10 August 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes to his sister from camp. Discusses the weather. Comments they have been living off of hard crackers for a week and are expecting bread tomorrow. Complains about the bread being sour and dirty. Discusses two new tunes that their band has learned. Writes about the ladies who come into camp and listen to them play. Reports that officers sent 15 to 20 deserters to a prison where they are to be court marshaled. Notes that this is one of the prisoners third time deserting and he is expected to be shot. Reports General Ambrose E. Burnside issued orders that anyone absent from regiment…

GLC03523.52.06

13 August 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Instructs his sister to sell some butter and eggs to purchase stamps. Advises her not to visit, says that the town is small and it would cost too much. Complains about the officers' backgrounds being in farming and not the military. Request that his father purchase him a colt with his money. Inquires after the family and everyone's health. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.07

21 August 1863

Wirt, Elles, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. P. Kessler

Discusses his farm and land. List the selling price of corn, hay, wheat, oats, potatoes, chicken, beef, and various other items. Request a favor to borrow their oxen and a horse. Writes he will pay them after harvest. Sends his best to the family.

GLC03523.52.08

30 August 1863

Wirt, I.D., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libby Kessler

Reports that it is very cold this August and they just had a big frost. Expresses her sympathy about Henry Kessler's death. Writes that their neighbor's 12-year-old boy died yesterday from a diving accident. Addressee name taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.09

30 August 1863

Kessler, A.P., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friends

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

GLC03523.52.10

7 September 1863

Birch, W.C., fl. 1863

Printed document

Title: Copartnership Document

Notice of a co-partnership agreement between W. C. Birch and Andrew Aitken for a General Food Business for a three year term.

GLC03523.52.11

circa 1861-1865

Ray, Mae De, fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Four newspaper clippings]

Newspaper clippings of jokes, poems and advice. Poem written by Mae De Ray. No author noted for the other three clippings.

GLC03523.52.12

11 September 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 before he died. Notes he is the only man in his regiment who has died of illness. Comments many of the men are tired of being in the army. Writes, "when or if ever get out alive I think we shall stay out thats whats the matter not because we Have not Been provided for but this thing of being under a command that makes a few dollars more than we…

GLC03523.52.13

28 September 1863

Kessler, Samuel, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Notes that the rebels, who are commanded by General Braxton Bragg, have reinforced and now outnumber them three to one. Comments that the Confederates are in front of them and will try to push them into the Louisiana River but believe they are too well fortified for that to happen. Reports on the death toll and wounded soldiers.

GLC03523.52.14

26 September 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 shot by a guard. Writes, "… He felt getting Rather careless He was going to His quarters and crossed the gard [sic] when the gard [sic] Halted him 3 times and He did not stop the 4th time shot him…" Thanks her for the stamps. Encourages her to go to school this winter. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name…

GLC03523.52.15

8 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.16

9 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 that he will not pick up a rifle, if ordered he too will take a furlough and not return. Complains about the army and his regiment. Writes, "this thing of enlisting to get a Drunkard a position or and office is about played out with me…he (a recruiting officer) did not get Will Stevison I hope He know better than to come in such a miserable…

GLC03523.52.17

11 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 with an "ignorant" police officer at a museum. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.18

22 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 hospitals rooms for the rebel prisoners and they are dying off in great numbers. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Letter is addressed to his friends but envelope is addressed to his father, A. P. Kessler.

GLC03523.52.19

29 October 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Addressee name taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.20

6 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 hospital has over 200 sick rebels and many die every day. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.21

8 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 about enlisting and not to be deceived. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Addressee name taken from envelope.

GLC03523.52.22

13 November 1863

Guisse, John, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the leader & steward of River Class

A notice of debt issued by the Official Board for the amount of $33.50. Requests the money to be paid immediately.

GLC03523.52.23

22 November 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

December 1, 1863

Kessler, A.P., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Instructs her where they will meet her. Writes that they had a good Thanksgiving dinner that was put on by the "Union Leak" [League] for the benefit of war widows. Relays a story about a young man who was injured from the mill. Discusses various townspeople and family members.

GLC03523.52.25

12 December 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Comments that there have been nearly 200 prisoners from camp who have taken the allegiance and joined the United States Navy. Reports that he and a few other soldiers are still trying to get a discharge. Writes of Congress repealing the $300 bonus for joining the army. Believes that if Congress goes through with the repeal it will put the poor…

GLC03523.52.26

27 December 1863

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 women showing their knees. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.52.27

January 10,1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

January 18, 1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 watermark on the top left hand corner. A small fragment of paper is included.

GLC03523.52.30

circa 1864

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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