Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, January
25, 1863
Summary:
Hotchkiss imagines what his family is doing on a Sunday, describes a skirmish with the
Yankees across the river, and discusses Northern politics and troop enlistments.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Sunday Evening, Jan. 25 th 1863
Moss Neck, Caroline Co. Va.
My Ever Dear One:
The quiet and rest of the Sunday Night bring to my mind's eye my own
quiet and pleasant fireside far away, which the will of others, not my own, keeps me from, and
my thoughts will stray thither and busy themselves in wondering of the welfare of three fourths
of my existence, and I think of it much as I remember to have looked upon the imaginary
division of my physical identity when I had the typhoid fever last year. I know that at this
hour, if all are in God's good providence, in the enjoyment of health, that Ma is reading
something good to Anna & Nelly or talking to them about some of the things that
"pertain to the life that now is and that which is to come" that are spoken of in the blessed
book, and the children are all attention, Nelly especially, with her endless supply of
questions and insatiable appetite for something novel or new, nodding her head and saying "Yes
Ma'am" every now and then, while the "wee one" is curiosity when her fancy is struck but more
disposed to the ways of childhood's thoughtlessness, while the mother with unending patience
sates and renews the curiosity of the former, and anon tries to excite that of the latter --
and then will come the "good night" and the prayer to our Heavenly Father for mercy &
protection to the present & the absent and the retiring to rest, thus committed to a
stronger than human protection, but with thoughts of the one God designed should ever be near;
but His wide designs are frustrated by man's evil machinations that destroy the peace of
families, states and empires. O may the happy days come when the Prince of Peace, the Son of
Righteousness shall make his advent again to the world, proclaiming the coming of the days when
war shall be no more and every man may sit under his own vine and fig tree with none to molest or make him afraid. O that we
might live to see that blessed day and leave mankind in its possession
and like Anna of old then "depart in peace"
[page 2]
Not "All quiet
along the river today", for we fired at the enemy attempting to fire a bridge or wharf on the
other shore and the charm which has lasted since the bloody 13th of Dec.
1862 was broken by the sound of strife, and those that for a month have stood picket on
opposite sides of the river, with no arms in their hands, and conversed on friendly terms,
again stood to their arms and looked vengeance & destruction; but no more came of it
than the leaving of the enemy from that point and all is quiet tonight. I was along the river
yesterday & spoke to the enemy's pickets -- got a "Herald" of the 22
nd
It says it is evident that a separation must take place, that they cannot conquer the
South, and it becomes New York, which has expended more money and men than any other state, to
speak out and demand peace. One of the enemy's pickets yesterday proposed to ours to throw the
arms into the river and all go home. It is evident that the peace party is gaining ground
rapidly and if the 300 000 nine months men whose time expires in about 90 days, shall go home
then, as they say they will, I should not be surprised if an armed armistice took place and
there were no more fighting but a year of diplomacy. When Gen. Lee was down the other day he
was diposed to be facetious & he called at Mrs. Taylor's telling "Old Jack" he knew the
ladies wanted to see him & when in introducing him as the famous Stonewall Jackson Mrs
Taylor said she hoped if the Yankees came over again he (Gen. Lee)
would push them into the river. He replied Madam you have no idea what a cruel thing "Old
Stonewall" would have done the other day -- He wanted to push the Yankees right into the river
and I could hardly hold him and if ever they come over again I shall not be able to hold him at
all." In introducing Stuart he said "This is that venturesome fellow Stuart, a pretty clever
sort of man." The next morning Gen. Jackson ordered every man to have a bayonet given to him. I
heard of your deep snow storm and fear you had much trouble from it, but do not expose yourself
my dear I beg of you. William has come and does elegantly, he washed me some flannels and made
them soft white and nice and he looks after everything finely -- I think Humphries will come up
next week and if you have not sent the vests he will call at Maj. Bell's for them, or if they
are there now young Lilley will bring them down. Write to me often, by mail now -- Sweet kisses
for all -- some for your own sweet lips as well as the bairns & God's blessing for you
all --
Your affectionate -- husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
direct as before & add Guinea's P. O. Caroline Co Va
