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
