Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, May 19,
1863
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes the battle of Chancellorsville, including details of how General Jackson
got shot. He describes the actions of the Yankees in the Valley, and the reactions of the
inhabitants.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
May 19 th 1863
2 nd Corps Army of Northern Virginia
My Dear Wife:
I got back today from my survey of the battle field in which I have been engaged for more
than a week past, & employ this evening in bringing up my correspondence, limited as it
is, I have only written one briefe note, and that to you, since the battles -- for it was
necessary to use all the diligence in my power to get what I had to do, done & out of
the way before, any thing else should happen -- It has been very warm & very cool too,
quite changeable, but still healthy. You have before this, long before, heard of Gen. Jackson's
death, funeral processions & burial -- he is gone and sleeps in the Valley he loved so
much -- We miss him all the time & a void is made here which time can hardly fill -- it
seems not like our "old Head Quarters to any of us & less
to me than to any one else, for my tent mate is gone as well as my General -- I do not know
whether I shall stay here or not, I shall for the present. Gen. A.P. Hill is in command of our
Corps, he is an able General & will fill well the place of Gen Jackson in a purely military point of view, but he is not a "man of God" like &
wears not "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon", but still we have Gen. Lee, a good man & true, faithful in all things & we trust Gen.
Jackson "still lives" to plead our cause. Our success was a decided one, the Yankess had
exhausted every appliance to make Hooker's Army complete & it had the power of numbers,
he could not have managed more men & yet we routed & defeated them at every
point and compelled them to seek safety in flight, and though we had a large number of men
wounded, yet many of them were slight & a large number have already returned to
duty-our loss in killed was disproportionately small, less than usual for the numbers engaged,
though the loss of officers was remarkably large. Some that we thought killed were only
captured & will soon be back. Gen. Jackson was riding ahead of his men after we had
routed the enemy & pursued them some 2 miles when, it having become twilight he
suddenly came on the enemy's skirmishers & being appraised of it by some one he turned
back, when a line
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of our men on the side of the road mistook him & his staff
for the Yankess coming back & fired on them, he then went towards the other side of the
road & was fired on again -- by our own men -- Boswell had just gone to report to Gen.
A. P. Hill who was putting his men in front at the time -- taking the place of Rodes' men who
had been in the front during the day & he was a little behind Gen. Jackson when it is supposed his horse rushed forward & thus brought
him under the fire of the volley of musketry the enemy opened very soon after our men fired --
Maj. Pendleton & myself came riding up a little distance behind, a few rods &
came up to Gen. Jackson a moment before the Yankee Volley opened & I had started back
after Dr. McGuire as the enemy opened several pieces of artillery on us in the road, a short
distance off, with grape & canister, one of the most terrific storms of such missles I
ever saw -- and I was only surprised that every one exposed to it was not destroyed for it
raked the road which was full of soldiers, artillery, officers on horseback &c -- I
hope to never be in such a place again. I went to the hospital where Gen. Jackson was taken & then to where Gen. Lee was, that night, aftermidnight, having
to go a long ways & I did not get back to look for Boswell until noon the next day, in
fact the enemy had possesion of the place where he was killed until about the time -- I found
him looking perfectly natural, a smile on his face -- I have no doubt he was instantly killed,
for two bullets went through his memorandum book in his side pocket & then through his
heart. I got an ambulance and took his body to a nice family grave-yard, Mr. Lacy's brother's
and there had a grave dug & wrapped his over coat closely around him, putting the cape
over his head & buried him thus, in all the martial dress, lowering him to his resting
place in a shelter tent I picked up on the field of battle, and then spreading it over him --
Mr. Lacy made a noble prayer & we finished our sad duty just as the moon rose over the
distant hill of his own loved native county, Mr. Lacy, Mr. Brown & myself & the
two men that dug the grave were all that were there & we freely wept a we left his
manly form to await the last trump -- he was a Christian & has gained by the exchange
of worlds, I doubt not -- and so too has our "Great Leader" for this life was to him one of
constant toil and anxious care for the welfare of those entrusted to him -- and for the good of
our beloved country -- they were both true to their country & their God --
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I
am sorry the people despond. I see no reason to do so, but, on the contrary, much to cheer and
gladden -- true lives have been sacrificed, but such is the price of liberty and without it
there can be no redemption -- all will mourn, I doubt not, but the
days must come when sorrow shall be turned into joy. I have not the most distant idea that
Virginia will be given up, I see nothing to indicate it, but much, very much, that proves
conclusively, to my mind, that we shall successfully hold it & perhaps make it too warm
to hold the enemy at the same time -- trust still in God's protecting care -- the enemy has
gained but little ground here, in Va. I mean & holds that at our discretion, as proven
by the successful movement of Imboden & Jones, and I do not think the Yankees will ever
be able to make another successful raid towards Richmond, Stuart will be after them -- he is
now in the saddle & may be heard from ere long -- he commanded our Corps after Gen.
Jackson's wound was received for Gen. A. P. Hill was struck by a spent
ball & bruised so he had to go off the field & nobly did Stuart lead it too.
The conduct of the enemy is horrible in the Valley, but I hope our day of retribution will come
soon -- I saw a poor woman yesterday whom the Yankees had robbed of every thing the third time,
she had been in good circumstances, she was mending an old & tattered dress, the only
one they had left her she said save the poor one she had on -- they had taken every thing she
had laid up to eat -- she said she prayed & she hoped it was not a wicked prayer "That
there migh never be another Yankee child born & that not one of the race might be left
on the face of the earth by the first day of next June" -- & as she spoke the tears ran
down her cheeks -- . I wrote to you about the Lindsey place -- I do not want it now & I
will think about the other -- I send you forty dollars in this letter -- have you used your
check -- If you put me up a jar of butter make it saltier &
hack it harder if you can -- It is late & I am tired -- so my love to you may our
Heavenly Father bless you. Write soon
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
