Augusta: William F. Brand to Amanda C. Armentrout,
October 11, 1863
Summary:
William writes to Kate about her cousin's illness in the army, his ailing toe,
the nearness of the Yankees, and the preacher who talks to the men often.
Miss Kate A. Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County
Virginia
Miss Kate A. Armentrout
October 11th 1863
On Pickett
Dearest Kate
I received your kind & interesting letter
this morning and being on a reserved post I hasten
to reply My health is very good & hope this may find you enjoying the
same. Every thing is quiet along the lines our foes are
quietly watching us from the north side of the Rapidan every thing would betoken a friendly appearance if our Officers would
allow us to traffic with the Yankees, a great many of
our boys bought tobacco for the purpose of trading
for coffee; with all the yankee notions that might be brought forward for the
exchange of the great southern weed
[page 2]
your cousin Jimmie V has been
complaining for some time he looks badly I came across him the other day in the
woods lying down when I first came upon him I felt like kneeling down beside him
& raising him in my arms I stopped for about a
minute & looked at him & then called him by name I asked him how
he felt. He said about as usual was just sunning him self a little you need not be in the least
uneasy about Jake no doubt he will write to say as he is
left in camp well Kate Jake made me blush the other day by asking where I was he was looking at me at the same time. Abe
answering told him I was writing to his sis. Jake then said he suspicioned that
then all the boys commenced laughing you may well know it
was very hard to keep from blushing all the boys tease me a great deal more since I come back than they
ever did before but I never mind them. I often tell them
[page 3]
you said you
had a great deal of company since my return I am glad
for I know you can always enjoy your self when in gay company I suppose you have
been wondering
where I got my red ink. Our post is near a patch of
Poakroads berries of which Brother John made the ink
that I am now using I hope it may last longer than the marks of a lead pencil. I
told John that Hettie sent her love to him he blushed and replied that he would
have to return the compliment There is none but [illeg.] & myself in this post.
We have a gay time John says he will not believe that
H sent her respects to him unless I will let him read the letter he says he
knows that Hettie is too
backward to send her love to any one and says the blame must rest on you I
obliged him a great deal about the blush on his cheek telling him that it was a
hidden disease.
[page 4]
I was in hopes that Charles was at home by this time
I hope while he is an exile that he may be tamed I have never heard from sister
since I returned to camp I am very anxious to hear
from her I will write again to be sure that she may hear from me. oh Kate I have
no news & how am I to interest you you said
you had paid Kate a visit & that you ware rather fearful that Tom will not come; I hope he will for if he disappoints her She will take
it very hard if she should be so fortunate as to get married I hope you may be
there & enjoy yourselves to the greatest advantage I think Mr Lee will hardly let me off this time as I had such a
long stay this summer. My toe is getting so that I can stand the
[unclear: truss] very well The boys are mostly in fine spirits Jake is
not very well this morning but I think its nothing more
than a slight bilious attack & will be well in a day or [added: two]
[page 5]
they just remind me of my duty to write to your cous; John B to get
that ring finished & return it to you Miss Kate Shields will probably think that her ring is gone We have prayer meeting one
night and preaching the next I believe the boys generally
like our new chaplain the Rev. Mr. See. I think he is a good man & a
noble Preacher hope his efforts may be crowned with success
[page 6]
your
cous, He sends his respects to you oh yes Jim Campbell told me to tell you that
he was going to strut in that Confederate
uniform that he is going to get of him I must bring
this to a close by asking an interest in your prayers write soon as I am always
anxious to hear from you I remain yours truly as
ever.
Good bye dear Kate at present
W
Excuse my ink as it blots badly
