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

1861-1862 20 items William F. Brand to Amanda C. Armentrout [Folder 1 of 4] Brand #11332 

Camp near Charlestown Va

May 29th 1862,

Dear Kate

I recieved [sic] your kind letter some time ago & suppose you think I have forgotten you entirely as I have been so long in answering your letter. Indeed we have hardly had time to wash our cloths [clothes] for the past two months[.] you seemed to think when you wrote to me last that the valley was almost gone but thanks to Almighty God we have been able to drive them out [.] thare [sic] is some in Harpers ferry yet[.] we attacked then on the 23rd & have been fighting less or more evry [sic] day since[.] we have entirely routed Banks army[.] I think that we have taken about 3 thousand Prisoners[,]

[page two] all thare [sic] Bagage [sic] & government stores[.] our Brigade was ordered to Charlestown yesterday[.] we left Winchester early in the morning & marched eighteen miles by the middle of the day[.] the enimy [sic] ware [sic] drawn up in line of battle & opened fire on our skirmishers[.] we run up four or five pieces of artilery [sic] & fired on them[.] thay [sic] fired five times & commenced retreating throwing of [off] thare [sic] blanketts [sic][,] canteens & hapersacks [haversacks][.] we run them for four or five miles[.] the boys say we run them in to thare [sic] den in the ferry [.] we captured fifteen prisoners[.] thay [sic] fired some large guns this morning[.] we could see the smoke that seemed to be on the Virginia hights [sic] & the hills of Boliver[.] I expect we will we will [sic] march on them this eavning [sic] as two more brigades came down this morning[.]

[page three] I never seen people so rejoiced as we come in one end of Charlestown & the enimy [sic] going out of the other[.] the people Cherred [cheered] us & told us that thare [sic] doors ware [sic] open & ready to receive [sic] us[.] the ladies asked us why we did [not?] hollow [sic][.] we told them it was against orders, that [sic] said we wee will doo [sic] the hollowing [sic] & your all will doo [sic] the fighting [.] the citisans [sic] kept asking whare [sic] was Jakson [sic][.] we told them we left him in Winchester[.] We cheered Gen. Winder yesterday for the first time[.] the men do not like him much because he is so strict[.] the merchants have a full stock of Good [sic] & sell them cheep [sic][.] I think coffee is a 1/ per lbs[,] sug ar [sic] the same[.] thare is plenty of all kinds of Goods[.] I must bring my letter to a

[page four] close as we have orders to moove [sic][.] my health is not very good at presant [sic] on account of a very bad cold[.] I hope this may find you enjoying the blessings of health[.] nothing more but remain your true & untiring friend [.] W. F. B.

P.S. you will please write soon -

[Attached is an envelope addressed to Miss Amanda C. Armentrout, Greenville, Augusta Co., Va.]