Things are well at the Seminary [Christian Creek School]; are sending presents (two kisses)

Unable to visit her during Christmas

"You must not think that I was insulted at all, never thought about such a thing as being insulted, Pshaw!"; religious sentiments

Is boarding at the dwelling of Major Samuel Willson; describes one young lady and an old maid as both being "quite fascinating"; he and five friends dined on a watermelon for dinner; "I am very lonesome up her in one or two respects. 1st Is that Mr. Greer gives us too long lessons to learn. The other is, there are no nice ladies like you to home, & associate with"

Student reminiscences about his former schoolmates at Christian's Creek

Discusses his class work and general news; is only person to attend a local prayer meeting; religious sentiments; visited Natural Bridge "but it was not a very great curiosity to me"

Has a cold; religious sentiments; unable to send his likeness "afraid I would break all the glass"

"I have but one more week to teach in school"; mentions weddings, leap year, valentines; mentions a Miss Armentrout in Staunton

"I expect to leave next Saturday or whip some of the Profs. As you know I am a great fighting character . . . We have a very quiet band of students this year, no drinking which was common last year"

Is suffering a cold which delayed his reply to her previous letter; burden of correspondence with others and college duties

Friendship; references to impending civil war and military preparations in Lexington

Is stationed near Martinsburg, Berkeley County; reports peace rumors; says if he were Lincoln he would make peace

Governor John Letcher [1813-1884] yesterday presented state flags to every regiment and addressed the troops; his company as permanent headquarters guard for General Gustavus Woodson Smith [1821-1896]; camp life is fine

General news; "Why are you not going to school this winter? or have you got your diploma."

"Was it not at Taffy pulling had a fine time eating hard Molasses with unwashed hands. Did you ever pull any, when you had to spit on your hands to keep it from adhering to them?"

Family news and local gossip; "take good care of your health & tobacco"

"Oh dear one you are brooding over my sorrows & troubles & thinking how you will make me happy now let me beg of you dear one to forget me for awhile & think of yourself yes if I could come to you to night & fold my arms around your neck & pray for you I believe my earthly happiness would be compleat"

In answer to her questions he provides information about his family and their ages [Note: a Robert B. Spillman was a member of Company C, 9th Virginia Cavalry, and was apparently listed in 1910 Census for Westmoreland County; see his letter of 2 September 1866]

Is writing at eleven o'clock at night; "I Can't find words to Express Myself to night, I hope you will Excuse my brevity & I will promise to do better next time"

Rumor that the government is about to send commissioners to meet with the federal government to discuss "honorable terms for peace" [Hampton Roads Peace Conference, 3 February 1865]; signs this letter as "your affectionate & Ever loving Brother"

"appreciate your true & unselfish friendship . . . but as for marrying indeed my friend that is something that I certainly should expect to do soon, my present situation . . . not admit of any thing of the sort were I to get married now I should think that I would be doing any lady justice in consequence of my embarrassing situation in life"; mentions Willie [William F. Brand]

General news; asks if she received any April fools and sent any valentines

"I received your very dear letter several weeks ago & can say some part of it made me very happy"; calls recipient "Willie"; religious sentiment

"I have been waiting for a letter from you but have waited in vain have come to the conclusion that you have forgotten me or must perhaps changed all again ha ha if so Willie let me know"; urges him to visit her

"Willie you wish a [relic?] you have loved me . . . not doubt that but your affection have changed & if you wish to be free again & I can hold they pure noble heart bind it to one that is so impure as mine for I have been the cause of your being unhappy"

Concludes with a poem: "Come back, Oh come! The past shall be as cloud forever removed . . ."

discusses the Christian character of their correspondence; wants to hear from her if she is still alive

Complains he has not written to her; discusses the weather and crops; "my love is so strong that it makes me thus"; this is the first existent letter which she signs as "your ever true & loving wife Kate A. B[rand]"

Was glad to her from her; general news

has just returned from visiting her friend Rachel; mentions Natural Bridge; today is her birthday

Has been ill; misses him; describes herself as a wayward child

describes Harpers Ferry as dull; his company [Company E, 5th Virginia Infantry] has been presented a secession flag by Miss Fannie Lincoln

has enlisted for duration of war which he expects will be three or four years; George W. Fitch [1835-1899] of the company sends his love

20,000 soldiers stationed near here including Alabamians and Mississippians and two of his uncles; mentions Union occupation of Alexandria and two shooting deaths [of Alexandria hotel keeper James Jackson and Union Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, 24 May 1861] because of the tearing down of a Confederate flag; reference to state election to confirm Virginia's secession--all but two members of the Augusta Grays voted for secession; the captain encouraged underage members to vote anyway: "Fifteen or twenty of us was not old enough to vote but our Captain told us to vote if we could & everyone voted [WFB, age twenty, was legally ineligible to vote] . . . one of our lowlife men talked like he would oppose our votes and the gentlemen was about to get himself the business he got so bad scared that he went and voted for secession"

mentions visit of her friend John P. Lightner; promises to whip the bloodthirsty demons of the North

drilling and guard duty; encloses poem "I Dreamed of The [Thee]"

argument involving his brother John [John W. Brand, 1842-1923] and Tom Graham [perhaps James W. T. Graham, ?-1892] has disrupted breakfast and caused a fight among them, Graham confined to a guardhouse; regiment reviewed by Prince Napoleon [Prince Napoléon-Jérôme, 1822-1891; born Napoléon-Joseph-Charles-Paul Bonaparte]; describes the battle of First Bull Run [First Manassas, 21 July 1861], became separated from his regiment and found himself fighting with the 4th Alabama Infantry

Is trying to get a furlough; James Trotter [James W. B. Trotter, ?-1864] failed to get a furlough to visit his father before he died

"No one can tell the pleasure that it affords a poor soldier on receiving a letter from his friends & acquaintances. It enlivens his mind and makes him energetic in performing his duties"; John Plunkett [John H. Plunkett, 1836-1885] questioned Union prisoners captured near Arlington Heights by Colonel Stuart's cavalry [Jeb Stuart, 1833-1864]; says rebel flags are waving right under Old Abe's [Abraham Lincoln] nose; "Thare are three men walking up and down our regiment carrying thare knapsacks as a punishment for thare misconduct. I would just as leave be shot"; wants very much to see her and pledges eternal love

mentions Samuel B. Fitch [?-1876] and his troubles with his sweetheart; regiment on picket duty last week and could see the Potomac River and the Capitol dome

regrets news of the deaths of two women; his brother John has returned from a Richmond hospital [typhoid fever]; account of regiment's travel by train to Strasburg; officers' refusal to obey orders in dispute over campsites

return of William H. Brownlee [1841-1862] to camp after his furlough to Washington County; mention of General Richard Brooke Garnett's [1817-1863] orderly; describes Christmas dinner (with turkey)

hard marching and capture of prisoners at Bath in Morgan County [January 1, 1862, preliminary of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Romney Campaign]

the regiment has left Camp Zollicoffer and government property being moved to Strasburg; he has enlisted as a regular for the war's duration and looks for God's protection for "he is able to save in the darkest hours of peril"; regret her brother did not reenlist [three Armentrout brothers served with the 5th Virginia during the war: Jacob, James, and John]

company has been reorganized and he lists officers: Captain James W. Newton [1838-1896], Lieutenant Charles W. Grills [?-1862], David F. Eckard [1836-1914]; account of the battle of First Kernstown [March 23, 1862; during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign] and describes the death of fellow soldier Robert F. Grass (shot through the head); 800 members in the regiment as of this date

eleven members of the regiment have been sent to the hospital; camp news, prayer meeting led by "a good old Methodist preacher"

account of the battle of Winchester [first battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862]; the regiment has been attacking the enemy since the 23rd [battle of Front Royal; Jackson's Valley Campaign], thousands of prisoners; local residents cheered the Confederate troops after the battle; for the first time the troops cheered General Charles S. Winder [1829-1862], usually they did not like him "because he is so strict"

his brother John is still sickly but brother David [Charles David Brand, 1838-1904] has returned from a visit to their grandmother's; Robert Taylor discharged for being over age thirty-five; the regiment finally assigned a chaplain, Edward Payson Walton [?-?], "a very good preacher"; WFB says he "had a wonderful time Saturday hunting for deserters," Frank Taylor arrested but later escaped from his guards Isaac Newton Vines [1834-1913] and George W. Hight [Hite] [?-1897]

describes the battle of Cedar Mountain [9 August 1862], wounding of his brothers John W. Brand [1842-1923] and Charles David Brand [1838-1904], both sent to Charlottesville Hospital; he and Samuel B. Fitch [?- 1876; medical discharge November 1861] are no longer intimate as "he has a smooth tongue & seems to be a real ladies man"

passing reference to Union General John Pope [1822-1892] and her brother John Armentrout [1832-1863]; criticizes the hospital ("this is a very mean hospital very little accommodations nothing but bread & meat")

"The enemy have a large Cavalry force in the Valley & our own Cavalry being afraid of them but us to a good deal of trouble"; hard march last night through mud and rain; expresses sympathy over the death of her cousin in battle and "great many deaths in old Augusta since I left—I believe disease cuts off as many as the sword"

has safely returned to camp from his furlough; spent a lonely night in Staunton during his return trip; passing reference to a recent victory in Tennessee; the army in the best of spirits; describes camp life and duties; fellow soldier John M. Meek [1832-1896] has returned from furlough; WFB signs this letter "Willie boy"

oysters cost six dollars a gallon here; Company E at sixty men, is the largest in the brigade; troops constructing winter quarters with chimneys and securing good supplies of wood and water; "I have often been near you in my dreams since I last saw you"

Is writing at 9:00 p.m.; snow and rain last two weeks and muddy roads; entertainment skills of Captain Marshall Smith Brown [1840-1907] "a good performer and noble singer"; Captain James W. Newton [1838-1896] started home on furlough and Lieutenant John J. Dempster [1835-1918] has joined the officers' mess; thanks her for sending cheese

asks her forgiveness for delaying replies to her letters; has been in poor health since he came home on leave but feeling better; family and local news

visited George Newton Britton [?-1909] who is in poor health, and his fiancee Lizzie Brown; other family news and local gossip; his brother Tom [Thomas H. Brand, ?-1863] has just reminded him it is noon and time to go to work in the cornfield; concludes with a poem "Thou Shall not, O My Love/Ever hear my voice in rage"; signs himself as "Willie"

part of the bone of his big toe removed; has the blues but hopes to see her soon, describes Dr. Hay's operation on his toe, is now on crutches, signs himself as "Willie"

his big toe is healing, saw her brother George Armentrout this morning; signs himself as "Willie"

Confederate cavalry defeated and drove the enemy toward Rapidan River after a brief skirmish near Culpeper Court House [14 September 1863]; enemy recrossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford but was repulsed by General Jubal Early [1816-1894]; with fifty men Company E is the regiment's largest; good preaching in camp by Reverend Mr. Taylor of Staunton before an audience of 5,000 soldiers; declares his love for her: "there is not a beat of my [heart] but beats true to thee O how often I think of the past when you ware by my side: My arms encircling your waist & your sweet lips gently prest to mine then I was so happy"

enemy watching them from the north side of the Rapidan River; Confederates hope to trade tobacco for coffee with them; her brother "Jake" caused him to blush in camp when he told other soldiers that WFB was writing to his sister [ACA]; the ink he uses to write letters is homemade from pokeroot

wishes he could get leave to attend wedding of her cousin and a mutual friend "but alas I had to serve my country first"; troops busily constructing winter camp quarters

her previous letter delivered to him by her father; suffering from a cold; death of his brother Thomas Brand [?-1863] [at battle of Bealton Station, October 26, 1863, during Bristoe Station Campaign, August- October 1863]

because of the bad weather (a cold rain) the President [Jefferson Davis, 1808-1889] canceled his planned review of the troops; rumor that brigade commander General Richard Ewell [1817-1872] is dead [he was wounded at Kelly's Ford, November 7, 1863, Bristoe Station Campaign], George Newton Britton is in next bunk writing a letter to his sister

fears she loves another and accuses her of unfaithfulness: "If you should learn to love another man better than me; or that you could enjoy your future happiness better with your first lover [not John P. Lightner; he was dead since 1862] than with poor W [William] I would be heartless not to free you & forgive you . . . but pray to Almighty God to help you to prove true to whoever you love best"

"You have no idea how glad I was when you Dear letter was handed me"

letter is on yellow stationery and mostly unreadable

describes a snowball fight near Winchester [March 12, 1864], involving 2,000 Confederate troops, involving his brigade [General James Alexander Walker] Walker's Brigade versus [General Robert Emmett Rodes] Rodes' Division: "Thare was none killed on either side but a great many bloody noses"; expresses religious sentiments, faithfulness to her and his goal "to make you happy"

has spent the afternoon of "this blessed [Sunday] at our little chapel"' expresses love and devotion" "I love you yes passionately & if you think you have ever treated me wrong I forgive thee"

hard march this morning; rumor of General James A. Longstreet's [1821-1904] Corps in Madison County; mentions a mutual friend named "Old Charly": "I think of him every day poor fellow; he has had a long stay in Yankee prison; he must be tired & disgusted with Yankee prisons"

describes battle of Spotsylvania [May 12, 1864] and his wounded right arm, many Confederates taken prisoner, describes regiment's casualties and prisoners

letter is on purple stationery and mostly unreadable

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 "awkward in their manners"

reports and describes the capture of her brother Jacob C. Armentrout [1842-1932], Sergeant Samuel W. Hayes [1829-1888], James W. B. Trotter [?-1864], Samuel E. Lightner [?-1904], and James A. Hutchinson [1844- 1922] and death of Ephraim Y. Strasburg [?-1864] during a skirmish on the 12th [a photocopy of this letter is also present]

describes the battle of Fisher's Hill, "we ware badly whipped, death of Major General Robert Emmett Rodes [1829-1864], William Plunkett [1844-1879] wounded, Colonel John Henry Stover Funk [1837-1864] mortally wounded, Captain James W. Newton [1838-1896] seriously wounded in leg, Captain James Bumgardner, Jr. [1835-1917] "killed" [captured]

continued discussion of the aftermath of defeat at Fishers Hill, loss of artillery and capture of several members of the regiment [John H. Hite [?-1910], Thomas J. Smith [?-?] and William R. Holbert [1836- 1894]; this letter is faint and hard to read

skirmish and defeat of Yankee cavalry at Brown's Gap [September 26, 1864; during Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign]; "Excuse this torn letter"

says Early [General Jubal Early, 1816-1894] drinks but the "army has not entirely lost confidence in our old leader"; complains of irregular mail service; visited an uncle and his new "young wife"; local and family news

mentions someone as fearful of capture by provost guard; discusses the "hard and bloody" battle of Cedar Creek [19 October 1864] where WFB was wounded in the foot, Confederates routed; is looking forward to visiting "my little bird"

letter is very faint; cold weather and 15 inches of snow in the Valley; camp news and rumors

discusses rumors of General Joseph E. Johnston [1807-1891] and the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina [March 19-21, 1865]; WFB's camp is only fifty yards away from the enemy, the two forces are sociable and trade newspapers and coffee; "I am certain if this war was left in the hands of the private peace would soon be adjusted"; describes camp life

General comments; wheat and corn are ready; "This is a beautiful night all nature seems clothes in bridal Splendor"

"The last time I was in your presence you desired to be united in the holy band of marriage in November"; reminds her that she once stated "you never would be willing to marry me until I had some little home of my own . . . I fear many moons will grow old before I can claim a home of my own" but is willing to get married next fall; "if you will wait until another summer I will give thee my hand with my heart"

plans to visit her next Saturday; "You are always near me in my thoughts Every plan I form or every hope I entertain you are with me"

"You are well aware I once loved you devotedly, yes passionately"

"I will not deny the charge of swearing occasionally & God knows I am sorry to think this confession but I never shall try to deceive you in the least"; he has just returned from a business trip to Staunton

"It is due to your goodness womanly virtues & high & honorable nature, to use truth & candor"

doubts about his suitability for marriage; denies rumor that he is in love with "a lady of wealth"; signs himself "your Brother"

"I would like very much to see you; But have thought it best that we should not meet for awhile"

"It would have given me much pleasure to have accompanied you to the Pines If for no other reasons; than to show the world we are friends"

"I am at a loss what to know what to do this year; I have the offer of a good mill"

"I know you are getting anxious to hear from your W. [William] or at least a peep at Kate's face would not be objectionable to the writer thare is none can fill your plase in my affections"; mentions a horse dispute with a Mr. Chaplin ("this morning both my horses are gone"); "I am somewhat loneson when I go to the house & miss you. I have wished several times this evening that I was at Rosedale; But it is useless for me to be seek for I know that I can not be with you for several days yet"

W. W. Moseley, Gravel Hill, to "Dear Brother" [Dr. Charles Floyd Moseley, a Confederate surgeon], enclosing copy of letter of July 4, John W. Moseley, Gettysburg, to "Dear Mother" (Mrs. Charles Moseley) in which JWM describes himself as a mortally wounded prisoner of war and describes the battle and his wounding

"Will you said something about being an old grayheaded bachelor if you will come over on this side of the Ridge [Blue Ridge Mountains] where love & beauty reign I think you could find some old widdow that would sympathize with your in your troubles"; accuses him of badly treating Kate [Amanda C. Armentrout] and advises him not to marry her; describes "a grand memorial" held at the Buckingham Female Institute [1 August 1866] attended by 500 persons, "about two-thirds of that number lovely fair sex . . . I could hardly keep from falling in love with some of them"; mentions a recent visit to Scottsville; attached to this is a letter containing general news and comments from the Brand brothers' uncle C. F. Mosely [Charles Floyd Moseley?] to his nephew William

says that if William becomes an old bachelor it is his fault because "you have treated Kate badly," advises him not to marry her "without love . . . I know she loves you more than any one else"; provides a short account his (CDB's) current courtship with a woman he refuses to identify by name; believes times are getting better, tobacco and oats crops are good but not wheat; urges WFB to visit their uncle during Christmas

: general family news; does not want to return to Virginia; encloses letter to "Dear Sister," [sister- in-law?] same date and place, misses friends and family in Virginia, appreciates offer to live with her brother William and Kate

death of her grandmother last month and description of her final days; family news, crops are good, especially tobacco

[includes photograph of William Francis Brand and Amanda Catherine Armentrout Brand]

Photocopies of abbreviated typescripts and notes of selected Brand letters by Colonel S. L. Denison, chairman, Waynesboro Civil War Centennial Committee, 24 pp.

Day, twenty-sixth of last May/Received from you without delay . . .," signed "A Friend"

"If anyone wants more information on the family of William Francis Brand and Amanda Catherine Brand . . ., " 2 pp.