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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



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