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Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July 25, 1863

Summary:
Hotchkiss briefly describes a small battle at Front Royal, the weather, and a Sunday's rest.


Sara A. Hotchkiss

Saturday July 25 th 1863

Camp Near Luray

My Dear Sara:

I have not heard from you for a long time & have written to you several times, but I know, with your accustomed thoughtfulness, you have written to me many times & in our moving about the letters have turned by the wayside & I can only blame the carriers for my want of sweet missives from My lone dove at home -- We went down to Martinsburg last Tuesday hoping to buy a party of Yankees under Kelly, but they got wind of our movement & lift so we came back & followed after the rest of the army to Front Royal, there the enemy attempted to oppose our going across the ridge, but we moved out and gave three of their corps a fight with one Division of ours & drove them back until we passed by & then they came down to Front Royal -- & we came up to the place and will be here over Sunday, our men need rest badly -- we had 45 killed & wounded in our little fight at Front Royal

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I know not where we may have to go, it depends on the movement of the Yankee army - but we are bound for one the Ridge to some place, to put ourselves in the way of Meade's advance

Sunday July 26 th They moved up to the foot of the Mt. yesterday, 3 miles from Luray and there rest for the holy Sabbath & it is a lovely morning, giving promise of a joyous day for inanimate nature, for it rained hard last night, with thunder & lightning & tempered the fervent heats of the past few days, laid the dust & worked the face of creation -- we shall all enjoy this much needed rest, animals as well as men, and then the pasturage here is very fine. I saw Sam Chapman yesterday, he said his mother was very low, could hardly survive -- I hope my bundle has reached you by this time -- and I hope too I

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may soon hear from you, I have not heard in so long that I feel quite uneasy -- Lt. Smith goes up today & I send this horrid note by him -- I am in excellent health, thank a kind Providence, and doing very well, only earnestly wishing that this war may cease & I permitted to return once more, but still I am for fighting this war out, and hope it may not last long -- Smith is going & I must close -- Good bye & God bless you all Write soon my love

Your Affectionate husband

Jed. Hotchkiss

I enclose Forty Dollars, which you may need --



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