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13 November 1863
Guisse, John, fl. 1863
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
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
1 December 1863
Kessler, A.P., fl. 1863
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
12 December 1863
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
27 December 1863
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
10 January 1864
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
18 January 1864
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
circa 1864
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
3 February 1864
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
6 February 1864
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
7 February 1864
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
14 February 1864
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
16 February 1864
Wirt, I.D., fl. 1863
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
24 February 1864
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
6 March 1864
Wirt, I.F., fl. 1864
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
15 March 1864
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
29 March 1864
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
1 April 1864
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
5 April 1864
Morgan, George, fl. 1864
to Libbie Kessler
Writes to his friend from Camp Blue Springs. Discusses the weather. Notes they will not be doing any hard marches before the fall of Richmond, Virginia. Writes, "the fall of Richmond which I judge will come to pass before long for Gen. grant is...
GLC03523.52.43
7 April 1864
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
12 April 1864
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
15 April 1864
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
20 April 1864
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
21 April 1864
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
26 April 1864
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
Writes to his friends from Camp Blue Springs. Reports a couple of cases of smallpox in camp. Comments on the copperheads and how he would have liked to confront them while on furlough back home. Discusses new recruits in camp. The letter has a...
GLC03523.52.52
1 May 1864
Belden, Josephine S., fl. 1862-1864
to Libby Kessler
Writes to her friend. Discusses traveling to Mishawaka, Indiana. Writes of the townspeople. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.
GLC03523.52.53
3 May 1864
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
12 June 1864
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
2 July 1864
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
5 July 1864
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
July 1864
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
10 July 1864
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
13 July 1864
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
21 July 1864
Kilbourn, H., fl. 1864
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
5 August 1864
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
16 September 1864
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
22 September 1864
Wirt, John, fl. 1864
to Bill Kessler
Writes to his cousin. Provides direction to California. Explains he cannot join him because of his job. Complains about his new stepmother. Writes, "thare never was a bigger fool than my father when he married that girl whenever thare is any work...
GLC03523.52.66
27 September 1864
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
3 October 1864
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
5 October 1864
Wirt, Matilda, fl. 1864
to Cyrus Wirt
Writes to her brother and sister. Informs them that Elles, their brother, has volunteered for the service. Requests they come down and visit before he leaves. Asks them to send two gallons of molasses down with whoever comes. Discusses the cold...
GLC03523.52.69
10 October 1864
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
13 October 1864
Writes to his friends from camp. Informs them he received marching orders today. Mentions they are expecting an attack somewhere along their lines. Comments the rebels tried charging one of their forts three times but was repulsed every time....
GLC03523.52.72
16 October 1864
to A. P Kessler
Writes to his father from camp. Complains about enlisting in the army and what a mistake it was. Writes, "I will loose the Best part of my life By staying in this Hellish place of Discontent…" Discusses the war and how he does not believe it will...
GLC03523.52.73
4 March 1862
Hurst, Logan, fl. 1861
to his wife
Describes aspects of the Confederate States Army including the fact that there are many men [possibly referring to officers] who are in "fine humors with themselves & their uniforms" while men in the ranks huddle together without such comforts. Also...
GLC06371.01
5 May 1862
[Affidavit certifying Timothy White as a substitute for Logan Hurst]
Signed by Timothy White and LeRoy Edwards. Other endorsements include that of J. E. Smith, Surgeon Pacs and V.O Cassell of the Jackson Light Artillery. Officially relieves Logan Hurst of service to the Confederate States Army after having found a...
GLC06371.02
13 December 1865
Wallace, George T., fl. 1865
to Logan Hurst
Regarding debt laws and pay loss.
GLC06371.03
2 September 1864
Winston, A.C., fl. 1861
[Special orders No. 320]
Commanded by Brigadier General [Benjamin?] Huger, signed S. S. Anomias, Liet. Col. and acting Adjutant General. A partially printed (conditional) discharge for Confederate soldier A.C. Winston, provided he can find a substitute.
GLC06371.04
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