Augusta: William F. Brand to Amanda C. Armentrout,
August 19, 1864
Summary:
William writes to Kate of troop movements, including his current camp near Bunker
Hill, the health of friends in the army, and his march through the Valley where
the Yankees had burned so many crops.
Miss Kate Armentrout
Greeneville
Augusta County
Virginia
Miss Kate Armentrout
August 19th 1864
Camp Stonewall
As I have a few moments after helping cook our rations I hasten to drop you a few
lines knowing you will be anxious to hear from me. I
arrived safely in camp the 15th. found all the boys
well; They were all camped in line of battle at
Fishershill above Strausburg. We had a fine commanding position & well
fortified: The enemy thought it prudent to make a retrograde
movement & commenced retreating
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& had a slight engagement in the evening
near Winchester. Our Brigade never got close enough to fire at the Yanks; Some
of their leaden messengers came unpleasantly near us. The enemy was reported to have a large army from 40 to 50 thousand. We have
been reinforced by one Division of Longstreets corps & two Brigade of
F.H. Lee cavalry. The enemy
destroyed nearly the entire wheat crop from
Winchester to Strausburg, burned many barns. We are now
lying in the woods near Bunkers hill, ten miles below Winchester have orders to
be ready to move at any moment none of us know
which way we will move next
some think in to Maryland I had a fine time coming down the valley; I've come down the back way; were
treated kindly at many places by the Dutch of Rockingham & Shenandoah; all the objections I had to the girls
they were all barefooted & as I thought awkward
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in their manners; They would commence
talking Dutch in our presence, often I thought they might be talking about me. None that I
saw could I think half as much of as my -- I am sure. Do not censure me for not
writing sooner I fully intended writing the day after I
got to camp but was sent to the ordinance wagon & coming back to camp I
stopped at a Battery
& found my cousin R. Brand & stayed nearly all day with him; he
is a nice young man; I think you would know him he is still redheaded & freckles in his face. For a few
day after leaving I think I was a little low spirited probably you can account
for it I don't think it was leaving Lottie; though her
company was very agreeable. Since I have got with the boys I have been in fine
spirits & have been enjoying the best
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of health, I hope these lines may find you enjoying the same blessing Jake
is enjoying fine health. Abe & Hunter the same Abe is now by my side
writing to his better half Be cheerful &
happy & pray that I may be spared to return
to thee once more Often I think I would not have nothing to live for if it was
not for thee; It is an evil thought but still it will
arise in my wandering thoughts I must soon close as it is getting so dark I can
hardly see how to write; My love to all Write soon, oh how glad I would be to
get a letter from you tomorrow excuse bad writing & all mistakes I will
write again before long from one that has wished thee
happiness for years
Good bye
W
