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
Campt Near Winchester
I recieved your kind and most welcomed letter by the Capt. 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 know came hear and laught at me for keaping my hand over the wrighting. I will hafto 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 ware drilling and again I have a fiew moments of leasure time I will write. I have not had the opportunity of seeing Mr JPL yet we are often parted hear for some times two or three weeks. I do not feel like writing this eavning and thare four you must excuse me if I may write a short letter. I suppose you all have hurd a crorect account of the skirmish of the 2nd of this month thare was but little loss on our side. The report is hear that we killed from Two fifty to three Hundred of the Yankees.
That is the statement of one of Pattersons aids if all Johnsons force hear fights like the 5th regament did on the memorable seckond 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 recieved orders to draw three days rations and cook one days it is said that the enimy is marching against us it may be so but it is sirtainly to thare loss, for our force now nearly eaquels thares and we have the most artilery ond our side we have some twenty stationed pieces and some five or six flying Batterries 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 will soon whip our enimies if our offices 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 Withville 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 docktor 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 eavnings before long. Cousin Abe is writing close to me we have a hard way to write hear. I have not had time to have my likeness taken yet put if ever I get whare I can posibly have it taken I will do so. I hope it may not be long untill peace may be made between the Confederate States and the corrupted north the drumbs are loudly beating know and some of our regiments have taken up the march towards our enimies. They are with in twelve miles of us and it may not be long untill death may step between us put 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 thare trust in him. I recieved a letter from Miss [unclear: Matit] she told me in her letter that you ware up thare to see her it is useless for me to write any more at preasent. I will inclose a pieace of poetry for you.
I Dreamed of the
Thy head was on my sholder leaning
Thy hand in mine was gently
pressed
Thine eyes so soft and full of meaning
Ware bent on me and I was blest
No word
was spoken all was feeling
The silent transport of the heart
The tear
that over thy Cheek was steeling
Then told what
could never impart
And could this be a mear
delusion
Could fancy all so real seem
Are fancys scenes but wild confusion
And can it be I did but dream of
the
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]
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 thare names who love him best
In that warm prayer forget me not
Whare starry sentinals look down
From their high thrones to watch o're the
And thou art silent and aloan.
In that still hour remember me,
by A Friend
