Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, May 15,
1864
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes to his wife the results and outcome of fighting near Spotsylvania. He
mentions a number of deaths, and speculates on the state of the Union army, including its
morale.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
May 15th 1864
Head Quarters 2nd Corps -- Near Spotsylvania Court House --
My Dear Sara --
I wrote you a few lines day before yesterday, immediately after our desperate battle
& hope they reached you -- we have not had any fight since then -- only a little
skirmishing -- the enemy has fallen back from our left & we drove him back on our
right, he is still lying between us & the river -- not daring to attack &
unwilling to retreat -- his losses have been great -- as we find many dead in the lines he has
abandoned -- many more than we have lost -- Our loss has been far less than at Chancellorsville
-- 3500 it is thought will cover all our losses since we started, & we have captured
some 4500 of the enemy -- saying nothing about the killed & wounded -- the Yankee
papers say they lost 20000 in the first fight -- if so they have lost
50000 in all -- too large an estimate I suppose, but not much, for they made 8 or 10 attacks
upon our breastworks, where our men were defended & protected & were repulsed
with terrible slaughter we are cheered today by the news from the Valley -- but saddened,
deeply saddened by the death of Gen. J. E. Stuart -- one of the noblest spirits in the
Confederacy -- peace to his ashes, his memory is embalmed in the hearts of his countrymen --
for he has done noble service for us -- he has gone to join our noble army of sainted heroes
above, Jackson, Ashby & hundred upon hundreds more -- Heaven console his wife &
defend her & his babes -- how little I thought I witnessed their last farewell when I
saw them part at Orange Court House the day I first came back to
camp. Gen. Daniels has died too, a noble North Carolinian -- Heaven has
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been merciful
to us in enabling us to keep back the past that came like an army of locusts, but what a
sacrifice have we made to propitiate the favor -- I suppose we shall have to fight Grant again
& perhaps not far from here, but I have an abiding confidence in our ability to cope
with him, by Divine assistance, -- his army has become demoralized by his repeated &
unsuccessful attacks, though he gained some temporary advantages & took considerable
artillery from us -- yet his men know that he has made no advance towards conquering our army
& that he has made no progress towards Richmond -- the time of many of them is out
& they are going home -- the larger portion of his veterans has been destroyed or
captured --
May 16th All quiet still this morning -- we are in the same position, the enemy has gone towards Fredericksburg -- we have had heavy rains every day & it is very muddy -- I have no time to write more -- Love & Kisses for you all & may Heaven bless you -- Write often --
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
