Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/196

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

ciation with a <mall company of other young men, he went to the newly exploited coal region at Lyken's \'alley, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While he was studying the geological formation of this region, he was also engaged in teaching school, and when school closed he and another teacher trav- eled on foot through the Cumberland Val- ley of Pennsylvania, the Piedmont region of Mar^dand, the Shenandoah and the James river of the great valley of Virginia, and some sections of Piedmont, Virginia. While crossing the Blue Ridge several times in the course of this trip he became thoroughly familiar with many features of the land which were destined to be of signal useful- ness to him in his later career. In the fall of 1847 he became a teacher in the family of Daniel Forrer, of Mossy Creek, Augusta county. Virginia, and his success in this capacity was so encouraging, that it resulted in the founding of the Mossy Creek Acad- emy, which, under his supervision, became one of the most noted schools of the state. For various reasons he sold his interest in this in 1858, and removed to Stribling Springs, same county, where he was at the head of a small school one year. He then, in association with a brother from New York, purchased an extensive, well culti- vated farm at Churchville, in the same county, and in the fall opened the Loch Willow School for Boys, which he conducted with a staff of teachers, while his brother superintended all farm operations. The school was a flourishing enterprise until the outbreak of the war between the states, when one of the assistant teachers raised a company of infantry which was joined by some of the pupils, others joined the cavalry, and Mr. Ilotchkiss dismissed the remainder

to their homes, while he joined the army. Ii was at this point that his [previous ex- I)lorations of the country placed him in a position to render excellent service, and he was appointed topographical engineer. His first service was under Col. Heck in July, 1861, his next with Gen. Lee, at \'alley Mountain. While there he almost succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever, but wliile convalescing he already returned to his duties by making a series of maps for the officers in command of the Rich Mountain and Tjgart's \'alley campaigns. He be- came a member of the staff of "Stonewall" Jackson in March, 1862, and his maps earned high commendation from this commander. After the death of Jackson, Mr. Hotchkiss was appointed major on the staff of Gen. F.well, was with him on the first day of Gettysburg, and during the remainder of this momentous battle was stationed at Seminary Ridge. He was with Gen. Early in 1864 in the campaign against Sheridan, furnishing over a hundred maps during this year alone. He was with Gen. Rosser at Lj'nchburg, when Lee surrendered at Ap- pomattox. He placed his maps in security, as he thought, but their existence was re- ported to the Federal government, and a demand was made for them by Gen. Grant. In a personal interview with Gen. Grant at Washington, Mr. Hotchkiss protested against this order, offering to make exact copies for the government; Gen. Grant off- ered to pay for such copies as he could use and ordered the originals to be returned. Major Hotchkiss displayed great bravery and courage during the war; he had two horses killed under him, and his field glass intercepted a ball which would otherwise have killed him at the battle of the Wilder-