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 ancious to hear from me. I
arrived safly in camp the 15th. found all the boys
well; They ware all camped in line of battle at
Fishershill above Strausburg. We had a fine commanding position & well
fortified: The enimy thought it prudent to make a retrogade
moovment & commenced retreating
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& had a slight engagement in the eavning
near Winchester. Our Brigade never got close enough to fire at the Yanks; Some
of thare leaden messengers came unplesantly near us. The enimy 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 cavilry. The enimy
distroyed nearly the entire wheat crop from
Winchester to Strausburg, burned may barns. We are now
lying in the woods near Bunkers hill, ten miles below Winchester have orders to
be ready to moove at any moment none of us no
wich way we will moove next
some think in to Maryland I had a fine time coming down the valley; Ive come down the back way; ware
treated kindly at many plases by the duch of Rockinham & Shanandoor; all the objections I had to the girls
they ware all barefooted & as I thought awkward
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in thare manners; They would commence
talking duch in our presance, 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 fooly intended writing the day after I
got to camp but was sent to the ordinance wagon & coming back to camp I
stoped at a Batery
& 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 readheaded & 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 donnt 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 theese 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 cheerfull &
hapy & 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 eavill 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 the
hapiness for years
Good bye
W
