Augusta: Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout,
August 13, 1864
Summary:
Robert writes to Kate of his injury and subsequent stay in the hospital.
Miss Kate Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County, Va.
August 13th 1864
Walnut Hill Westmorland Co. Va.
My Dear friend
I avail myself of the pleasant opportunity of droping you a few lines which I
hope will reach you safe & find you in the full enjoyment of health
& prosperity. I have not heard from you since through your letter of the
2nd of July which I received while at the Hospital, I
answered it immediately telling you that I should leave for home in a short time
which I did. I left Richmond the 13th day of July. When I
last wrote I instructed you to direct your letter to Sorrells, Essex Co but on
my way home I learned that the mail was not running to
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that office
owing to the enemy having broken up the Mail route
while on his line of March to Richmond but Since I have been home the line has
been reestablished consequently letters sent by the directions given you will
reach me safe.
I will now tell you of some of my suffering after getting home another abscess
formed on the out side of my face, which gave Ms Muck panic, so soon as that got
better the Erysipeals took hold in my face & my throat & tongue
became seriously affected so that I could not talk & I assure you my
suffering I cannot describe I surely must have died
but for the mercy of God & the attentions of two good physicians thank
God I have recovered from my Extreme illness & now able to sit up
& walk about a little but am very weak, I hope in
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a few weeks
to gain considerable strength if I am not taken worse
which I hope will not be the case. I often think of the character of your last letter & the feeling it produced when
received a letter from my sister surely could
not have been received with more delight &
while I constantly think of you I have become more & more anxious to see
you why should we have friends and never meet with them? It is pleasant indeed to speak with our friends through silent medium of
the pen, but how much more pleasant to meet them & grasp the hand with
the gentle press of friendship & can meet
the friendly & impressive gaze. Oh! how much I would appreciate the
realization of such an ideal, with you my Ever dear friend
Kate I have come to the conclusion that I will if possible visit
Rosedale Augusta Co. if I can make my
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arrangements to suit. My idea is to go up some time in September that
is if I should get will Enough to travel & my jaws are not strong Enough
to return to the Army that would give me an opportunity too as what would be to me perfectly delightful. Well my friend you must
write soon I am so anxious to hear from you. When you write let me know which is
the nearest Rail Road station to where you live. Waynesboro & Staunton
are the only stations that I know any of & dont know the distance they
are from your place. Well I must close please excuse
bad writing & mistakes as I am quite feeble & nervous. My
kindest regards to your Pa & family with much love for your self believe
me to be your true friend.
Robt B. Spillman
