Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July
22, 1862
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes the army's encampment north of Gordonsville, after a battle near
Richmond.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Tuesday Morning July 22nd 1862
Camp Near Gordonsville
My Dr. Wife:
We are now encamped some four miles North of Gordonsville, in Orange Co, on the waters of the
Rapidan, in a very pleasant rolling country, on the slopes of the South West Mountain, in full
view of the Blue Ridge, that reminds us of our homes, the General says, and on the road leading
from Gordonsville, through Madison C.H. and on to New Market,
in a very pleasant region, where we have an abundance of good water, and where our worn out and
exhausted men can be refreshed after the toils and dangers of the Richmond fight -- So much for
our locality -- a very good one I may add -- now the next question you will propose will be how
long we are going to stay here, and where are we going to &c I can only say the General
has fixed the camps so that our men can drill
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and has selected a quiet &
nice place for Hd. Qrs. with much care and that we have
quietly pitched our tents and gone to work on our maps, so it looks as though we might stay
here for some days at least. The Yankees picked themselves up yesterday and left Madison C. H. and the vicinity of the Rapidan and retired beyond Culpeper
C. H. having, no doubt, got notice that Jackson was moving
towards them, and Pope, after all his boasting, is none too eager, I will warrant, to meet the
victor of many fights.
My clothes came to me on Sunday, quite unexpectedly, but very acceptably, though I was disappointed in not finding a letter in them -- for I wrote from Staunton and also the day I got to Gordonsville -- but I suppose you overworked yourself fixing up my clothes and had no time to write --. I will write again soon -- Direct to Gen. Jackson's Hd. Qrs. near Gordonsville. I am very well. May God bless you all -- write very soon
Your aff. husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
