Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, October
19, 1863
Summary:
Hotchkiss responds to news from home, and mentions briefly the movement and activities of the
Army.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Oct 19th 1863
Camp near Brandy
My Dear Sara
I just received your letter of the 13
th
telling me of the sad condition of poor Allie -- Heaven help her -- I am so sorry I was
not at Home to cheer & console her, it is such a blow to her & to you -- alone
as you both are -- I can only attribute it to the condition of his system, his nerves shattered
by the rackings of his disease -- I do not want to think it anything else & feel that
as soon as he recovers from his prostration he must feel that he has cruelly wounded the
feelings of one that confided so fully in him -- almost outraged them after desiring, almost
insisting upon her remaining here -- I cannot bring myself to think he would act so meanly
& must lay all to the charge of his situation & hope Allie will do so too
& cheer up & await the return of health to him & not by brooding over
it impair her own I know the depth of her womanly love & how it must prey upon her
spirits, but she must lean upon that Almighty arm that changes not & fear not, trusting
that all will yet be well -- She need not fear want of any kind -- for we have told her that
our home is hers & she is as one of our own children & I trust will so feel
& think. It is hard to have one's cherished desires crushed in
a moment & when we thought our joys almost complete to have them suddenly turned to
sorrow but such is life -- such is the expereince of everyone & it is sound philosophy
& true religion to meet the changes of life with resignation & compassion when
we are assured that we have fully done our duty -- so I bid you all cheer up & hope for
the "smiling face" behind the frowning providence. I am glad she was met so kindly by Rhett
& the others -- so was some sunshine to the stormy day -- I can also imagine the F. has
been [illeg.] by some complaints of his poor old father
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whose heart is
unsanctified by religion has no joys of its own & feels restless & complaining
& these complaints to F in his condition have almost unhinged him & hence his
words & manner -- so I think it may be & a little time will restore him to
himself -- Let us fondly hope so -- But I will say no more now -- though it presses sadly on my
thoughts amid all this bustle of the moving of a mighty host. How full your feelings were my
Dear your letter attests, for you mentioned nothing else save that you were well I have written
to you 3 times & sent you some money -- hope they have all come to hand -- I wrote to
you last form Bristol we could not catch the Yanks to fight so we have destroyed the Railroad & come back to Culpeper & encamped -- I spent
last night at Mrs. Wise's her daugthers were well & had gotten along well, but were
much surprised that their mother had not come over & had only heard from her by the
letter I brought over -- they are very anxious for their mother to send after the stock as they
have no feed -- I wish you would tell Reed to send my butter over, our camp will be near Brandy
at present -- he can find some one that is coming over to take charge of it & we will
pay expenses & send him the amount as soon as we hear from it -- I think you had better
buy a few bushels of potatoes of Mr. Geading -- I shall want a few bushels when we go into
winter quarters -- I will send you $100 in a few days -- Hope you are getting along as comfortably as your situation will allow -- Much love and kisses for
all the family - Good bye & God blessyou all
Your affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
Write soon to Brandy
