Augusta: William F. Brand to Kate Armentrout, June
23, 1861
Summary:
Brand tells Kate about her friends in the army and a typical Sunday in camp. He
also expresses a desire to "whip the deamons of the North."
fourth letter
Mrs. Kate Brand
Greenville
Augusta Co
Virginia
June 23th 1861
Burkley Co. Va. Campt in the Woods 3 Miles below Martinsburg
Dear Kate
I recieved your kind and much welcomed letter a fiew days since and was glad to hear from you. I should
have answered it sooner put we have been mooving from plase to plase for the last two weeks & hardly ever neer a Post office & to day I am Twenty five miles
from one put I have concluded to write at any rate hoping
that I might [added: have] a chance of sending it
before long. My health is very good and I hope theese
uninteresting lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. Cous. Jas. V. is well and harty. Your friend J.P. Lightner was hear
yesterday eavning he belongs to the Rockbridge Collige boys it is a fine company he said when he got
to Strawsburg it was reported that we ware fighting in Winchester & when he got thare
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he hurd that we ware fighting in Martinsburg & he pushed on and when he got
thare he was told we ware
fighting at our encampment it seemes that it does some
persons good to lie just to keep up the excitement put it
will not be long I hope untill we shall soundly whip
the deamons of the North for the bloodthirsty villions
has invaded our soil at different points & taken
property & surched the houses for money. I
cannot write any thing to day that will interrest
you it being Sunday & to see no change in the soldiers if one did not
keep the account of the days he would not know when Sunday comes. Some of the
men are blaying cards, oh that men would fear the
lord more & searve him better. Sam Fitch has to
go on duty this morning for an our or two & he
looks mad I reckon he thinks he is violating the Sabbath put it is not his fault. I have had good luck I have not had to go on
duty on Sunday yet.
I had to stop writing for a little while as one of my mess wanted in his box he took out his Bible and I opened it & commenced reading at the sixty third psalmn and read three or four Chapters they seemed to revive my low spirits I shall ever put my trust in the lord who is able to do what so ever he will.
You asked me to send you my likeness to you I will the first opportunity though it will not be a good one for I am purnt almost black with the sun.
I do not know when I may have the opportunity of having it taken. I must bring this uninterresting letter to a Close hoping that it may not be long untill I may get back to old Augusta give my love to all inquiring friends remember me [deleted: when] in the hours of your devotion if no whare else.
I remain yours &C as ever
W.F. Brand
P.S. Please write soon for I am most happy to hear from at any time yours &C. W.F.B.
