Augusta: William F. Brand to Amanda C. Armentrout,
February 6, 1863
Summary:
William writes to Kate of the wounded in his camp, camp life including
sleighriding and the beginning of Bible class, and general news about army
commanders.
Miss Kate Armentrout
Lexington
Virginia
Miss Kate Armentrout
February 6th 1863
Nine oclock PM
Camp Winder Carolina Co Va
Dear Friend
As the most of the boys have retired to their bed of
poles I have concluded to drop you a few lines, My
health is very good & hope these
few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. There is no news of importance to write, we have to go on picket tomorrow morning I suppose we will
get a peep at our enemies I hope we may have a pleasant time while we are on picket, There has been a great deal of snow
& rain in the last two weeks I hope we may have
some more clear weather now The roads are almost a bed
of mud.
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It is almost impossible to get
provisions from the depot to our camp I suppose there is plenty of
snow in Augusta now for sleighing if so I hope you
may have some pleasant
sleigh rides we take our fun in snowballing. We
have formed a Bible class & meet on Sunday
& Wednesday nights to recite our lessons I hope it may be carried on and that some good
may come of it we have a grand theatre in the Regt,
carried on by Capt Brown of the Marion Rifles he is a very good performer he is
a noble singer. Capt Newton started home this morning on furlough he is very
lucky in getting home though I do not envy him his good fortune I would have
written by the Capt if I had have had notice
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in time. As it is I will
have to risk another by mail hoping it may soon
reach your hand Well Kate did your cous, Lizzie make you acquainted with all her
secrets if so do you know who she is engaged to
I will tell you my reasons for asking you this question in my next letter if you
answer it I am a thousand times obliged to you for the cheese you sent to me I
assure you it was something I never look for I would like to be in a mess with
your brother but the boys would think hard of me for leaving my old mess I may
say we are almost one mess for whenever one mess gets a box the other is invited to share its contents but if Lieut Dempster
joines the officers mess I expect to change well Kate
I wasn't aware that I had
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shown so many
signs of my weakness on leaving Greenville it goes
to show the feebleness of mans nature I was very sorry to hear of the bereavements of the Harris families I hope the all-wise God may do
unto them as he did unto Job of old bless their future years you said you wished you could take our
places down here do you think you could stand out on
guard one of these cold
nights and if you could don't you think we would be as unhappy if all the Ladies were
here and we were at home you
wrote as if you had been trying to get me to change my love for you but alas how could I you are constantly in my thoughts by day
and my dreams by night & God forbid that I should ever love another
woman I have often thought dear Kate that you never loved me as I did you but
found the keys of my heart and took pity on me. It seemes to me that man is one
of Gods weakest instruments well Kate I have not entirely quit chewing tobacco
yet I have used one plug since I came back to the company I used to chew two a
week I hope I may entirely quit before long; uncle John was wounded at the Sharpsburg fight in the arm, I expect he is in Buckingham. Bro John
had a letter for me from Sister when I came down She was well and going to
school I would like very much to see her Jake is well and looks hardy cous, Jimmie is enjoying the same blessing I must
bring my letter to a close as it is after twelve oclock
Abe stayed up and bothered me until eleven trying to
find out who I was going to write to my respects to all; the family write soon
as I am always glad to hear from you let no one see this
I remain your much attached friend
W.F.
