Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July
18, 1862
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes his trip from Staunton to Gordonsville, conditions in the camp there, and
the possibilities for future battles.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Friday July 18th 1862
Gordonsville Va.
My Dear Wife:
We got here today, through the mud and rain & have pitched our tent and are trying to
get dry, though it is doubtful, if the rain continues, for the ground is very wet We came to
Mechum's River the day we left Staunton, slept there in an empty house, soundly, after our long
and weary ride in the hot sun, I think I never felt the sun as hot as it was coming up the Blue
Ridge, when it caused a violent pain in my head, which I was afraid would be sunstroke, but we
stopped at the Mountain House and stayed several hours, got dinner,
and then went to sleep, after which I felt better, and we went on
through a heavy thunder shower that came up -- we rode some 30 miles. Thursday we came on
through Charlottesville, across the S.W. Mts. on which Monticello is
situated and then on nearly along the line of the Va. C.R.R. and spent the night with the Rev.
Mr. Boyden, next neighbor to William C. Rives -- we were very kindly
treated by him -- he is pastor of an episcopal church nearby; a beautiful
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edifice, one of the neatest I ever saw -- We heard in the night that the Yankees were near
Gordonsville, but find today that they are still some distance away, though threatening this
direction -- Our cavalry brought in fourteen of them today, that they took. Gen. Jackson has
not yet arrived, though I supposed he soon will -- The troops are coming in and some of them
have gone out on the Orange and Alexandria Road -- the Cars went up to Staunton today, the
first time for several days, so I suppose you will get the papers again now -- We are on the
hard fodder line now -- some of the troops have not been fed for 24 hours as they were brought
up on the cars and their supplies came by wagon -- or rather their wagons had to come up to
them over the common roads. I saw young Blair, James today, some one of the boys had stolen his
boots and he was barefooted -- so I found a pair of old shoes and gave them to him --
I do not know what is to be done --There are all sorts of extravagant stories in circulation -- some say that Jackson is to have 80000 men and go to Pennsylvania by the way of Harrisburg -- and some that he is to go to Washington &c &c. But I do not presume to know anything about it as yet -- though I doubt not he will be allowed to have his own way -- You will see all the news there is, in the papers. I will write to you often, and you can write to me through Major H.M. Bell who is now the chief Quarter Master at Staunton. You can keep my clothes until I write to you where to sent them. My Love to all God bless you and keep you safely --
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
I wrote to you from Staunton -- and left the pitcher and letter at Dr. Young's
