Kessler, Thomas J. – September 9, 1862

Michigan Civil War Collection Letters


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/kessler-thomas-j/
Regiment: 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: Camp Douglas Chicago Illinois 1st Regiment SharpShooters Brass Rand September 9th 1863 Dear friends at home I take pleasure to write you a few lines to day It has been some time since I recieved  your letter and have written one before this time I am well at present have not been very well for a few days but am pretty well to day the camp disentary seems to be the complaint among all the soldiers the reason why I did not write sooner was because I was out of paper and stamps and not in red to buy more I made out to borrow five cents to buy a stamp and sheet of paper we expected to be paid sometime ago but have not received any yet but look for it to  morrow and we think it will come if not tommorrow will not get it before the fifthteenth of this month It has been very cold here for the last few days we have a stove in our room and our overcoats [   ?   ] comfortable I received one better from er’s since you was home on that ex[   ?   ] but I look for a letter to night from him and will be disappointed if not get one [          ?          ] a letter yesterday from him saying it was [          ?          ] in town I also got [  ?  ] grow Cherry Wood day in [          ?          ] had killed the [   ?   ] [   ?   ] Our reble friends having been trying to make him escape from camp but was caught in the act They pay our men on gard to let them go do our men let the officers know and they are on hand when they [  ?  ] the fence they caught seven a few nights since one of the officers shot one g[   ?   ] the fine but did not [   ?   ] kill him they have not undertaking the job [   ?   ] there are hundreds of southern people every day coming here to see their friends some that [     ?     ] and but about it because they cannot have the privalige to come in camp some have remained here for a week to have an opportunity to see their friends their are so many to + takes a great while for them all to get in  they have to waite their chances there are a greate many in here that [     ?     ] who former residences wer in Chicago one yound man from warsaw who enlisted with morgan his brother lives in warsaw came to see him the other day and the colonel would not let him [   ?   ] with him unless some one was with him and said he should remain here a few days and then he could see him but we thought we would play sharp on the colonel and we found this reble brought him in and his brother was here and gibe him a good talking to they had not seen each other for some years but they did not talk like brothers his name is Bergis the one was at war in the same brass band that will Stevenson was in and played the same horne I have now he is a very good [     ?     ] there rebles are used better than our men have more to eat not any more [     ?     ] much as they went with out suffering for the want of clothness or provission I do not now as I have any thing more to write you at present I cannot write again until I get my pay or you send me a few stamps write oftener and never mind if you do not get as many from me I think it was out the service I would not be such a darn fool to go in again the soldiers considered no body at least and if even get out alive good bye soldiers life no more on my dish 5000 dollars would not enduce me to inlist keep this still I dont want any one to know I am tired of it I am not homesick but tired so are all the rest of our boys I am not the only one that is tired there are others that are [   ?   ] them I [   ?   ] when some of the boys are not very well they say if they was only home Uncle Sam might fight his own battles but I guess I can stand it as long as any of the rest of our boys can they all take one anothers part in the band and if one gets in trouble they are all in No more at precent write soon I think I shall come home and buy myself a cold when we get our pay dont forget to answer soon T. J. K AP Resler