This letter is heavily damaged, and sections are unreadable, but it contains my favorite vignette of Jacob’s war experience. Years later (1887), he published an account of this event in The Ohio Soldier. I’ll post it sometime in the future.
Ringgold, Georgia
March 3d, 1864
Dear Wife
By the protecting hand of kind Providence, I am again permitted to write and let you know that I am yet safe and well and have passed through another desperate and bloody battle. I wrote you a letter the 21st of last month. That same night I went on picket and the next morning we received marching orders with 3 days rations cooked and to start at 7 O’clock. We started accordingly. Our force consisted of the 14th Corps and a part of the 4, 15, & 11 Corps. We went out past Rossville and took the Ringgold road. We arrived at Ringgold that evening and lay that night and all day the 23d. At night we moved on through Ringgold and through what is called Hooker’s gap – the place where Hooker fought so hard just after the Mission Ridge fight. We pushed on about 5 miles towards Tunnel Hill. Arriving within 4 miles of that place we halted until the night of the 24th when we moved on by a circuitous route over hills and through brush to the left of Tunnel Hill. Part of our ****** went to the right directly after ————-ing and brisk————-ion became —————–ght and in a little————–both sides quite———–rmish and maneu———–nemy and a high—————–ridge. Turchin’s———————in that direction—————–and hotter until —————-ordered to charge a small hill* which we did successfully with but small loss. The Enemy took another hill position on another hill about 200 yards distant*. In a short time, the 89th, 11th, 92nd & 82nd Ind was ordered to charge on them again. To do this we had to rise up and form our lines under fire and charge across a hollow and up the hill on the other side exposed all the time to the fire of the enemy’s skirmishers. And I am sorry to say that not over half of our men faced the music. I led out with the colors and done all I could to induce the men to follow but in vain. A part only advanced. We drove the enemy’s skirmishers some distance when we ran into a whole division in column. They sent a volley on us which compelled us to fall back and our loss was very heavy in proportion to the number exposed. 2 out of 6 of the color guards was wounded and 20 wounded and 3 killed in the Regiment. Some of our wounded fell into the hands of the enemy. Other regiments lost as heavy if not more than ours. The Col of the 82nd was killed. We fell back and occupied our former position until dark but in falling back I was placed in the most hazardous position I ever was in yet. As the enemy advanced I ran until I was nearly exhausted. On my way back I caught the flag fast two or three times and came very nigh being captured getting it loose. I ran down the hill when I became completely exhausted and lay down behind a log. The balls whizzed over me thick and fast. Major Jolley hollered for me to “come on for God sake” or I would be taken as he could not rally his men to save me and the flag. I thought I would rather die than be taken so I started alone and a single mark for all to shoot at. I could not run so I took my time, the enemies balls plowing up the ground all around me at every step. I felt resigned to whatever my fate might be. I must tell you that just before I went into this charge I received your letter of the 18th and had read it and in the thickest of danger I thought of and put confidence in your prayer recorded in it. I shall return the letter to you for preservation. Such a spirit of Christian faith as it contains is worthy of preservation. The flag had one ball But I came off untouched but the flag had one ball through it and one cut the staff. I trust I may never see such another time but I am determined to do my duty at all hazards.
Our brigade came very night being surrounded and cut off but after dusk we fired the woods between us and the Rebs and stole a march out and marched about 15 miles back to Hooker’s Gap. The next day, the 26th, we went back on the right and made a strong feint and threw out bold demonstrations for two days and finally succeeded in our object, which was as I learned to draw the enemy from Mobile and Atlanta. Our spies and Rebel deserters informed us that on the evening of the 27th ten trains arrived at Dalton within 4 miles of us. Each train was drawn by two engines. That night we cheered and built great numbers of fires in pretense that we were getting reinforcements until midnight when we fell back to this place. And I think from all appearances it is the intention to hold it and repair the road. I am very well satisfied with the change for I think Chattanooga is going to be very sickly and this is a very clean a healthy situation. But the town is nearly all burned up. Hooker burned it after the fight of Mission Ridge. He done it because the citizens fired at his rear guard from windows and doors as they fell back to Chattanooga.
You wished me to get my picture taken and have it put in Libby’s locket. The first chance I get I will get it taken and send it and you can have it cut and fit in it at Chillicothe. I would have written to you sooner if I could but I could not get any paper until now. Our things have not been sent up from Chattanooga yet. I borrowed this from Serg Thomas Parker who has just come up.
Yours Affectionately,
Jacob Shively.
A Thousand Thunders 