Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss,
February 20, 1863
Summary:
Hotchkiss writes to his wife, detailing his muddy and difficult trip back to camp.
Mrs. Sara A. Hotchkiss Churchville Augusta Co. Va. over Press Table Corn Dye tube Sara A. Hotchkiss Moss Neck, Caroline Co. Va.
Feb. 20th 1863
My Darling:
I know you are waiting anxiously to hear from me, so I will write now, the first chance, so
that "hope deferred may not make the heart sick". My whole trip back was one of haps and
mishaps -- only think -- four days for one day's ride: but I may as well tell you the ode (I
mean the way) & the episode -- You [underscore] know when we started, but how we found
the roads I only can tell & so we made slow progress, and my watch was a half hour too
slow, so we got to Staunton just as the whistle sounded & I jumped on the cars with my
heavy carpet bag and told Cy to put on my box -- I got on but the box was too heavy, so it
missed & I had the mortification of seeing myself born away and my box standing on the
platform, but "faint heart never won fair lady" or a good dinner either, so I rode on to
Waynesboro, telegraped to the agent to take care of my box, found a freight train going to
Staunton &, free of charge, rode back, found my box, all in order, transacted some
business, found a letter there from Boswell asking me to get him numerous little fixings, which
I got -- went with Maj Bell to dinner, and home with Capt. Lilley for the night as he was going
to the army in the morning -- so passed the first day (By the way, Mr. Phillips promised to
send you, or leave at Kaysers or Dr. Young's some Martins seeds for you.) I saw Mr. Walker in
town and gave him $5. for you and some stamps -- he told me a good story of Mrs. Gaines
& "the one that is to come", which I told the Gen. and amazed
him very much --. We were up in time Tuesday morning, you may be sure, through the snow, and
got off in time -- Maj. McCue on board says Aunt Margaret has been very sick, but is now better
-- he was going to Richmond -
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Everything went well till we got to Gordonsville and
there our engine ran off the track & we were there several hours before it was gotten
on the track Stuart passed there on his way to Culpeper Co. -- where I suppose he is going to
make a raid. An old man on the train amused us much by his witty stories -- about pitch, tar
& turpentine &c Mr. Van Meter, from Hardy Co. was on the cars, he says the
Yankees have left that region - says William Maslin is now teaching
school on Lost River. -- Mr. Van Meter wanted to know if I would not
come to Hardy Co. and teach -- says he will find me fifteen scholars at $100 each for tuition,
if I will come there -- and he is wealthy enough to make good his offer -- so there is one
chance (D. V.) only it is too far North. I opened my satchel and divided my loaf of bread with
Tate, Lilley, Van Meter &c, as they could get nothing there to eat. We got off from
Gordonsville at a late hour and in the night, when near the Junction, 4 miles off, we found a
freight train off the track, in a cut, so we were fixed and there we spent the night and the
next day until noon, when we waded round, through the mud and got on a train that came up from
Richmond, and by dint of hard lifting got our baggage transferred also -- the Richmond
passengers coming round to our train, and then we backed to the Junction -- there I got my
dinner with Maj. Kearsley & gave him some sausage, got my baggage on a freight train,
sat up until midnight, Wednesday, then went on the freight train to Guinea's -- got there at 3 A.M. Thursday -- got into Maj. Hawk's tent wet and cold --
made a big fire & laid down on the bare floor and went to sleep -- tired out -- The mud
& water cover the whole country, and some of the troops that were moving were almost
lost in it. William brought my horse to the depot by noon and I got to camp a while before
sundown -- almost miring, several times, on my way here -- I have not
got my box up yet, for we are hav-
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ing all our carrying done on horse-back -- but
the heavy rain of Wednesday night settled the roads some and yesterday and today the wind and
rain have been busy wiping up the wet & we may soon have wagons going again. I cut my
cake today -- it was very nice -- divided among my friends and took the Gen. several pieces --
all said it was very good indeed -- Boswell took a piece to Mrs. Corbin & what do you
think he says she said? Why that "she loved me for it." Are you "just the least bit" jealous? I have been at work today, but it goes hard -- I have been up so
coming here & exposed to the cold &c &c that I feel quite dull
& unfit for d[illeg.].
Everything is quiet here, and it is thought a good many of the enemy have left the other side, but they still have pickets there. Humpheys brought back some fruit & butter so we get along very well until my box can come up -- his wife was "big with child" and he is sorry he went quite so soon -- so he told Brown.
I hope my babies did not cry themselves sick but were well the next morning after I left -- . I was much gratified to see how much they were improving and growing girl like -- on the way to woman hood & hope they may continue the same good road --
I am too weary to think or write more, so excuse me this time -- write to me quite soon -- for I am anxious to know how you all are --
God bless you & keep you safely
Your loving husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
