1862 January 10 Camp Sleepy Creek

Dear Kate
It is with pleasure
that I seat my self
to ferop you a fiew
linew to let you hear
from me I recieved
your note by Mr Zein[?]
It was to late as I had
written the day before
no doubt you have reciev
ed it before this time
my health is very good
& hope theese fiew lines
may find you enjoying
the same we have been

[page 2]
on a very hard march
ever since New years day
we first marched on
Bath in Morgan County
took 8 or 10 Prisaners two
peases of canon it
is the hardest trip we
ever ware on the snow
was from 4 to 6 inches
deep & very cold the
roads became a perfect
cake of ice thehourses
ware continually falling
down & the same with
the men the Malitia
done some beautifull
runing Bath is a beau
tiful little town the

[page 3]
citizens are mostly Union
ists Bath is better known
as the Burklay springs
it is situated between
two mountains we are
now in 25 miles of
Winchester & are campd
on the Rumney road.
I do not know what
the Gens intentions
are if we are kept in
this mountainous
Country long one fourth
of the army will be in
the hospital for thare
are loads going evry
day five of our com
has gone to the hospital

[page 4]
& as many sick in
Camp I recieved the
cheese you sent me
(many thanks to the
donor) I told J V whare
to direct his letters
to you & will in form
Mr Ligt. when I see
him Lieut Wilson
leaves for home in
the morning excuse
this short letter as
I am on gard to
night also bad writing
& mistakes write
soon as I am always
glad to hear from you
yours truly

W.F.B.

William Francis Brand, Co. E of the 5th Virginia Infantry, Augusta Grays, to his future wife Amanda Catherine Armentrout

MSS 11332