to Libby Kessler

Reminisces of their childhood in the schoolroom. Discusses her school and teacher. Letter has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.52.01

to Libby Kessler

Informs her she did not receive her letter in time to meet her. Inquires if she will be attending the excursion next week. Mentions she would like to room together if they attend school. Letter has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.52.02

to his friends

Writes to friends from Camp Douglas. Discusses a terrible storm and the cold weather. Comments he does not believe he has seen colder weather. Writes the soldiers are freezing and the prisoners are suffering, and many of them have died. Reports...

GLC03523.52.03

to his son and daughter

Inquires after a friend's (or family member's) farm and some financial matters. Requests his son to write him with the latest developments. The city listed in the letter is Springfield; state is not given.

GLC03523.52.04

to Elizabeth N. Kessler

Writes to his sister from camp. Reports they buried a man yesterday who was killed in battle. They marched 30 miles to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Discusses visiting the Michigan Museum, the law department, and the medical department while in Ann Arbor....

GLC03523.52.05

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...

GLC03523.52.06

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...

GLC03523.52.07

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

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

to his friends

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

GLC03523.52.10

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

[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

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