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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 Henry Kessler

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.52.49 Author/Creator: Kessler, Thomas J. (fl. 1843-1868) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 April 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.1 x 25.7 cm. Order a Copy

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, " I am harty [sic] enough to eat a raw mule and chase the rider."

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, Henry, fl. 1864

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