Letter from Miletus A. Hotchkiss - Civil War Soldier - 1861

Letter from Miletus A. Hotchkiss

17th New York Volunteer Infantry

Chenango American, October 6, 1887

Letter Extracts

We have been furnished with the following extracts from a letter from Miletus A. Hotchkiss of Smithville, a volunteer now in camp at Washington.

Head Quarters 17th Regiment, Sept. 1, 1861

Dear Sister....You ask for the news from our camp.  I will give you such as I have at present. We are within about 7 miles of the enemy's large batteries, at the Point of Rocks, where they are daily strengthening themselves for our reception. They expect to meet us again and defeat us.  We shall have more experienced officers in the next fight, and if they are true, we will fight until victory or death is our portion. We are determined that defeat shall never disgrace us again. The 17th Regiment wish to be victorious or remain upon the battle field.  It is a glorious sight to stand upon the rise of ground which we occupy and look out upon the preparations for the coming contest. Baggage wagons are continually thronging the road while here and there the great procession is intermixed with heavy guns, all trundling towards the set of war.  There passed us yesterday 150 wagons, 43 cannon and about 10,000 men on foot, with numberless cavalry;  one and all, from the beardless boy to the stern man, bound to reap victory or death.  We are held in readiness to march at a moments notice.  Our Colonel has promised us a chance in the next battle.  We are all anxious to avenge the murder of our wounded left upon the bloody field of Bull Run, and sweet revenge it shall be if we ever get at them.  They inhumanly butchered our wounded upon the battle ground, and blood cries out to us that it must be avenged. There is now lying in my tent one of the wounded at Bull Run.  He tells hard stories concerning the battle.

Two of our regiment were captured today by the rebels, while venturing too near their lines.  Capt. Arnold of the Artillery, wanted a company to help him plant his Artillery in a position to rake the rebel batteries.  our Colonel gave him Co. H (our company) because he said the boys would stick to him.  He looked us over and said we were the boys he wanted, and we gave him hearty cheers for preferring us.  We go tomorrow, and so you see we may perhaps have a fight before it is over. We will not disgrace Chenango if we do.  My health is good.  I am Sergeant, and at present officer of the Guard which consists of 80 men  (rather a responsible position).  I expect to get a furlough as soon as the next great battle is over.  Perhaps I shall never see home again;  if so you must not let it trouble your mind. Tell all my friends to write.

M.A.M.

Miletus A. Hotchkiss, b. 1840, d. 22 September 1887, Buried Upper Lisle Cemetery, Triangle, Broome Co., NY; Son of Elisha Tyler and Charlotte (Schenk) Hotchkiss; Married Mary Egbertson.

From Adjutant-General Report, 17th Volunteer Infantry

HOTCHKISS, MILETAS A.:  Age, 21 years, Enlisted May 3, 1861, at Norwich; mustered in as private, Co. H, May 24, 1861, to serve two years; mustered out with company, June 2, 1863, at New York City.

Obituary, 1887:  Dr. K.C. French, of Lisle, Dr. S.P. Allen, of Whitney's Point, and Dr. A.H. Lewis, of Upper lisle, made an autopsy on Friday, of the body of Miletus A. Hotchkiss, who died suddenly at his home in Upper Lisle last Wednesday, and found that he died of chronic ulceration of the stomach. The doctors found an ulcer just above the pyloric orifice, which perforated the stomach and was the immediate cause of his death. There were scars found which showed that he had been troubled with ulceration in years past.  Mr. Hotchkiss had been a soldier and drawn a pension for that trouble, and the claim for pension of his widow seems to meet with the approval of their neighbors.--Lisle Gleaner.

Mr. Hotchkiss was a son of the late Elisha T. Hotchkiss of Smithville, and was well known here [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].  He attended our fair last month, and was sick here, we understand, but finally went home and lived but a few days.  [Chenango American, Oct. 6, 1887]