1. When there is no punctuation in the document, it is added in brackets if needed for clarity.

2. The notation [sic] is used to indicate a misspelled word if needed for clarity.

3. A blank space, i.e. ________ indicates a word in the document that is not dicipherable.

4. The capitalization style in the original document is copied.

5. Square brackets, i.e. [ ] are used to indicate an addition by the transcriber to clarify meaning in the original document.

6. Underlining in the original document is repeated in the transcript.

7. An attempt is made to keep editing to a minimum to preserve the often unique character of the original.

-Mary D. Edwards Summer 2000

August 10th 1861

Senterville [sic] Fairfax Co. Va.

Dear Kate;

I recieved [sic] your kind and affectionate letter by Mr. Britton[.] I was happy indeed to hear from you and to hear you ware [sic] well with all the rest of your brothers and Sisters[.] my health is very good and hope when these uninterresting [sic] lines come to hand you may be enjoying the same with all the pleasure this poor world can afford. I have the blues this morning and you must not exspect [sic] as long a letter as usual[.] Brother John & Tom Graham got to disputing about a very trifling matter. John was left out of his mess to get breakfast, and it not being ready when we came of [off] our drill[,] Graham commenced cursing John[.] when he had been swearing as John thought long enough he told him to stop, Graham girked [jerked] up a stick and let him have it over the face. at this moment the Capt in to feared [sic], & sent Graham to the Guard house[.] Capt told John when ever he got a chance to Give him a good whip ping[.] I am sorry the fus [sic] occured [sic] but it can not be helped know [now], The Staunton band has come down to play for the regament [sic][.]

[page 2] We ware [sic] marched ut [out] yesterday morning to be reviewed by the prince Napolion[.] Thare [sic] was tow [two] brigades making Ten or twelve regaments [sic] all drawed [sic] up in line of Battle[.] it was a magnifisent [sic] view. The Prince just passed along the road[.] I should have liked to have seen him; Cousin Joseph R. Brand was over to us the other day[.] I think he wares [sic] the same old face he use to ware [sic][.] he seems to be a very kind & tender hearted young man[.] he seems to be acquainted with young men all over the State[,] his school mates at Colliage [sic][.] we took dinner with one of his former Teachers[.] he had a very nice diner [sic] such as chicken pork and good light bread & blackbury [sic] jam wich [sic] we used in stead of butter. I renewed Jons acquaintance with J.P. L. [John P. Lightner] Jo. said he did,nt [sic] know any in our Co. but your Brother, Charles & my self, he said he never would have none [known] me if I had,nt [sic] laughfed [sic] when I seen [sic] him. Jo. was at fairfax Courthouse when the Yankees came on them & they had to retreat back to Bulls run[.] another of our old School mates was to se [visit] us[,] Wm Weeb. you would not know him for he has such a large beard & musstache [sic]. he belongs to the Montosella [sic] Guards, has a very nice uniform[.] _____ & Cousin Jo, both belong to brigadeer [sic] General

[page 3] Cox,is [Cox’s] brigade. I have seen both my oncles [sic] since the Grate [sic] Battle of bulls run[.] I shall now give you a short account of the Battle.

We recieved [sic] orders about the dawn of day to march down to the run & to charge on a battery near our breastworks; we had been thare [sic] an hour and a half when we recieved [sic] orders to , Change our position[.] we marched about three miles north[.] our enimies [sic] had been cannonading us for some time at different points[.]

at eight oclock the attack became general[.] I can not disscribe [sic] the fireing of small arms at nine oclock our brigade was ordered to the seen [scene] of slaughter[.] on our way we met the Staunton Artillery[.] the men said thay [sic] ware [sic] almost out of amunition [sic] and ware [sic] nearly surrounded[.] We advanced in quick time to surport [sic] the Washington Artillery on the right wich [sic] don [done] exilent [sic] service in the engagement[.] we threw down a fence and advanced a fiew [sic] paces and was ordered to lay down and incessant fire was kept up by our enimies for a bout ten or fifteen minutes[.] I believe if we had have raised up at one time we would have all been wounded or killed[.] the balls seemed to range about two feet above the ground. the regament [sic] in advance of us fell back in confusion but on passing our line immediately formed again[.] we then ware [sic]

[page 4] ordered to advance in quick time to the old front[.] we then laid down waiting orders to fire[.] we beged [sic] our officers to let us fire at a reggament [sic] on our right but they said they ware [sic] our friends & would not let us fire on them. We then commenced fireing at three or four Reg. in front of us[.] I gave them three rounds & then we feel [fell] back some twenty or thirty yards & met another Reg. advancing[.] we went up with them[.] some of our boys went on & never stoped [sic] at all & some had left before we went up to the house[.] I hollowed at Sam two or three times but he would not listen to me[.] When we went up the seckond [sic] time that Reg. on our right fired on us but with little effect[.] we returned thare [sic] fire throwing them in to confusion for a little while[.] we all got behind the house & corn crib[,] fences[,] & evry [sic] thing that would shield us from thare [sic] manie [minie] balls[.] I got behind the crib and fired five times at them[.] I looked round & couldent [sic] see any of our Reg[.] they had falen [sic] back to the woods[.] I had got mixed with a South Carolina Reg. & they ware [sic] now falling back[.] I turned round and jumped over a dead man & commenced retreting [sic] to the woods[.] I couldent [sic] find my own Reg. or at least I did not hunt long for I came upon the fourth Alabama Reg. and laid down beside my Oncle [sic] Wm Mosley[.] one of the men was shot on the oposite [sic] side of Oncel Wm. from me[.] the men seemed grately excited[.] the most of thare [sic] field officers was killed in the Battle[.] Oncle [sic] Wm was not tuched [sic][.] Oncle [sic] John was not thare [sic][.] he was sick in Winchester[.] I reckon Jon was at the mountain with that large crowd of Mr. Brittons. he said [sic] he kissed upwards of twenty ladies & said he could have kissed them all but he told them they ware [sic] too willing & he would not kiss any more[.] I should like very much to come home for a fiew [sic] days but it is imposible [sic] at presant [sic][.] I must bring this scrall [sic] to a close asking an interrest [sic] in your prayers[.] excuse all misstakes [sic] & bad writing[.] Write soon to your, devoted friend.

William F. Brand

You said I ____ wrote this on the other letter Receive the rose bud with the emblem &C. I hardly know what is the emblem without it is you are to young to love if so I never knew it before & dount [sic] believe it yet. good by my ever remembered friend

[Attached to this letter is an envelope addressed to Miss Amanda C. Armentrout, Greenville, Augusta County, Virginia.]