was received and
read, just at the time of its reception the two grand Armies in Virginia began
to move. That day we had been under arms & in the saddles all day. All was excitement
looking forward to the result of the coming great battle. Of course it was a time for excitement, curious thought &
sadness. Late on the evening above mentioned, when I
felt that our thoughts prayers & vigilent acts should be directed to the
great task before us to be performed, I, for my part felt quite
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dejected & very anxious as to the issue of the next few days, Just
then your pleasing & ever welcome letter came The well recognized hand
writing upon the back sent a thrill of joy to my very soul & when I had
given its interesting pages a careful perusal you
must know that my countenance wore an expression of delight for just then a
friend passed by & remarked "Bob that must be a
letter from your lady love. See boys said he how his brow is lit up. I answered
no, but told him that it was from one whom I love as such & true it is
there is no one who has a larger space in my heart than the one to whom I am now
writing.
I am glad to hear that you spent such a pleasant time attending church believing
as I do that you have the proper appreciation for such duties. Now let me
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tell you of my profound admiration of your frankness &
honesty of heart in telling me of your engagement I truly hope you have selected
one worthy of your hand & I must say for him that he has been fortunate
in winning the heart & hand of so noble a being as your self who in my
humble opinion is worthy the love of a prince. Not withstanding he has but
little of Earthly treasure I am satisfied he is a worthy young man as you think
so. Earthly treasures should not be our object in matrimonial selections, it
might be well said for me for I know if ever I am loved it will be for my self
alone for I have neither Earthly treasure now mental or spiritual gifts. All
that I can offer at the shrine of bounty is my worthless self.
As regard your picture rest assured I want it & shall anxiously await
your next letter hoping you may conclude to trust me with it & I promise
if you wish mine you may have it as soon as I can have it taken, I suppose the
sight of it may [added: be] gratifying to your
curiousity
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but certainly not pleasing to the eye but I would only
give it as one taken of momento of of friendship for were you free to now be
wooed I am not endowed with any of the qualities
that are likely to be admired. Well my friend I reckon you expect some news but
I think it useless to under take to give you all the particulars as I suppose
you've the substance through papers as for our brigade we for the first time in
any campaign since the war began have had comparitively an easy time it is time
we have had hard marching & very hard duty but little fighting upto
today we have been constantly with our horses
saddled & on duty (22 days) & have only lost about 25 or 30 men
from the Brigade 8 or 10 from my Regiment, none from my Company one man was
struck but uninjured. I [added: am] thankful to God
that we been as blessed but the work is not hard and we are now confronting the
enemy on the North Anna river in Hanover county
looking for a fight at any time our troops are in fine spirits & always
ready for action. I hope that freedom will soon be ours though I may not live to
see it. I trust the Lord may hasten the happy times, I have told my brother of
our correspondence. He will according to your wish destroy
any letter coming to me & inform you of the fact should any thing
happen. I close for want of paper with my imperfect prayers & many
wishes for your welfare & happiness. I ask you in like manner to
remember & write soon to your unworthy but constant friend
Robert
You must excuse this bad writing I cant do better as I have to write in hurry & my desk is in a little blank book goodbye Miss Kate yrs R
