Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, May 11,
1864
Summary:
Hotchkiss describes continued fighting between Wilderness and Spotsylvania.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Wednesday May 11th 1864 5 A. M.
Near Spotsylvania C.H.
My Dear Wife --
We have now been a week on the war path -- fighting more or less every day, & still the horrid work goes on -- thru the heat & dust of this dry "spell."
We fought the enemy, with varying success, but the results of advantage were only until
Saturday night -- then the enemy left the vicinity of the Wilderness & moved further
down the river & of course we followed on parallel roads, Keeping ourselves between him
& Richmond & skirmishing as we went on -- cavalry performed prodigies of valor,
fighting stubbornly, every advance of the foe & losing heavily -- Ab. Hanna was killed,
Bumgardner wounded, a young McCourt killed &c &c -- our advance met that of the
enemy at Spotsylvania C. H. & drove it back in
confusion on Sunday -- Monday we skirmished with them on opposite sides of the Ny, holding them
in check everywhere -- yesterday the enemy made constant & heavy attacks all along our
line, attempting to take some of our positions 8 or 9 times & late in the evening, by
missing 3 divisions charging down on one line, they broke it and captured the line of
breastworks passing over Doles' & part of the Stonewall & Daniel's Brigades but
Gen. Walker gallantly brought in the rest of the old stonewall & drove them out aided
by Battles Brigade, the enemy again & again attempted to
take the position with a fire of death perfectly terriffic, but all
in vain & though we lost many our line stood firm & by God's blessing, the
battle was not to the strong alone --. in the
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mean time Gen. Early, in command of 2
divisions of Hill's Corps, flanked the enemy's right & came down on them in Jackson
style, carrying 3 lines of the entrenchments & driving them a mile & a half,
the fighting kept up until in the night -- I never heard heavier firing & of course we
have to mourn the loss of many brave men -- Gen. Lee was in the midst of it cheering on our
men. Col. Higginbotham of the 26
th
Va was killed. In the previous fight Thos. Reeves was killed.
Yesterday Capt. Turner of our staff was severly wounded in both
legs -- Capt. Ister was wounded -- The enemy had over 15000 wounded in Fredericksburg day
before yesterday & they had their negro brigade there -- some of their cavalry got
through our lines and went in to the Central R. R. & did
some damage, but I heard that they were captured The enemy was handsomely repulsed below
Richmond by Bushrod and Johnson & we hear cheering news from Western Va -- . Mosby has
broken the Orange & [illeg.]
R. R -- the enemy now communicates by the Acquia Cr Rd. Grant fights stubbornly & keeps butting his head against
our breastworks & is getting it badly bruised. We have been eminently successful
& have abundant cause for thankfulness. I am in good health & getting along
very well & hope you are all getting along well. Be of good
cheer & may the Lord bless you -- Love for you all
Your aff husband
Jed. Hotchkiss
