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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 Elizabeth N. Kessler

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.52.42 Author/Creator: Kessler, Thomas J. (fl. 1843-1868) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 April 1864 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 20.6 x 25.7 cm. Order a Copy

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 sickness at home. Comments on the miserable food. Request she writes him back with the latest news. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

Thomas J. Kessler enlisted as a private on 29 June 1863 at Edwardsburg, Michigan. On 8 July 1863 he mustered into "G" Co. Michigan 1st SharpShooters. He was mustered out on 28 July 1865 at Delaney House, Washington, D.C.

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868
Kessler, Elizabeth N., fl. 1863

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