Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1864 August 19 Brand Civil War Collection: Brand, William Francis
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Brand Civil War Collection: Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, 1864 August 19 Brand Civil War Collection: William Francis Brand
1864-08-19 Source copy consulted: MSS 11332, Special Collections, Alderman Library, University of Virginia
Prepared for the University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center.
Summary ALS August 19, 1864 B640819 Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, August 19, 1864
WFB, Camp Stonewall Brigade [to Amanda C. Armentrout], Greenville, w/envelope: returned safely on the 15th; the army is encamped at a fortified position at Fishers Hill near Strasburg; awaiting attack by the enemy; rumors the army will march to Maryland; mentions meeting barefooted Valley girls " who are awkward in their manners"
Envelope
Miss Kate Armentrout Greeneville Augusta County Virginia
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Letter from William Francis Brand to Amanda Catherine Armentrout, August 19, 1864
Camp Stonewall August 19th 1864
As I have a few mo- ments after helping cook our rations I hasten to drop you a few lines knowing you will be anxious to hear from me. I arrived safely in camp the 15th. Found all the boys well. They were all camped in line of battle at Fishers Hill above Strausburg. We had a fine commanding position; & well fortified. The enemy thought it prudent to make a retrograde movement & commenced retreating
[Page 2] & had a slight engagement in the evening near Winchester. Our Brigade never got close enough to fire at the Yanks. Some of their laden laden messengers came unpleasantly near us. The wing was reported to have a large army from 40 to 50 thousand. We have been reinforced by one division of Longstreet's corps & two Brigades of F.H. Lee cavalry. The enemy de- stroyed nearly the entire wheat crop from Winchester to Straus- burg; burned may barns. We are now lying in the woods near Bunker's Hill, ten miles below Winchester. We have orders to be ready to move at any moment. None of us know which way we will move next. Some think in to Maryland. I had a fine time coming down the valley. I've come down the back way. We were treated kindly at many places by the Dutch of Rocking- ham & Shenandoah. All the objections I had were to the girls. They were all barefooted & I thought awkward [Page 3] in their manners. They would commence ta[] lking Dutch in our presence. 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 fully intended writing the day after I got to camp but was sent to the ordnance wagon. Coming back to camp I stopped at a battery & 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 redheaded with freckles on his face. For a few days after leaving I think I was a little low spirited; probably you can account for it I don't 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 [Page 4] of health. I hope these 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 cheerful & happy, & pray that I may be spared to return to thee once more. Often I think I would not have anything to live for if it was not for thee. It is an evil 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 happi- ness for years. Good bye,