Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, August
28, 1864
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes in brief some movements of the armies. He also discusses matters relating
to a female relative, including her reception at her northern home, and her Confederate
sweetheart.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Sunday P.M. Aug. 28th 1864
Hd. Qrs. V.D. Bunker's Hill Va
My Dear Wife
Yours of the 15th came yesterday, the first glad messenger I have rec'd for a long time & right welcome it was -- delighted with the tidings that you felt cheered up -- had been visiting some &c &c and also with the news from Allie -- I have written you all the news up to date -- wrote to you only day before yesterday, from Shepherdstown -- yesterday we came back here to our old camp -- Anderson came back towards Winchester & today the Yankee cavalry has been demonstrating all along our front & our cavalry has fallen back some, but we have remained quietly in camp & there has been preaching, for the first time in a good while -- I have never known a more active campaign, but is the only kind to protect us from the movements of the Yankees -- we must keep them busy all the time or their roving dispositions will cause them to annoy us.
Henry K. Cochran was drunk & remained
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behind at Chambersburg to ransom
houses for "greenbacks" & was killed by some of the Yankees or citizens, no one knows
which -- Some of our men behaved very badly, but I wrote to you about that before Allie has
found it as I expected -- I have seen enough of Northern society in our visits to Pa. & Md. to satisfy me that
any one holding Southern sentiments there would be uncomfortable -- The boys &c. serve
her as they used to me -- I distinctly remember a chill I once had in Aug. riding from Great
Bend to [illeg.], that nearly froze me. It is strange she did not get my letter -- I
enclosed it in one to Nancy & she ought to have know the
address. I am not surprised at the turn her affair with Capt. Stenett has taken -- absence has,
as usual, sweetened love & he has found an aching void no one else can fill -- I am
glad of it on account of both parties & will write to Allie the first time I have a
chance to come to Martinsburg or Shepherdstown & from there she can easily get
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up the Valley -- we go to those places every week or so & they change hands
regularly every fortnight, this offering great facilities for coming or going -- I found an old
acquaintance at Sheperdstown, the Rev. Miller, of the Lutheran Ch.
who formerly preached in Mt. Crawford & she can come to his house I think there will be
no trouble about her getting through, I am really delighted at the faithfulness they show
& think it augers well for their future -- I am glad too to have relations marry
& live near us & help to make home circles I will write for her sister to come
with her, but not unless her sentiments accord with Allie's for without that she would be as
uncomfortable her as Allie is there. William is well & doing
well, is an excellent boy -- I ate come corn yesterday that did not agree with me &
have been under the weather today, but feel better this evening -- it is the first time I have
been at all unwell. I bought you a pound & a half of tea which I will send you by the
first chance -- I cd.
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only find black tea -- but will try & get other during the summer -- I paid
$25. Confederate for the 1 1/2 lbs -- I think I will get you some nice flannell next time we go to Shepherdstown -- I have heard where there is some -- I see
by a recent order that all the detailed farmers are obliged to sell all their surplus to soldiers families at the government price or
be put into the Army -- So I hope you will have no difficulty in procuring supplies -- Did my
letter with the ribbons &c come to hand -- I send you a few stamps & envelopes
I have but few stamps on hand -- It is quite cool -- wish I could have a bedfellow to help me
to keep warm -- How do the children like the books & you the bonnet stuff? -- I lately
saw some children's & ladies hats made of corn shucks -- & trimmed with the
same wrought into a band of rosettes &c -- they were very pretty Write often -- Good
bye my sweet one & may the Lord bless you all --.
Your loving husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
