Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July
30, 1861
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes his recent illness, the army's move from McDowell to Monterey, Va., and
the possibilities for a post with General Lee's staff.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
July 30th 1861 Tuesday 9 P.M.
Monterey Va.
My Ever Dear Wife
I promised to write to you from McDowell the next day after Nelson left -- I found myself
sick -- truly sick from head to foot -- had a severe pain all might in my abdomen -- was
fainting sick -- one of the boys gave me a dose of [unclear: Radmay's] Ready Relief
& I commenced vomiting & purging in earnest, but was still in much pain so I
took another dose -- the [unclear: hottest] medicine I ever saw -- it produced no
nausea but vomited me in a moment & I kept on -- then I besthought me of the tea you so kindly sent me & had one of the boys go to a
house nearby & get some made for me -- it was good but it did not stop my ailings -- so
Capt. Lilley proposed about dark that I should go to Mrs. Alexander's, near by, where I was
very kindly cared for, put in a clean bed -- the first one I have been in since I left home --
was very sick until midnight, lonely enough too in the midst of a house full of sick &
well -- but by keeping quiet my diarrhaea got checked & I
slept some, in the morning they gave me a nice cup of scalded bread & milk & it
braced me up a good deal -- that was Sunday morning & the order came for us to move
back here -- it is too bad that they will always move here on Sunday, but there was no choice
& as I was the only staff officer here I was almost obliged to come so I got Mrs.
Alexander to give me a canteen full of boiled milk & laid down
[page 2]
on the top
of a baggage wagon & jolted over here -- kept up by my canteen of milk -- we pitched
our tents in the edge of town & I went to my bed on the ground -- I was not able to
help fix up but Cadet Holt who stays with us -- who formerly lived at Jenning's Gap, kindly
fixed up things & made me a good cup of tea & one of the boys got me a nice
piece of light bread & I ate quite a supper & slept very well -- Yesterday I
had a good many orders to issue & copy & was asked to copy a map for Gen.
Loring too & so the day wore away in full employment & I did not get a chance
to write & today I have been very busy & made a map which was a theme of much
praise & [unclear: which] will not doubt secure me a
situation in Gen. Loring's or Lee's staff, so Col. Stevenson, Gen. L's Adjutant says &
he has the Gen's confidence -- they all want me to stay in the Regt.
tho' as Adjutant but that is not my sphere -- I am promised a
furlough -- but do not want to come home until they paymaster comes here
so I can get my pay for what I have done, that I may be able to do what I wish to for your
& the children's comfort. If I get the post I want I shall continue at that all the
time as that is congenial to my taste. Maj. Reger got back today -- fixed up in good style -- a
bran new suit from head to foot -- he was in Richmond & went
to see his family -- he came back through Churchville & is full of praises of the
pretty girls he met there - - in the road as he passed through. Since dark Cadet Holt &
I went out on a straw or hay --
[page 3]
seeking expedition, as the ground is getting rather
hard since it has been dry for a few days -- the Quarter Master sd
there was none, but we went way down the road to where the hay stacks had been & I
filled up from the leavings one of my blankets which I had sewed up into a bay for the purpose
& I expect to sleep gloriously tonight, as I washed up this morning & put on
clean clothes -- the new shirt you sent me -- it is first rate -- sleeves a little long, but it
makes no difference -- I want pay day to come so I can buy you a lot of calico here -- as they
have a good deal & sell it at the old prices -- I have been trying today to get some
washing done, but the pollution of the place is such that the waters are not in a condition to
wash with, unless brought from some ways -- it is the worst place in the state for men to be
that are not well -- there are few houses & they are full of all sorts &
conditions & the sick have a hard time, some of them die daily -- but the well men are
now very well supplied with tents -- we got ours today & I wish you could step in
& see us -- a wall tent, quite like a house -- stand 1 chair & 1 camp stool,
boxes, clothes guns & swords all round -- & Maj. R -- & myself along
writing to our wives -- he has quit & I am very tired -- and then tattoo has beaten
& we must off to bed -- I have a very bad cold but that will do me good & am
feeling very well -- write to me here & I shall get it -- there is no news here -- we
may move to the Alleghany or to Huntersville any day -- God bless you & the children --
Love to all -- keep in good spirits my love --
Good Night --
Jed. Hotchkiss
