Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, May 3,
1862
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes Confederate and Federal troop movement in western Virginia and the
Shenandoah Valley
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Tuesday May 3rd 1862
My Dear Wife
I have been so busy for several days that I have not had time to write to you, for after we
got to Winchester, we started on down to Charlestown & went to near Harper's Ferry
where the enemy had posted himself on the Maryland Heights across the
River & there was no such thing as doing anything with him there, so we started back,
but our movement had alarmed Old Abe and he recalled Shields & McDowell from towards
Richmond & sent them to cross the Blue Ridge one towards Front Royal & one
towards Berryville, and also he had sent Fremont to Strasburg, intending to cut us off from up
the Valley but, we got wind of all the moves & moved up rapidly
-- we got safely through all his [illeg.] -- but it took stirring I went down to
Charlestown after the First Brigade, which had been there on duty, and brought them up to
Winchester the same day by 9 P.M., after a weary ride and a weary march to the men, &
then we had to move up lively to Strasburg before the junction of Abe's forces, we then offered
them battle, but they would not come & fight, so we moved on back before Shields got up
to cross here from towards Luray, and now we are encamped here at New Market -- how long we
shall stay I know not, we may
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go somewhere tomorrow, & we may fight Fremont
who is in front of us, and who is another Banks, those of his men that we have taken say. Ashby
killed some 25 or 30 yesterday of the Yank cavalry with some straggling soldiers. I saw Col.
Sterrett today but was too busy to write by him, I saw Mr. Hornrick today, he lives at
Parnassus, and he promised to buy some 2 or 300 pounds of [illeg.] for you -- he
promised to send it over -- it is getting too dark to see so I must close --
Write to me -- God bless you
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
