Augusta: James W. Vines to Kate Armentrout, September 12, 1861
Summary:
Vines writes to Kate with news of friends and family. He also complains that he was unlikely to receive a furlough before April.
Miss Amanda C. Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County Virginia
Camp Near Centreville
Sept 12th /61
Dear Friend Kate
I received your kind & welcome letter some three or four weeks since and I take this opportunity to answer it. I was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all well, you said all the girls looked well except Snake you named one in particular you called her my dear Maggie well if you say she is my dear, it must be so I guess you know, give her my love. Tell Snake I can very easily account for her looking badly she has parted with some one and she is grieving herself about him. I can't
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say who it is unless it is Mr [unclear: Quarles] tell her he is well and I hope it won't be long before she may have the happy privilege of seeing him. I long to see that happy time when we all may be permitted to return to our homes, you can't imagine how I would like to come home. I have tried to get a furlough but there was no earthly chance so I have come to the conclusion to wait patiently until next April if I am spared to see it then I can come home, but I hope this fuss may be settled long before then. Kate I suppose you heard about Tom Supple losing all the letters that was sent by him & never have been heard from since, we scolded him a great deal about it but I suppose he did not lose them intentionally
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therefore we will have to forgive him. I received a letter from home yesterday the first one for more than two weeks and was very sorry to hear of F Campbell's death poor fellow he suffered a great deal but I hope he is now at rest I would like to have come and see him before he died but that privilege was denied me. I think it very hard that no one are allowed to go home under any circumstance except on a sick furlough. I pitied James Trotter he tried several time to get a furlough to go home and see his Father before he died but there was no chance, well Kate as it is now about ten o'clock, and the candle is about out I will have to bring these few lines to a close give my love to all the Family & all inquiring friend excuse all mistakes nothing more at this time.
from your true friend
James W Vines
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Kate I had a talk with your dear friend John Lightner to night I see him nearly every day he looks very well don't you wish you could see him. Write to me again as soon as convenient. JWV
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Miss Kate Armentrout
Rose Dale
