- 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
- Kanawah Falls – 5 Nov, 1862
- General Hospital, Gallipolis Ohio – Jan 1863
- Jacob’s Visit to Maxwell House (aka, Zollicoffer Barracks) – Nashville, Tennessee
- Tullahoma Campaign – Taking Middle Tennessee.
- Chickamauga – Jacob’s Regiment is nearly destroyed
- Missionary Ridge – The Tide Turns
- Rocky Face Ridge – One of Jake’s Roughest Days
- Kennesaw Mountain – The death of a friend
- A Letter from Chaplain James Sargent to Jacob Shively during the Atlanta Campaign
- Marching Through Georgia – Jacob’s perspective
- Lincoln’s Christmas Present from Sherman – Savanah
- Grand Review and Touring D.C.
- An Interactive Shively Experience
- The Efficacy of the Civil War Chaplaincy:
OF MARTIN AND MARY WRIGHT
Jacob married Mary Wright on 23 August 1855.
I think, though I can’t prove it, that Jacob became friends with Martin Wright before he met his twin, Mary. Martin Van Buren Wright and Mary Wright moved from Illinios after the death of their mother, Elizabeth Beaver Wright, into the home of relatives, Isaac and Mary Sperry. In 1850, the siblings were 16 years old and under the care of the Sperry’s where Martin worked the farm with Isaac.
You’ll read later that Jacob has no respect for Martin and Mary’s father, who is still living, but not a part of their lives.
Jacob’s verbal wrath falls on able-bodied men who choose not to fight, but he never has strong words for Martin. Martin was, by 1862, a school teacher and had studied for Christian ministry. Jacob tries, at one point, to secure a commission for Martin as regimental chaplain, but that never happens. I’ve dug more up about Martin that I’ll share later, but I write this much so you’ll know the significance of the friendship represented in a name (Martin) that will constantly appear in Jacob’s letters through the years….
ON EMOTION
Jacob seems almost wooden in these early letters: “Yesterday morning I mailed a letter to you rather reprimanding you for not writing.” Is that an apology? He does seem to soften his tone and become more “emotionally intelligent” in his future letters – but he’s certainly unpracticed in conveying serious thoughts and emotions by pen in these early letters.
THE LETTER
No. 4.
Licking Battery, KY
Sept 14th, 1862
Dear Wife
Yesterday morning I mailed a letter to you rather reprimanding you for not writing. And during the same day I received 2 letters from home and one from Martin in the city. I feel considerably better than I did when I wrote yesterday – I am very much – but have a good appetite. And with fair weather I will be as stout as usual in a few days. I was very sorry that Martin could not get over to see us. It would not be so difficult now. If I had known it sooner I think I could have got over to see him at least but it would have been no small undertaking as it is very difficult to get a pass even outside of our Regimental lines. But it is easier for one of us to get out than it is for a citizen to get in. Last night Nancy (Abbot) Morison, after coming all the way from home, crossed the river and found the way to our lines here 2 Miles from Covington. She could not get a pass in to see her own sick husband in Hospital. Where she stayed last night, I know not, but she is back this morning trying to get in but has not succeeded yet. I did not get Martin’s letter from the City until Saturday noon. I am sorry I did not get the provisions.
The name of this camp is changed to Camp Indah. There are a great many troops here now and they are coming in very fast. I am told that 30,000 of Gen Curtis’ men are coming here from Missouri. 12,000 of them come last night and are camped this morning about a mile from us in full view. It is a splendid sight. I think it quite probable we will be attached to them or some other large body and move south. We received orders this morning to drill almost constant hereafter. And according to the order I heard read we will hardly have time to write letters for a while if the order is strictly enforced. If they only give us tents I don’t care when or where we go provided we are placed where we can make a mark in putting a stop to this cursed rebellion. I will be very much disappointed if we are compelled to drudge our time out this way and never be permitted to see or fire on an armed rebel.
I have a small revolver I got with the intentions of taking it home to Maggy but I expect I will have to keep it for I see no chance to send it.
Dear Mary, I shall never forget your advice while I keep my senses and I trust I may profit by them and we have a regiment much noted for morality.
I am much obliged to Emily Sperry, Maggie and all others who think enough of me to send their respects.
Your ever mindful husband
Jacob Shively
“I will be very much disappointed if we are compelled to drudge our time out this way and never be permitted to see or fire on an armed rebel.”
Jacob to his wife, Mary.
A Thousand Thunders 