Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July
19, 1863
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes a Sunday in camp. He comments on the New York draft riots and Northern
morale, and says that the Gettysburg casualties were much fewer than reported.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
July 19th 1863
Head Quarters 2 nd Corps Darkesville Va.
My Dearest:
Yours of the 11th, one week ago today, came to hand yesterday, and
though I have written to you twice & wrote to you yesterday by
Humphreys, in sending back my baggage, yet I will write again in reply to yours -- We are quiet
-- in camp and the voices of prayer & praise again goes peacefully up instead of the
sounds of strife that have so much of late disturbed our Sabbaths.
Mr. Lacy preached at our Head Quarters at 9 A.M. & now he
has gone to preach near Gen. Johnson's Quarters -- his text was "Seek
the Lord & ye shall find him" &c -- a very good short practical lecture. The
enemy came over to near Leetown, day before yesterday, cavalry & was repulsed by Stuart
and driven back to the river at Shepherdstown -- the day before that they advanced from
Harper's Ferry & were driven back, but they captured Col. Harman, who was thrown
from
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his horse and stunned by the fall which led some of his men to think he was
killed or badly wounded. A paper was taken from the Yankees at that time which had in an
account of the riots in N.Y. City, resulting from an attempt to enforce the "Conscript Act", in
which Kennedy, the Chief
Marshall & some of his assistants were killed, a square of
the city burned up Governor's Island taken possession of the arms, railroads, telegraphs
&c of the city held by the mob &c &c, all of which you will soon see,
no doubt, showing that time long predicted of opposition at home to Lincoln's domination may
have already come -- The rain interfered with us seriously & made it a matter of
necessity, almost, for us to cross the river, we offered Meade battle for three days, but he
went to fortifying himself so we came off and left him, passing the river in safety and our
army is rapidly filling up from stragglers & convalescents & we are getting our
men shod &c &c -- ready for what may be -page three- deemed best for the
country - We regret the loss of Vicksburg, but consider that no vital blow was struck by its
capture & we feel that upon the very heels of reverses our most brilliant victories
have always hung & therefore, trusting in God, we look confidently to the future - The
events I spoke of in the North have all transpired since the fall of Vicksburg - so you see the
reputed "victories" of the "Union" army have not made the North a unit, and if you had seen, as
we saw in Pa., the hatred of parties to one another, you would readily believe they never would
become a unit. I started most of my baggage home yesterday & went to Winchester to see
about my bundle - it went on to Staunton by Capt. Persinger & I sent it to the care of
Maj. Bell, it may have gone to the Express office - it was wrapped up in a piece of oil cloth - you ought to have received it long ago
- I know it went to Staunton. I saw note paper sold in Winchester Yesterday at $3 a quire,
& suppose that is what it is worth, so the two bundles you will have to sell are worth
$20, or $30 - I mean the two 1/4 reams of note paper - Keep everything else of
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papers I send back & see that all the things are dry before putting away -- I cannot
send you any heavy articles & you must do the best you can & I will aid when in
my power - I wish such extortion could be stopped -- but if you sell or trade away anything you
must make prices correspond to what you have to pay -- in no other way can you live -- I am
sorry for Mrs. Allen -- she has my heartfelt sympathy -- I thought they all were safe &
had not heard of the deaths you speak of -- but "it is appointed, unto all men, once to die" and if they die nobly doing their duty it is well, they
might have died as soon ingloriously at ease in the quiet of their homes -- they could not die
before their appointed time & if prepared it is all well -- William is well &
sends his love to May & the children, our loss at Gettysburg has been much exaggerated, we did not lose more than at
Chancellorsville -- I am quite sure from returns that have come in, that 15000 will cover all
our losses -- I sent you a few candles -- abolish night work -- for candles are not to be had
-- it's a fact & facts are stubborn things -- I write on my knees sitting on the ground
& expect to eat off & sleep on the grouond &c &c -- so go though times & like reasonable philosophers we must adapt ourselves
to them -- enjoy what we have & not think of what we have not. It exhausted my funds to
buy my goods or I would send you money now, but will send when I draw my pay for this month --
Be of good cheer -- & May God bless you all. Remember me kindly to my friends -- Much
love for you all at home -
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
