Augusta: Robert B. Spillman to Amanda C. Armentrout,
October 13, 1866
Summary:
Robert writes to Kate assuring her of his interest in another girl and his
absolute devotion to Kate as a friend only. He also mentions his religious
thoughts.
Oct 13th 1866
Seeds farm Westd Co Va
My Dear Sister
Yours of the 19 of Aug & 26 of Sept have been recieved. Oh I cannot find
words to express my joy at the receipt of your letter of the 19 August twas
after I had waited so long & anxiously for a letter from you that I had
concluded that something had happened & then wrote that my letter might
be opened by your Pa in order that I might get some information of you. meantime
your dear letter came on in other words an Angel's visit. I seized the dear
letters messenger & with anxious eyes & heart full of joy
unspeakable I perused its contents with unparalleled interest & pleasure the relief of my anxiety was so
forcibly impressive that I could but (umanly or childish as it was) press the
dear sheet to my lips & cover your name with numerous kisses. I really
was never more delighted at the receipt of a letter all my life. One would have
supposed from [illeg.] emotions, that I was much in love with [deleted: ] than that of friendship. Sweet
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dearest Kate you know
I [added: have] long since defined my position fully,
I have claimed to love you only as a friend & as a proof of the fact
have openly told you of my fond relations with another a friend of early life
whose constancy & devotion I can scarce doubt.
Our attachment was formed in early life. Long separations during the protracted perils of war
& blood Shed, my reduction (by the same) to comparative poverty has made no change in the dearest objects of my
undivided affection like you my dear Sister who has proven to be a devoted friend. She too
has proven to be all that one could be, who holds the place she does, in my
hearts dearest affections and nothing prevents the consumation of what has been
vowed between us but my limited means & the depressed condition of the
Country.
But my dear friend I don't think there is a friend on Earth that I love more as a pure & constant friend than my fond & affectionate Sister Kate she [added: is] truly [illeg.] [unclear: short] a friend can be on whom I hold very dear in friendship love & confidence.
Now my dear friend I will with painful emotions communicate to [added: you] news that is sad to me, the death of a young man, a warmly attached
& well loved friend of mine. He was [illeg.]
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Brother of my dear Lou, he was an associate from his early Boyhood
when he [added: was] quite a small boy I engaged with
his Father to conduct a mercantile business for
him which I did till the commencement of the war. My constant association with
the family & their marked kindness draw out my warmest attachment for
them all, particularly this dear Boy Calvin, he was always so particularly fond
of me that I had really learned to love him almost as
a brother. He was 18 or 19 years old when he died entered the Army the last year of the war. He was sick about six weeks with a Billious Typhoid affliction & fell a victim to the disease the
17th of August. I visited him constantly during his
illness watched with painful anxiety the last
breathings of his existence while around his dying
bed stood the almost heart broken family his dear parents & fond sisters
Oh dear friend how deep the unspeakable grief and anguish of all amid this scene
of death. He was a lively & very cheerful young lad & very thoughtless of here
after but during his long illness he was visited by Christian friends prayed for by the Church & before he
died gave some hopeful evidence of his fitness for a home beyond the grave. Well
my dear sister [illeg.] the scene of death & change
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the subject for a season I was truly sorry to hear of your illness &
troubles truly hope ere this you are fully restored to health &
happiness I thank you for your kind invitation to visit you I am very sorry that
we are so far separated I have a great anxiety to see you but situated as I am
at this time it almost impossible for me to leave home for any length of time I
hope it will not always be the case. Remember me
ever in you prayers remember kindly to your Pa & Ma Bro &
Sisters I have a great vision to meet with you all. Take care of your-self dear
sister. Accept my warmest wishes for your welfare & happiness with my lasting love
write soon to your constant friend & affectionate Brother
Robt B Spillman
PS please excuse bad writing & mistakes I have
very bad pen
Yr Bro Robt
