Papers of William Francis Brand, 1856-1959 (bulk 1857-1866).

ArchivalResource

Brand, William Francis, 1840-1932. Papers of William Francis Brand, 1856-1959 (bulk 1857-1866).

Papers of William Francis Brand, 1856-1959 (bulk 1857-1866).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/49940345

The collection contains Civil War letters written by Brand to his future wife Amanda Catherine Armentrout; letters from her; additional letters from friends and relatives; and some miscellaneous items. Brand's Civil War letters describe camp life, duties, battles and marches; send news of officers, friends in the regiment and families; comment on state and national events and on Confederate generals and political figures; and express religious sentiment and devotion to his correspondent. Topics of interest include the secession vote; the battles of 1st Manasses, 1st Kernstown, 1st Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Spotsylvania, Fisher's Hill, Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Cedar Creek, and Bentonville, N.C.; the Petersburg trenches; an 1864 Confederate snowball fight; Bellmont Hospital in Nelson County; and illnesses, casualties and prisoners in his company. Letters of John P. Lightner to Amanda C. Armentrout discuss life at school (Christian Creek School and Brownsburg Academy, Rockbridge County), at Washington College, and in Confederate camps in the 4th Virginia. Correspondence of Amanda C. Armentrout contains letters from family and friends including Robert B. Spillman at Chimborazo Hospital No. 3 who mentions a rumor about the Hampton Roads Peace Conference. Of interest is a letter describing a taffy pull. Miscellaneous Brand family letters include a copy of a letter from John W. Moseley, 1863 July 4, to his mother describing the battle of Gettysburgand noting that he is a mortally wounded prisoner of war, and a letter from Charles David Brand, 1866 August 12, describing "a grand memorial" at Buckingham Female Institute. Miscellaneous items include a 1959 newspaper article about William F. Brand with a photograph of him and his wife, some typescripts of the letters and notes made by S.L. Denison of the Waynesboro, Va. Civil War Centennial Committee, and an excerpt from the minutes of the Tinkling Springs Church minutes commemorating the life of senior elder William F. Brand.

134 (ca.) items.

University of Virginia. Library