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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.52.13 Author/Creator: Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868 Place Written: Chicago, Illinois Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 September 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.3 x 25.1 cm. Order a Copy

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 do." Notes he has been writing everyday and believes that he will get his share of the music.

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

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