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Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss, July 3, 1864

Summary:
Hotchkiss describes the army's movements, and their accomodations along the way. He briefly mentions actions of the Union troops and of the Lincoln administrations.


Sara A. Hotchkiss

July 3 rd 1864

Winchester, Va

My Dearest One:

We spent last night at Winchester & today are marching on toward Martinsburg, Shepperdstown, through the dust as usual -- it has been very warm. -- We spent the first night after we left Staunton at Mr. [illeg.], near Mt. Crawford -- he was very unwilling for us to encamp on him but that did no good -- he played the churl decidedly & had some old shrew there that made the air vocal with her croakings. We went the next night beyond Big Spring, to Mr Cousins -- two of the red headed damsels there had gotten married since we stopped there in 1862 -- the next night we went to near Mrs. Jackson, to [illeg.] Mt Airy (Moe Jordan's daughter's) -- had a good supper there -- the next day brought us to Strasburg & yesterday to Winchester -- I took dinner at Inck's in Harrisonburg, he did not [illeg.] Mr Kinney has not succeded in paying off his debts -- John T. Hams was about -- the people there speak bitterly of [illeg.] & Robert Gray -- say they shall bring them to an account for the same -- Mr. Inck lives in H -- in P[illeg.]'s house. I called yesterday evening at Mr. [unclear: Hicoronineces] to thank them for their kindness to Allie -- found them at tea & took tea there -- they are very nice people indeed & they have many beautiful flowers -- the two daughters are at home -- they are sweet girls -- The enemys cavalry made a dash into Winchester yesterday morning [deleted: ] stay was short & we soon came in follow[illeg.] -- they are much alarmed along the border, but do not [illeg.] what is coming -- we got the Baltimore Papers of the [illeg.]st yesterday -- [unclear: Mr. Lincoln] has passed an emancipate act -- Chase has [unclear: issued] -- I saw a [illeg.] from Balte -- who says gold is four for one -- We encamp tonight at Leetown -- 8 miles from the Potomac -- We drove the Yankees out of Martinsburg & away from the R. R. at Kernysville Our cavalry had a fight with them here we had some 25 killed & wounded -- The enemy does not make much resistance

[page 2]
We captured some stores & they burned some -

I hope you are all well -- I am, thank the Lord, in fine health -

Be of good cheer & may the Lord's blessing be with you -- Love & kisses for all -- Write soon

Your Aff husband

Jed. Hotchkiss



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