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

1859-1866, 1867 & 1871-1874 37 items Correspondence of Amanda C. Armantrout Brand   

[The following letter is written in pencil, is somewhat faded, and the lower left hand corner appears to have been nibbled by a mouse.]

Seed farm West [moreland] Co., Va.

Oct. 13th 1866

My Dear Sister

Yours of the 19 of aug - & 26 of Sept have been received. Oh I cannot find words to express my joy at the receipt of your letter of the 19 August[.] twas after I had waited so long & anxiously for a letter from you that I had concluded that something had happened & then wrote that my letter might be opened by your Pa in order that I might get some information of you,, meantime your dear letter came - or in other words an Angel’s vissit [sic] - I Seized the dear letter’s messenger & with anxious eyes & heart full of joy inspeakable & perused its contents with unparralleled [sic] interest & pleasure[.] The releif [sic] of my anxiety, was so forcibly impressive that I could but ( unmanly or childish as it was,,) press the dear sheet to my lips & cover your name with numerous kisses, I really was never more delighted at the Script of a letter in all my life - one would have supposed from [torn section] that I was much in love with [torn section] was that of friendship. But dearest Kate you know I have long since defined my position fully. I have claimed to love you only as a friend & as a proof of the fact have openly told you of my fond relations with another - a friend of early life whose constancy & devotion I can never doubt,, our attachment was formed in early life,, long separation during the protracted perils of war & blood Shed, my reduction by the Savior, to comparative poverty has made no change in the dearest object of my undivided affection,, like you my dear Sister who has proven to be a devoted friend - What too has proven to be all that one could be, who holds the place she does, in my heart’s warmest affections and nothing prevents the consumation [sic] of what has been vowed between us but my limited means and the depressed condition of the Country,,

Now my dear friend I will wish painfull emotions communication to you [;] news that is sad to you, the death of a young man, a warmly attacked & [torn section] loved friend of mine - he was [torn section] Brother of my dear Sam [?] - he was ______ from his early boyhood when he was quite a small boy I engaged with his Father to conduct a ________ business for him which I did till the commencement of the War, my constant association with the family & their marked kindness draw out my warmest attachment for them now,, particularly this dear boy Calvin, he was always so particularly fond of me that I had learned to love him almost as a brother - he was 18 or 19 years old when he died[.] Entered the army the last year of the war - he was sick about six weeks with a bileious [sic] typhoid affliction & fell a victim to the disease the 17th of August[.] I visited him constantly during his illness - watched, with painfull [sic] anxiety the last breathings of his existence while around his dying bed[,] stood the almost ____ brother family his dear parents & fond sisters - oh dear friend how deep the unspeakable grief and anguish - of _____ all around him. _______ of death he was a lively & very _______ youngster & very thoughtful of hereafter - but during his long illness he was visited by Christian friends prayers for the Church & before he died gave some hopefull [sic] evidence of his fitness for a home beyond [?] the grave - (Was my dear sister [torn section] ___ ____ the secret of death & change the subject for a season - I am truly sorry to hear of your illness & trouble, truly hope ere this you are fully restored to health & happiness - I thank you for your kind invitation to visit you [.] I am very sorry that war has so far separated[.] I have a great anxiety to see you but situated as I am at this time it is most impossible for me to leave home for any length of time[.] I hope it will not always be the case - remember me ever in your prayers remember kindly to you Pa & Ma [,] Bro & sisters[.] I have a great desire to be with you all - Take care of yourself dear sister - accept my warmest wishes for your welfare & happiness with my lasting love,, write soon to your constant friend & affectionate Brother Robt. B. Spilman

P.S. Please excuse bad writing & mistakes[.] I have very bad pen

Your Bro Robt