The last letter we’ve got from Jacob to Mary was on the 21st. This is one of the longer “silent” stretches in the letter collection. I’m glad I synced the date of these letters with our current date (the 28th of Sept, 1862 on the 28th of Sept, 2021). I got to feel the “silence” a bit – waiting to publish this letter.
Of note, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was published on 22 Sept, 1862. Jacob makes no mention of it until 18 October – and he had decided opinions about it, mentioning it again on 25 October & 20 June. The regiment learned of the proclamation on the 22nd – they were close enough to Cincinnati that there was no communication delay. Joseph Foraker, who would one day become a two-term Governor of Ohio and a U.S. Senator representing Ohio, was at the time a Lieutenant in the 89th. He noted on the 22nd, “…the daily papers reached the camp [and] the men quickly gathered in groups about one of their number who read aloud for the benefit of all. Every man seemed to realize the significance of the step that had been taken; that a change in the character of the struggle had taken place, which thenceforth was to involve not alone the preservation of the Union, but also the abolition of slavery.” (Weaver & Fenner, Sacrifice at Chickamauga, A History of the 89th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Moyweave Books, 2003, p. 19).
It was a significant week for the nation, but as a junior enlisted man, Jake’s attention was elsewhere. His letter of the 28th focused on the growing revolt against their commander. By 28 Sept, the regiment was fed up with Col Marshall. They sent a petition to Governor Todd requesting his removal. It wasn’t just the dirty water & lack of tents – Col Marshall was, by all accounts, a drunkard who imposed very harsh discipline above the ordinary for the day.
The letter also contains instructions for making molasses: “I will give you Bowdel’s rule for making it. Fill your kettles with water and bring it to a boil. Have your sap ready strained. Dip the water out whilst boiling and put the sap in immediately. Keep a good fire under it. Keep it boiling constant and keep it well skimmed until it is ready to come off. Dip it out quickly into earthen vessels to cool and fill the kettle immediately with water and let it boil before you take it out to put in more sap. Proceed in like manner alternately with all the kettles.” After all, it’s Molasses season – hope this helps some reader out there!
This letter was mostly complaints & concerns for home. You can read it in Medert’s book. The next letter is a damaged partial letter that’s undated, but I know it’s from the first week of October, 1862. Enough of the letter has survived to still make it interesting.
If you’re interested in listening to some music Jake would have been very familiar with, head to Bobby’s website: https://www.bobbyhorton.com/music/
A Thousand Thunders 