l62
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-
