Augusta: William Brand to Kate Armentrout, July 13,
1861
Summary:
William sends Kate a few bits of information about the battle around Winchester
and expected troop movements in the near future. He mentions how eager his
comrades are to engage in battle with the Yankees. He also encloses two poems
for Kate.
fifth letter Miss Amanda C.
Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County
Virginia
July 13th 1861
Camped Near Winchester
I received your kind and most welcomed letter by the Captain. I was most happy to hear from you all my health is very good, and when this comes to hand I hope you may be enjoying the same; the health of our company is inproving smartly for the last two or three days and I hope before long we may all have good health and [added: ever] after. Your friend Jimmie V. is enjoying good health he is on duty to day. John sends his love to you he just now came here and laughed at me for keeping my hand over the writing. I will have to stop writing at this time Saturday.
This is the 15th day of July. I had to stop writing the other day for to go on battalion drill and it was my time to go on guard duty for Twenty four hours and this morning we were drilling and again I have a few moments of leisure time I will write. I have not had the opportunity of seeing Mr JPL yet we are often parted here for some times two or three weeks. I do not feel like writing this evening and therefore you must excuse me if I may write a short letter. I suppose you all have heard a correct account of the skirmish of the 2nd of this month there was but little loss on our side. The report is here that we killed from Two fifty to three Hundred of the Yankees.
That is the statement of one of Pattersons aides if all Johnston's force here fights like the 5th regiment did on the memorable second we will soon whip all the Yankees back into Maryland that is all that would escape the wiry arm of the South. We just now received orders to draw three days' rations and cook one day's it is said that the enemy is marching against us it may be so but it is certainly to their loss, for our force now nearly equals theirs and we have the most artillery on our side we have some twenty stationed pieces and some five or six flying Batteries and all commanded by as brave as the bravest all the Southern troops are as eager to fight seemingly as they are to eat.
It seems to me that we'll soon whip our enemies if our officers Just let us have a trial at them. I got acquainted with a gentleman by the name of Brand he is from with a lieutenant in the Wytheville company he said he never saw any one of the name of Brand before that was not relations he seemed to be very glad to see me and on parting invited me up to see him he is a doctor lately from Richmond & I think he resembles Cousin Joseph Brand some what I think he is about twenty eight years old from his looks. I shall call on him some of these evenings before long. Cousin Abe is writing close to me we have a hard way to write here. I have not had time to have my likeness taken yet but if ever I get where I can possibly have it taken I will do so. I hope it may not be long until peace may be made between the Confederate States and the corrupted north the drums are loudly beating now and some of our regiments have taken up the march towards our enemies. They are within twelve miles of us and it may not be long until death may step between us but if so I hope not for ever.
I'll put my trust in the God of battles for he is able and willing to save those that put their trust in him. I recieved a letter from Miss [unclear: Matit] she told me in her letter that you were up there to see her it is useless for me to write any more at present. I will enclose a piece of poetry for you.
I Dreamed of thee
Thy head was on my shoulder leaning
Thy hand in mine was gently
pressed
Thine eyes so soft and full of meaning
Were bent on me and I was blessed
No word
was spoken all was feeling
The silent transport of the heart
The tear
that over thy Cheek was stealing
Then told what
could never impart
And could this be a mere
delusion
Could fancy all so real seem
Are fancy's scenes but wild confusion
And can it be I did but dream of
thee
I'm sure I felt thy forehead
pressing
The very breath stole o'er my cheek
I'm sure I saw those eyes
confessing
What tongue could never never speak
Oh no tis gone and never
never
For me such waking joy may be
But I could sleep would sleep for
ever
Could I thus dream of thee
I remain yours &c
W.F.B.
[page 6]
Remember me this simple boon I only ask of
thee
Its speaks more than thousand worlds can tell
More of
affections wealth conveys;
When kindred hearts responsive swell
Than
breaths in passions wildest tone
Remember me when thou shalt
pray
That all our sins may be forgiven
Your spirits then together
may
Ascend at that same hour to heaven
And on that day of sacred
rest
When thou in silent fervency
Shall bless their names who love him best
In that warm prayer forget me
not
Where starry sentinels look down
From their high thrones to watch o'er
thee
And thou art silent and alone.
In that still hour remember me,
by A Friend
