Dear Friends,
I seat myself on this fine evening, to write you a letter of introduction to the letters of Jacob M. Bushey. These letters were put away in his personal chest, to remain for 100 years, when after the death of his youngest daughter, Esther, they were divided between Granddaughters, with whom they have been preserved for the last 25 years. They were written during Jacob’s service in the war between the states. These letters are the communication of a man and his wife which that in itself is not unusual but as Jacob, himself said, as long as we can do this, and pray for each other, the separation will be bearable.
But as we read these letters in which this man writes the many terms of endearment to his wife and family whom he does not see for months, and then a total of one and a half years, (most of the time, less than 300 mi. from home), it brings to mind, the time when we were absent from our loved ones, when that letter meant so much, and also as in many cases, not knowing if we would ever see them again.
I do want to tell you, most important to me, that Jacob, my Great grandfather, whom I did not have the privilege to know, has by his letters, made me realize what a special person he was. Jacob left his earthly home to be with Lydia, Jennie, and Charlie in their Heavenly Home, that he often described, on Feb. 1st, 1930, (95 years old) two years before I was born.
Jacob wrote these letters 125 years ago, when away fighting with the Union army, which seems to be a long time, but my Mother, as a young girl, spent many enjoyable times with him. I, in my early years, knew his family, Mary Florence, Luther, Sadie, Minnie, George, and Esther, my Grandmother. Time does seem to pass by so fast, and history is so long ago, but was it so long ago? When Jacob went to war, his thoughts were of his Grandfather, Uncle, and their friends who, 90 years before, fought the British, so that he might have freedom of goverment and religion. It was the only way for him, he would do all in his power and more if he has the opportunity.
As we read the letters, we also learn what a man of faith Jacob was, how he went through a war, which was later described as the last of the barbaric warfare, and held to his belief, that if it be the Will of God, he would return to his family.
Jacob began his service with the Pa. Vol. Inf. in 1862 & 1863, the regular army 63-65, serving under Gen. Sedgwick who was killed at Spotsylvania, Gen. Ricketts, who was wounded – disabled for life at Cedar Creek, as one of Gen. Grant’s experienced vets in the defense of Washington,
With Gen. Sheridan in the campaign of Shennadoah Valley, in the persuit of the Confederate Army after the fall of Richmond, to Appomattox, at the surrender by Gen. Lee, putting an end to a cruel and mercilessly war, and finally back to Washington, for the grand review.
Finally on the 23rd of June, Jacob was mustered out, returned to his family, and did, (for which he had prayed), live a long life with Lydia and the children. In the 1870’s he moved his family to Ohio, to settle in Holmesville where he and Lydia are buried.
Without the sincere care by Jacob’s Granddaughters, Dorothy D. Ewing, my Mother, Marjorie Armstrong, and Hazel Bucklew, Mother’s sisters, of preserving the letters, and allowing me to put them together again, this would not have been possible.
And now, as Jacob would close, May God Bless and take care of you, is my prayer.
Affectionly,
James G. Ewing