Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss,
November 5, 1864
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes camp life, troop enlistment, and miscellaneous news about friends and
neighbors, a church meeting, and Northern opinion of the war.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Nov. 5 th 1864
Head Quarters Valley District New Market Va.
My Dear Wife:
The labors of the day being over & night with its quiet -- Saturday evening quiet,
& the prospect of a day of rest in anticipation, I will do, what I have thought of
doing all the week, write you a long letter -- You will ask why I have put it off, -- if you
could look into my 8 by 10 cloth house, with camp stove in one corner, Robinson &
drawing table in one corner, Oltman, ditto, in another & your "other half" Do, in
another & all busy from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. & then some at night, you would not
ask the question, for you would know that I am pretty well tired out when bed time comes, for I
have not yet gotten used to the confinement, we have been such rovers this summer that I have
been in the saddle more hours than in my office & now the Reports of the year's operations are to be made out & the number of maps, plans of
battles &c to be made is almost incredible, but I have gone at it with a will &
intend to finish them within the year, if possible.
[page 2]
Everything is quiet -- we are
drilling the army & getting it thoroughly reorganized & ready for any emergency
or opportunity. The reserves & detailed men are coming in rapidly & being
examined & assigned either to the army or light duty, as they are found capable or not.
I saw M. J. M Hanger today, he has been passed for "light duty" & will go to Richmond
with the others -- he told me Mr. Euritt was also "passed" for the same &, recommend
for his trade at a "post" or light hospital duty & he will be sent on at the same time
& may get to Staunton, in the shops there, that is the best that can be done for him
now -- the Government is determined to have every one -- I hope Mrs. Euritt will bear it calmly & she may rest assured that
Mr. Euritt will not be exposed if unfit for field duty. I still think
all "things work together for good" to indicate a speedy conclusion of the war & if we
are able to keep the enemy at bay, as heretofore, to the end of this campaign we shall not be
troubled by them another year -- I learn from a scout that the prevailing
[page 3]
opinion at
the "North" is that the war will end this year. By the way, the Yankees down here say they are
going back below Winchester as soon as the Election is over -- I am sorry Reed has gone, if he
has, but I think he will be back -- Mr. Euritt came to see me & looked very well, I
thought. I enclose you some Yankee stamps -- I did not tell you of the paper in my saddlebags
-- I see you have found it. -- use what you need for yourself, but do
not let any go, for it is Engineer property that I sent home for safe
keeping -- by the way I sent off all my white envelopes, I believe -- if this reaches you
before William leaves, send me 25 back. Maj. Bell was to send Maj.
Green's clothes & bed out to our house, but I reckon he sent them away in his flight
& has not brought them back -- I will write to him about them -- Glad you had a good
time chestnuting & that you are able to stir about -- nothing like it -- helps
digestion & keeps the clouds out of the head & makes one sleep well at night --
[page 4]
I enclose to you every day or so, the files of the
papers that I get here -- so you can get the reading of them & put them away -- If Miss
Susan does anything to the coat I want it turned -- if she has not
undertaken "the job" why you may let it rest -- The Methodists are having "Big Meetings" here
& revivals - crowded houses day & night -- the soldiers are near enough to come
to meeting -- I imagine William has not been of much service to you -- the weather has been bad
-- & he has wanted to be with "Maj" &c -- but if you got your fall work some of
it off your hands I will, by the blessing of Providence get home in time to have some work done
before New Year's. Put my bottle of ink in a safe place -- I shall
draw some money Monday & will avail myself of the first chance to send you some -- I
wrote to you to get all the items I left on the [unclear: memo] for you -- they will
all be needed - especially the "bread" -- & potatoes -- I sent for the gloves for Miss
Kate -- hope they will come -- I wrote you about Mr. R's shirt -- he is away tonight -- Write
often -- be of good cheer & May Heaven's choicest blessings be with all my "dear ones
at home" -- Nelly can read the "Humming Bird" in the "Examiner"
Your Affectionate husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
