Augusta: William Brand to Kate Armentrout, August
15, 1862
Summary:
William describes the recent battle of Cedar Run, specifically noting casualties
among Kate's friends and family. He later says that his regiment will be moving
again soon.
Miss Amanda C. Armentrout
Greenville
Augusta County
Virginia
August 15th 1862
Camp McGruder
Dear Kate
I received your much welcomed letter last week & was glad to hear from you. My
health is very good at present & hope these
few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. We
have had another very hard battle on the ninth of
this month. I suppose you have heard the particulars before this. Brother John was slightly
wounded in the early part of the engagement. Charles was hurt in the hand with
his ramrod while loading his gun they
were both sent to the hospital at Charlottesville our
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loss was
estimated at six hundred killed & wounded. The enemy's at three thousand. Our Brigade received a great deal of praise for its bravery on the battle field. It certainly did act nobly your Brother was not very well and was
excused by the Surgeon & stayed back with the
wagons, he did not have the good luck of being in
the fight he has got right well again & I hope his health may continue
to be good for we all miss him when he is sick or absent. We captured four or
five hundred prisoners & two pieces of cannon.
I was glad to hear Mr Burkholder health was improving & hope he may soon recover his former strength you referred me to a piece
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of poetry I well
remember but it has been a long time since I wrote it, & if you received any lately it was not from me nor have I the
least idea who gave it to you. I am sorry I did not get to see you &
Lizzie the Sunday I left it was late when I got to Greenville & I went
down to Mr. Burk & then to Mr. Newton's and by that time [deleted: ] was out. Orders just come for us to cook two days rations I suppose we will
have to march to morrow. General Lee was at
gordonsville to day. Yesterday was thanksgiving
day in our Army for the Merciful kindness God showed towards us in the battle of
Cedar Creek. I hope the God of battles may
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still crown us with success in future
engagements. I would like very much to be up in Augusta now & go[deleted: s] a whirtleberrying. I know I could have a great deal of pleasure. I suppose Sam Fitch has been down a half
dozen times by this time. Me and Sam are not as intimate as we was once he
treated me very kindly when I was at home he has a smooth tongue & seems
to be a real ladies man. Dear Kate I have nothing to write that will interest you. I cannot write a good letter so you
must not expect one from me my friend J.V. sends a
note in my letter. My respects to all the family.
Write soon to your warmest friend & well wisher
W.F.B.
