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Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868 to his friends

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.52.17 Author/Creator: Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868 Place Written: Chicago, Illinois Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 October 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope Height: 24.6 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy

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 Regiment as this is it would not be a disgrace if the whole Regiment would desert…" 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.

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868
Kessler, A. P., fl. 1863

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