Augusta: William F. Brand to Kate Armentrout, April
25, 1861
Summary:
Brand writes to Kate of his trip to Harpers Ferry with his regiment and all the
young women who cheered for the troops along the way. He also writes that he
wanted to express his love more freely before leaving, but had been unable to do
so.
first letter
Miss A.C. Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta
County
Virginia Miss A.C.
Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County
Virginia
April 25th 1861
Harpers Ferry
Dear Cate
It is with pleasure that I can this morning seat my self to drop you a few lines. My health is very good, & spirits are good, & hope that these few lines come to hand you may be enjoying the same unaccountable blessing.
We all arrived safely here last Monday. I know not how
long we will remain in Harpers
Ferry. Now I don't care for it
is a very dull place. The ladies look so sour that I
never speak to any of them. There are no beauties in
the burg.
[page 2]
On our way to the burg the Ladies of every
village cheered us onward by their smiles & waves. Miss Fannie Lincoln presented our company
with a secession Flag. I seen her but did not know her as we pushed on so past in our press wagons we had to travel all day last Sunday which
seemed very hard in old Jackson. I almost fell in love with a girl the way I
happened to get acquainted with her was I had broken
one of my straps that held my scabbard & I just went & asked her
to sew it for me if she pleased. She very kindly said she
would & before the lady had finished it
[page 3]
a dozen of my fellow
soldiers had joined around me, the Ladies all
along the road seemed so pleasant that it it cheered us onward their
handkerchiefs
were continually waving
& we generally gave them three loud cheers. There are so many rumors afloat that I can not
say what we may have to do. John is very well and
seemed to enjoy him self very well. I hope that if
it is Gods will that we may all arrive safely at home ere long.
Dear Cate I should like to express my self freely to
you. It was my intention to show you the hidden love that I always felt for you
the Saturday that you left Mr. Burkholders but I
[page 4]
was disappointed in my plans. And it may
be well for the love I have for you might have been blasted & treated
with disregard, but oh Cate I shall ask one thing of thee
that is your prayers that I may with stand the wilds and temptations of the
devil, that I may [illeg.] upward & onward &
may [deleted: ] the heavenly city with all the blood washed throng that crowd the [unclear:
courts
] of the new Jerusalem. I must bring this uninteresting letter to a
close.
I remain yours affectionately
William F. Brand
P.S. please write soon direct your letter to Harpers Ferry Virginia W.F.B.
