1861 September 15 Camp Harman Centerville Fairfax Co Va

My dear Kate

As I have not hurd from
you for a long time, I have seated
my self this beau ti ful sabbath morn
-ing for the purpose of dropping
you a fiew lines. I have been look
ing for a letter from you for
some time past. Indeed I have
not recieved a from Augusta for
the last three weeks. I begin to think
that I am ntirably forsaken no one
can tell the pleasure that it
affords a poor soldier on reciev-
ing a letter from his friends &
acquaintances It enlivens his mind *
makes him energetick in performing his
duties there is no news of interest
to write our advance pickets are
in two miles of the Arlington
highths night before last Stuards
Cavelry run thare advance guard acro
ss the river Colonel Stuard said he
was in two miles of Washington

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Thay took fifteen or twenty Prisaners
John Plunket went down to fairfax Court
house the said he had an interview
with some of the Prisaners two Lieutenants
& some privates thay said thay ware glad
that thay had been taken prisaners
for thay did not care which way the
victory went that thay had been forc
ed to come on the soil of Va. thay
said that old Abe promest to keep
them in the city for to protect it
and after he got them thare he made
them go whare ever he pleased
I have now doubt put thare will be
a foreward moovement on our
side before long; Artilery is going
down almost every day it is said
that we can burn Alexandria George
town & part of Washington from
halls hill, that was taken the other
night it is said that we can knock
the Washington Aquiduct all to pieces
The red flag waves in ufll view of the
white house evry day I reckon that it
is very provoking to old Abe, when he
takes his spy glass & loks over into
Virginia and thare see what he cauls

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the rebel flag waving rite under his nose
We just hurd that we would have to
move down the road about four miles
I am glad o,ve it though we will be lave
ing a very nice camp and a healthy
one we will be nearer the enimy
Thare are three men waking up and down
our regiment carriing thare napsacks
as a punishment for there mis conduct
I would as leaf be shot I believe thaer is grate
injustice done to uur company since
the battle of the 21st of June, enough
to brake our Com up but hope it
will not have that affect for I
hope yet to see the Augusta Grays
march back to greenville after peace
is made. I would like very much to
see you and open my hold heart to
you, put some times I think you care
nothing for me what ever then it
cannot be that love so pure can
be treated with coldness thare seems
yet a happy future spread out before
me, and I shall enjoy the bamy
breeze of freedom I must soon
bring my letter to a close My heal
th is very good & hope this short

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letter will find you enjoying good
health your Brother is well and
harty my Brothers are both well
your friend James V. is well & harty
Give my respects to all inquireing
friends I ask an interest in your
prayers that I may hold out faith
full untill the end Write soon as
I am ever ancious to hear from you
nothing more put rremain your true and
sincer lover:
Wm. F[rancis]. B[rand]


[Willilam Francis Brand, 1840-1832, a farmer before and after the war was in Company E, 5th Virginia Infantry (Augusta Grays)]

MSS 11332