“…yet it is true we have comparatively seen nothing to what I expect to ere long.”
Jacob to Mary, 7 Sept, 1862
- 1. Note on the Transcriptions
- 2. A Call to Arms – Letter 1
- 3. Shively Presentation & Transcript – Recorded in March of 2021 on my most recent deployment
- 4. Letter 2 – From Mary to Jacob (31 August, 1862)
- 5. Letter 3 – Jacob to “Sir” and Mary
- 6. To the Defense of Cincinatti
- 7. Some Background – Jacob, the 89th and the letters
- 8. Letter to Mary from Camp King, Ky – 7 Sept, 1862
- 10. Letter to Mary from Licking Battery, Kentucky – 13 Sept, 1862
- 9. Jacob’s Journeys – a brief travel log
- 11. Letter to Mary from Licking Battery, KY – (Numbered 4), 14 Sept, 1862
- 12. Letter to Mary from Camp Shailer, Covington, Ky – (Numbered 5) 18 Sept, 1862
- 13. Letter to Mary – Published in Pat Medert’s “Dear Companion” – 21 Sept, 1862
- 14. Letter to Mary – Published in Pat Medert’s “Dear Companion” – 28 Sept, 1862
- A REVIEW: A Worse Place Than Hell
- Postbellum Coffee and Tea Consumption in the United States
- Nashville’s Maxwell House & Joel Cheek’s Coffee Empire
- Fort Mitchell, Kentucky – 5 Sept, 1862
MY NOTES: This letter, covering events of 7 – 9 September, displays some of the longing Jacob already felt for home after just a few weeks away.
The hubris of the North (and of many of its soldiers) is apparent in Jacob’s attitude. Hardly anyone in the North expected the war to last as long as it already had. He did not expect to be away from home for long.
Note that he is still attempting to manage household affairs to some degree – something he’ll eventually give up (for the most part).
I’ve figured out the unit’s movements on the Kentucky side of the River post them before too long – but for today, you get his letter alone.
Also of note, Jacob refers to Negroes and Contraband – both politically correct terms for African American slaves in his era. Jacob hated slavery and despised those in his regiment who didn’t share his strong opinions. He wasn’t a huge fan of Abraham Lincoln – but he was a staunch Republican (be careful not to read modern politics into the 19th century divide between Republicans and Democrats). Just enjoy the letters and understand that the strongly divisive nature of American politics has always been strongly divisive.
THE LETTER:
No.2
Camp King
Sept 7, 1862
Dear Mary,
After 2 days more of intense excitement I thought it proper to write to you again, for nothing engages my thoughts more than my family and things at home. Yet I never have regretted for a moment that I am here. For what I have seen and experienced is of indispensable values to my mental curiosity and yet it is true we have comparatively seen nothing to what I expect to ere long. The enemy are approaching certain but in what numbers we know not but there is a considerable force of them.
We have a volunteer force of 17,000 men here on a line of 4 miles or covering the 3 available approaches to the city. We are situated about the center and there is more defensive preparations being made here than any of the other places.
Yesterday we were drawn up in line of battle twice. The first time the alarm was raised by our pickets reporting rebel cavalry in sight. We stood from 10 until 2. A short time after we were drawn up again in double quick and every one believed the time had come as we could distinctly see large bodies of men constructing fortifications about 2 miles to the S.E. of us on a hill on the east side of Licking we had 2 batteries planted immediately and one blank cartridge fired but we received no answer. Finally, it was found to be Negroes from the city constructing breastworks for the 83 O.V.I. So that ended our 3d battle and no one killed and but 2 wounded One cavalryman thrown and One artilleryman fell from his piece and had his hand badly mashed. Just now a train of 54 cars heavily loaded with soldiers passed into Covington from near Lexington – reported driven in by rebels. Now 5 O’clock we have marching orders. Where to I know not.
Licking Battery,
Sept 8
We marched from Camp King through Covington across the Licking chain bridges through Newport and on to a fort 2 miles east arriving about 8 o’clock. We had scarcely laid down when we received orders to march to Licking Battery – the very place where the negroes caused our alarm on Saturday. We reached here about 10 O’clock in company with the 50th Ohio. This is the prettiest view I ever saw. We are on a very high nob. The summit is nigh level and on only about 2 acres of it and is being well intrenched. The only difficulty I see is the scarcity of water. We can see Cincinnati, Covington and Newport from here very distinctly. I can see hourly regiment after regiment marching, counter-marching and taking their position on the various hills for miles around.
Licking Battery
Sept 9
I am well and feel very well considering our fare and usage as we are moving almost daily and we have no tents nor teams and we are obliged to press teams to haul our provision and it is very difficult to get them as there are so many troops here in the same fix. Consequently, our provision is often so far behind that we are often compelled to do without eating as much as we want.
Yesterday evening we moved to within about 1 mile to the South of Newport. There is a strong battery here of very heavy guns. In fact, every hilltop is in the same fix and as I am pretty well posted in regard to our various positions and strength of fortifications, I have concluded that if Cincinnati is ever taken by land from this direction it will be no use trying to whip the rebels any more, and there are thousands of negros and other citizens pressed into the service cutting down timber and fortifying.
It is very dry here. Corn is poor and is drying up but on the Licking Valley there are pretty good roasting ears and I assure you that they have to suffer. I have not taken but very few of them. But I am some in a vineyard and they are almost as common here as cornfields are at home. The owners frequently try to drive us out but to no use.
I cannot like our Colonel and I find that he is losing friends very fast. We have a splendid man for Major and adjutant and Col Rowe is beloved by all.
Tell Father I want him to see to working the road. I saw one of the trustees at Camp Denison and he told me to get someone to attend to it and make out a report and it would be received. My account is in my book and he knows who I have worked.
Write soon and let me know how things are going and how you are satisfied, and what arrangement you have made about living together.
If you have money to spare I want you to pay J. Leight what I owe him ($4.65). And pay Wm. Carson store bill and F Aids Shoe bill and keep an account of it all.
No more at present.
To Mary Shively in care of Martin Wright.
Jacob Shively
Direct to Covington
in care of Capt Brown, Com, D 89 Regt O.V.I.
“…nothing engages my thoughts more than my family and things at home.”
Jacob to Mary, 7 Sept 1862
A Thousand Thunders 