Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, April
17, 1862
Summary:
Hotchkiss relates news of a skirmish and describes his current lodgings.
Mrs. Sara A. Hotchkiss
Churchville
Augusta Co
Va
Assistant Quarter Master at Staunton
Please send to Post Office
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Thursday April 17th 1862
Near Big Spring 12 miles from Harrisonburg
My Dear Wife
The enemy advanced at 3 A.M. today & we have fallen back so far and are stopping for
a day or so -- I should rather say for an hour or so, for I expect we shall have to move on in
a few hours -- the enemy is pressing upon our rear & Ashby is
keeping them back. There was a little skirmishing & one or two of the enemy were killed
& we lost one man -- a number of shots were fired on both sides, at a distance of two
miles and of course "nobody was hurt" by that, though the noise
& explosion of the shots was anything but agreeable. I went
to where I had a good view of the Yankee troops drawn up in line of battle, from the hill top
where I went to see them. They have
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about 10000 men I [illeg.] think and
then Blenker is at the end of the Valley with about the same number, so Banks I suppose feels
quite safe.
I know not where we will stop; I suppose though when we get to
Staunton for it seems to be the opinion that the inner line of the state is to be defended. We
are now at the house of a Mr. Cowan -- one of his sons married a Miss Allabaugh of Bridgewater
-- it is a very nice place -- but all the ladies leave tonight for Br -- except a young Miss --
we were very sorry to leave Mr. Rude's [unclear: we] have had a nice time there Col.
[unclear: Prestore] of the Institute is here now & starts back tomorrow -- he
intends to ask Gen. Jackson to let me go alone, & so come by
Union, but I do not know what the
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result of it may be, so I will write -- we are
coming up so near that I am sure I shall get home before long -- on some excuse or other --
I send a paper to Nelson and he will send it for you to see. I am so weary that you must excuse me -- for I have been in the saddle nearly all day and want to go to sleep -- and rest some before another start -- for we many have to travel during the night -- Jackson is very cautious and I do not think he will be caught napping -- I board with the staff and so do not need any provisions as yet. Though I intend to board myself soon --
Send this up so they may see it at the upper house
God bless you all
Your affectionate husband
Jed Hotchkiss
