Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, August
10, 1864
Summary:
Hotchkiss writes to his wife, describing recent troop movements and skirmishes with Union
troops and cavalry. He comments on affairs at home, and sends some items to his family.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Aug. 10th 1864
Head Quarters Valley District
My Dear Sara:
Yours of the 2
nd
came to hand yesterday -- we went across the Potomac on Friday -- took around by way of
Sharpsburg, to near Hagerstown & came back via Williamsport -- got 150 beeves, 2000
bushels of corn, a large lot of leather &c, drove away the
Yankee cavalry -- killed 4 & captured 8 of them & we had one man wounded
& Saturday came back across the Potomac & on to our old camp I got you a bonnet
pattern, sent for it &, did not get the one I wanted -- but you can see if it pleases
you when it gets home -- I got two neck ribbons for the girls -- could only find one bright
colored one -- I enclose them & 2 skeins of silk & a yard of elastic cord
& a paper of needles -- I will send 2 spools of white cotton thread &
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one of black thread -- all I could find -- such little articles are very scarce &
dear -- & there are calls innumberable for them -- We sent our Cavalry over to demand
of Chambersburg $100,000 to pay for the houses of Col. [unclear: Boteler], Andrew
Hunter & Ed. J Lee, that were burned by the order of Hunter, informing them, if they
did not comply that we would burn the town -- The demand was made & they laughed at
Gen. McCausland -- & refused -- he obeyed his order & burned the town --
destroying some 250 houses -- he then left & went westward -- followed for some
distance by Averill, but slowly - our forces came back across the river & to Moorfield
where he encamped -- Johnson's
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Brigade being towards Roumey -- Averill followed
& fell on Johnson at daylight -- finding him asleep -- & routed him completely
-- Johnson was culpably negligent & the affair was extremely disgraceful Johnson barely
escaped, in his stocking feet & on the bare back of a horse. There is but one opnion
about Johnson -- & the only wish is that he had been captured also -- He did good
service in Maryland & is a bold dashing fellow, but has no
discipline -- Averill got about 400 of our men -- I suppose & when he had gotten them
he put back as hard as he could go - - The enemy is said to be moving quite a large force to
Harper's Ferry & we know that part of Grant's army is coming this way -- but we have
arrangements made to meet them in all directions -- We moved today back to near Winchester
to cover the roads leading
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to the passes in the Blue Ridge
-- It is very dry here also -- I am sorry it has been so dry at home -- as I heard that it had
rained there -- I am glad Mr. Geeding will attend to my horses & will be much obliged
to him -- Miss Priss F -- had better dry up -- for I know what the
people of Staunton think of Allie -- I can get along without Handkerchiefs until I get a chance to get mine -- I am wearing some of my flannels -- they are
large enough -- I will get you what I can of your list -- I wrote you what I sent in the box --
it will soon get home -- & I enclose a few items that I have now I am delighted that
the ribbon pleased you -- for my taste is not good -- Glad Anne is
improving -- She shall have the red ribbon for it -- I certainly answered all your queries in
my last letter seriatum -- I enclose you a few envelopes & will put in stamps if I can
get them before I send -- will try for a cloak -- but the chance is poor I fear -- our money is
at such a heavy [illeg.] -- write often -- Love to all & God bless you --
Your affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
