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to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to her sister from Camp Douglas. Discusses the nice weather. Comments that everyone is in high spirits and having a good time. Notes they may be heading to Michigan. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.38

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Reports they will be leaving camp Douglas tomorrow and will head to Annapolis, Maryland. Believes they will finally go into battle. Comments he did not get paid enough to send any money home. Informs them...

GLC03523.52.40

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Discusses the weather. Describes how green everything is in Maryland. Complains about another soldier exaggerating his sickness to get a discharge. Comments the other soldier should have been discharged a...

GLC03523.52.41

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Reports on the sickness back home and in camp. Writes, "we have 8 or 9 kinds of lice five or six kinds of [each] put these altogether would make it rather sickly…" Notes she should not fret too much about the...

GLC03523.52.42

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from camp. Reports they will not get a discharge. Comments the officers voted to keep the band and have promised to buy them new instruments, provide back pay, and have pledged themselves to prompt payment hereafter. Comments...

GLC03523.52.44

to his brother

Writes to his brother from camp. Discusses the weather. Reports seeing General Ambrose E. Burnside pass through his camp. Notes there have been thousands of soldiers pouring into their camp. Describes oyster fishing and growing tobacco as the...

GLC03523.52.45

to his friends

Writes to his friends from camp. Reports that his band has broken up and they are now waiting for orders. Believes they will either be transferred into a brigade band or will be discharged. Expresses his disappointment with the officers for not...

GLC03523.52.46

to A. P. Kessler [incomplete]

Writes to his father. Discusses the farm and the prospects of his father buying a new farm. Comments he does not believe he will be fit enough to work on a farm or to do any hard work. Reports on a battle that took place a week ago. Notes they...

GLC03523.52.47

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from camp. Reports his band has broken up and their case (an appeal for a discharge) is now before the Secretary of War. Informs him he is hoping for a discharge. Discusses the price of potatoes and apples.

GLC03523.52.48

to Henry Kessler

Writes to his brother from camp. Describes living in small tents with three other men. Reports not having a cook or a stove. Notes they do all their cooking over the fire, meet twice a day for bread and coffee, and get three meals a day. Writes,...

GLC03523.52.49

to his friends

Writes to his friends from camp. Informs them he received marching orders for tomorrow. Relays a rumor that General Robert E. Lee may be heading towards Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and they may head there too. Notes he sent a trunk of clothes home so...

GLC03523.52.50

to his friends

Writes to his friends from camp. Reports after marching 50 miles from Annapolis, Maryland, they finally arrived in Alexandria, Virginia. Writes, "it was Hard for us not doing anything for so long a time I am not able to walk today as my feet are...

GLC03523.52.51

to his friends

Writes to his friends. Describes being in some hard fighting. Writes, "the shells came poring in like Hail stone only had more affect than a hail stone would have…" Reports driving the enemy back and capturing their artillery. Complains about the...

GLC03523.52.54

to Henry Kessler

Writes to his brother from the battlefield. Complains about someone stealing his letters and the photograph of their mother. Describes shelling being fired above their heads. Reports his band is no longer playing and most of the members are...

GLC03523.52.56

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father. Informs him he received the memorandum book, paper, envelopes, and stamps. Discusses the hot weather. Notes they have plenty of ice water, lemonade, and a sutler who supplies almost everything. Reports they are preparing for...

GLC03523.52.57

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister. Complains about having to wash his clothes in cold water. Comments he does not care how he looks or what he wears; however, she would find him dirty and ragged. Describes being sick with a bad case of dysentery. Notes he has...

GLC03523.52.58

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father. Complains about not receiving any letters from home. Writes his regiment was ordered to the front last night but nothing happened. Describes their lieutenant getting shot in the face. Reports his old colonel is back in...

GLC03523.52.59

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Reports it is very hot and many men are sick. Comments his regiment was relieved from the front lines and they are now camped out in an open field without any shade. Complains about not having any luxuries and every...

GLC03523.52.60

to his friends

Writes to his friends. Reports some artillery firing and little picket firing. Discusses what his life would be like if he never enlisted. Writes, "we live to much on the heathen style Here have not much respect for each other especialy [sic] the...

GLC03523.52.61

to Thomas Kessler

Informs him he contacted the Secretary of War and is still waiting for an answer. Promises he will do his best to get him and the rest of the band members discharged. First name is illegible.

GLC03523.52.62

to his friends

Writes to his friends from camp. Expresses his loneliness and boredom with the army. Reports on the fighting in Petersburg, Virginia. Describes soldiering and what a waste war is. Writes, "It is just calling young men from home and Bringing them...

GLC03523.52.63

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Comments he has been sick but is now doing better. Reports it is quiet in camp and there has not been a lot of action for the last couple of weeks. Writes of being homesick. Notes he only weighs 120 pounds.

GLC03523.52.64

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from camp. States it is quiet in camp but they are under marching orders. Describes being in the masters department where he cooks for six and has first rate living. Discusses the possibility of his father visiting him this...

GLC03523.52.67

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from camp. Reports they lost several men in a skirmish and their lieutenant was wounded and taken prisoner. States they are receiving reinforcements daily and will see more fighting. Believes they will soon take Petersburg...

GLC03523.52.68

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from camp. Expresses how thankful he is for his new boots and says they are first rate. Comments he was offered $15 for them before he even got them on. Reports his colonel, who was taken prisoner, has been paroled and is on...

GLC03523.52.71