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to his friends

Writes from Camp Douglas. Notes the cold weather. Discusses another soldier in camp who is a mean drunk.

GLC03523.52.10

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Reports he did not get paid as expected and is out of paper and postage. Discusses another man in camp whose body was sent home. Comments the soldier had a sore throat and had only been sick for a few days...

GLC03523.52.13

to Mary Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Describes the "great battle" [the Battle of Chickamauga] that is taking place. Notes his regiment has been in the battle since the beginning. Writes they fell back five miles and have been fortifying ever since....

GLC03523.52.14

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Reports 1500 Confederate prisoners have arrived in camp over the last two days. Discusses two men who were killed in camp. The first was a sharpshooter who shot himself. The other was a "negro boy" who was...

GLC03523.52.15

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Informs her the fruit she sent was destroyed and not to send him any more. Discusses soldiers who have not reported back to camp. Comments they will be listed as deserters if they do not report back soon....

GLC03523.52.16

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Reports on a soldier who has not reported back to camp. Informs them that he expects their band to break up. Their regiment is short men, and he writes that it is hard to find good replacements. Comments...

GLC03523.52.17

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Informs her that they found some musicians to play in their band. Request that she not show his last letter to anyone. Writes that he was "pretty near whipped" when he wrote it. Relays an encounter he had...

GLC03523.52.18

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Informs them that he has been sick and confined to bed which has given him the opportunity to practice. Comments if he does not get well soon he will have to quit all exertions. Reports that they are short...

GLC03523.52.19

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Comments about the rainy weather. Reports they marched almost five miles and played music most of the way. Notes the recent visitors they have had. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner....

GLC03523.52.20

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him not to send him boots. Reports two cases of smallpox in camp. Notes all soldiers are to be vaccinated. Comments if it spreads to the rebel prisoners it will take them clean. Reports one...

GLC03523.52.21

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Reports a few cases of smallpox and measles in camp. Comments he will not be able to take a furlough in two weeks. Notes that he and the boys are hoping to spend the winter at home. Warns another gentleman...

GLC03523.52.22

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Inquires after his health. Discusses another family member who is in the military. Comments they were invited to play in the city. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.24

to Mary L. Kessler

A. P. Kessler, the father of Thomas J. Kessler, writes to his wife. Informs her to visit all of their friends and to let him know a few days in advance when she is ready to come home. Comments that they will kill and roast a turkey for her return....

GLC03523.52.25

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Informs him that he has been sick for a week with dysentery. Notes most of the camp has it. Discusses the President's message that allows prisoners to keep their property if they take an oath of allegiance....

GLC03523.52.26

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Complains about the rainy weather. Describes a dance that the sharpshooters had with the wash women. Requests that she send him his razor when his father sends him a turkey. Discusses the theater and the...

GLC03523.52.27

to A. P. Kessler

Writes to his father from Camp Douglas. Comments how happy he is to hear that everyone is on the mend. Informs him that he cannot get a furlough. Writes of other men who are reenlisting.

GLC03523.52.29

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Complains about not receiving any letters from home. Requests she begin making him a red quilt. Informs her he was unable to get a furlough. Provides her with a list of items to send him. The letter has a...

GLC03523.52.30

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Discusses the music his band is playing. Informs her they may get a discharge. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name and year taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.31

to his friends

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Informs them he does not believe that they will get a discharge and has given up trying. Notes two or three of the band members will be discharged. Comments their band finally got paid. Writes of the call...

GLC03523.52.32

to Mary L. Kessler

Writes to his mother from Camp Douglas. Reports they may be heading to Mexico within a month. Notes they will go to New York City and connect with General Ambrose E. Burnside's expedition. Comments no furloughs are to be granted to their regiment...

GLC03523.52.33

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from Camp Douglas. Requests that she send him a shirt and a pair of boots. Informs her that another soldier wants her picture after seeing his picture of her. Discusses his picture and other soldier's pictures. The letter has...

GLC03523.52.34

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his friends from Camp Douglas. Discusses his trip back to camp. Informs them that another regiment arrived at their camp to relieve them. Comments that they may be leaving camp Douglas soon. The letter has a watermark on the top left...

GLC03523.52.35

to Nancy S. Kessler

Writes to his cousin from Camp Douglas. Discusses the cold weather. Describes shooting a gun and beating her father at target practice.

GLC03523.52.36

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 brother and sister

Writes to his brother and sister. Reports a lot of sickness and cases of smallpox. Describes attending three cases of small pox in one house. Comments that the whole town has been exposed to it and expects more cases. The letter has a watermark...

GLC03523.52.39