KesslerCivilWar

KESLER, Matthias Rank: Private Residence: LaSalle County, Illinois Mustered in: 8/27/1862 Mustered out: 6/6/1865 Mil_447 Infantry 104th Regiment, Company "B", Organized Ottawa Illinois on August 27, 1862

Mathias Kessler was born 20 Mar 1831 in Luxembourg. It is not know when he
immigrated to the United States. He died 26 Nov 1896, and is buried at St
Catherines Cemetery in Indianola, NE.

He enlisted for duty in the Union Forces of the Civil War at a Private at
LaSalle County, Illinois. He was mustered in 27 Aug 1862 and mustered out
with his unit on June 6, 1865 at Grand Review, Washington, DC.
He served with the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Company "B", Organized
Ottawa Illinois on August 27, 1862

Adjutant Gerneral's Office report dated 12 Aug 1887, detailing his period of
service and absences. It shows him sick in hospital at Ft Tullahoma, TN
during May & June 1863 and also absent sick at Chattanooga, TN, Jan - Feb
1864.

In a further report by Record & Pension Office dtd 7 Mar 1896, it shows that
he was captured, along with his regiment, at Hartsville, TN, paroled at
Murfreesboro, TN 10 Dec 1862. The photo may have been taken at this period
when he was at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, IL. In the Spring of 1863, the
regiment was exchanged and returned to the war at Brentwood, Tenn.

A General Affidavit dtd 23 Jun 1888, states that "in the Fall of 1862, the
said Kessler was later(?) sick with something like Rheumatism and sent to
field hospital at Jeffersonville, Ind, and afterwards moved over to
Louisville, KY, he was again sent to hospital..."

The Regiment was engaged in the battles of Hartsville, Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Utoy Creek, Jonesboro and
Bentonville, besides a great many skirmishes, in which they lost men. They
also participated in Sherman's "March to the sea".

MCCOOK TRIBUNE Friday Evening, November 27, 1896
"Death of an Esteemed Citizen M. Kessler, after an illness of a number of
weeks with dropsy, passed quietly to his reward about ten o'clock on
Thursday night.The diseased was an old and highly esteemed citizen of this
county. He moved to McCook from near Indianola, last summer. He leaves an
aged wife and five children, among the number being Mrs. Charles Lehn of our
city. Services will be held in St Patrick's church at nine o'clock tomorrow
morning, after which the remains will be taken to Indianola for burial. The
children from abroad will arrive here tonight. The family has much sympathy
in this bereavement. Peace to his ashes.

MCCOOK TRIBUNE DECEMBER 4, 1896 under 'Indianola column'
"Mathias Kessler, who formerly resided on a farm near this place, was buried
in the Catholic cemetery of Indianola, last Saturday. His remains were met
at the Catholic church by a number of relatives and friends of this place,
also a delegation of GAR men consisting of Willie Gossard, J.W.Dolan, W.H.
Smith, Henry Crabtree, Geo. Bartand, F.S. Hill, who accompanied them to the
cemetery, the G.A.R. men acting as pall bearers. Rev Sproll performed the
services at the grave."
ALSO; "Nick Kessler came up from Hastings and Ed Kessler from Indianola to
attend the funeral services of their father, Saturday morning."
ALSO; "Mrs. Kate Jergensmire, who came out from Iowa, last Friday night, to
attend the funeral of her father, M. Kessler, departed for home, yesterday
morning.
ALSO; "CARD OF THANKS We are most grateful and thankful to all the kind
friends and neighbors for the untiring assistance and many acts of good-will
shown during the recent illness of M. Kessler. /s/ Mrs M. Kessler & Mrs.
C.F. Lehn."

104th Illinois Infantry

This Regiment was organized at Ottawa, in August 1862, and was composed almost entirely of

Before being uniformed or armed, they received orders to report at Louisville, Ky., where they

remained for some time, an d in the reorganization of General Buell's Army were assigned to

General Dumont's Division, and when General Buell commenced his march in pursuit of General

Bragg, were on the left of the army, going first to Frankfort, Ky., where they remained until

October 26, then marching to Bowling Green, Glasgow, Thompkinsville, and on the 1st of

December, reached Hartsville, Tenn., on the Cumberland River. The Brigade was commanded

by Colonel Scott, of the Nineteenth Illinois, until they reached Hartsville, when Colonel A. B.

Moore, of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, was assigned to the command. Lieutenant

The troops at Hartsville, consisted of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, the One Hundred and

Sixth, and One Hundred and Eighth Ohio, two companies of cavalry, and two pieces of artillery,

about 900 effective men. Three companies of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois were

On the 6th of December, the rebels sent an expedition from Murfreesboro to attack the forces at

Hartsville. It consisted of a Brigade of Infantry, of three veteran regiments of Kentucky troops,

commanded by General Hanson, all of Morgan's cavalry, commanded by General Basil W. Duke,

and a battery of artillery, in all about 3,500 men, all under command of General Morgan. They

crossed the Cumberland River between Hartsville and Gallatin, and approached the position held

by the Brigade at daylight on the morning of the 7th of December. The Brigade was instantly

brought into line, the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois (7 companies) on the left, the One

Hundred and Sixth and One Hundred and Eighth Ohio on their right. There were no earthworks,

and the troops were formed on the top of the hill, the best position they could take. The rebels at

once charged our lines, when the One Hundred and Sixth and One Hundred and Eighth Ohio fell

back, leaving the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois alone on the line. They repulsed the attack of

the infantry, and were driving them from the field when Morgan's cavalry, dismounted, and

commanded by General Duke, attacked them on the right flank and in rear, and they were

completely surrounded, and were obliged to surrender. The battle lasted one hour and fifteen

minutes, and the Regiment lost 44 men killed, and about 150 wounded. The Regiment fought

bravely, in this, their first battle, and had they been properly supported, no doubt would have

defeated the rebels. The Regiment was marched to Murfreesboro, and then paroled, with the

exception of Lieutenant Colonel Hapeman and Major Widmer, who, with eleven other field

officers, were held as hostages for General McNeill, who the rebels charged with having had 13

guerrillas shot at Palmyra, Mo. These officers were held, by order of General Bragg, in solitary

confinement, until the 23d day of April 1863, when they were exchanged and joined the

After being paroled, the Regiment marched to Nashville, and were sent from thence to Camp

Chase, at Columbus, O., and from there to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, and on being exchanged,

in the spring of 1863, were ordered to rejoin the army of the Cumberland, at Brentwood, Tenn.

From Brentwood the Regiment marched to Murfreesboro, and were assigned to the First Brigade,

Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, the Brigade commanded by General John Beatty.

They remained at Murfreesboro until the advance of the army on Tullahoma, when they

advanced through Hoover's Gap, skirmishing with the enemy, with slight loss, passing through

Manchester, again skirmishing at Elk River, and when General Bragg crossed the Tennessee

River they went into camp at Decherd, Tenn., where they remained until August 15, when they marched to Stevenson, Ala., where they remained until the army made the advance which ended

On the 2d day of September 1863, the movement for the capture of Chattanooga began, the

Regiment crossing the Tennessee River at Caperton's Ferry, and the following day crossed Sand

Mountain, then entered Lookout Valley, near Trenton, Ga., and followed the valley until they

reached Johnson's Crook, and on the 7th ascended Lookout Mountain, crossing the mountain to

On the 10th the Regiment moved forward, with Negley's Division, to Davis Cross Road's, and on

the following day developed the rebel army, at Dug Gap, in Pigeon Mountain, and after a severe

skirmish, with some loss, fell back again to McLemore's Cove, where they remained until the

16th, when the movement towards Chattanooga was commenced. On the night of the 18th the

Regiment marched all night, taking a position to the front of Crawfish Springs, where they were

engaged during the 19th, exposed most of the time to a terrific artillery fire, and suffering a

severe loss. On the evening of the 19th they moved to the extreme left of the army, and on the

20th were engaged, suffering a heavy loss, falling back in the evening to Rossville. On the 21st

the Regiment remained at Rossville, skirmishing with the enemy, losing several men, and at

night fell back to Chattanooga, being the rear guard in the movement, reaching the works at

Chattanooga about daylight on the morning of the 22d of September. The loss of the Regiment

in the battle of Chickamauga was severe, the Regiment being engaged, besides the two days of

the battle, in several hard skirmishes. Remained in Chattanooga during its investment by the

In the reorganization of the Fourteenth Army Corps, after the battle of Chickamauga, the

Regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, the Brigade commanded by General W. P. Carlin,

and remained in this Brigade until the end of the war. Colonel Moore having resigned on the 9th

On the 24th of November 1863, the Regiment was engaged on Lookout Mountain, near the

White House, when the First Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, repulsed an attack

On the 25th of November 1863, was engaged in the capture of Missionary Ridge, and captured a

number of prisoners. On the 26th, followed the retreating rebels to Grayville, and, on the 27th,

to Ringgold, returning from thence to Chattanooga, on the 29th. The men behaved well in all the

engagements during this campaign. Remained in and around Chattanooga until the 10th of

February 1864, when it was ordered to Nashville, by General Johnson, to get transportation for

the Fourteenth Corps. Returned to Chattanooga, with the same, on March 15th, 1864, joining

the remainder of the Division at Grayville, on the 19th. Remained until the 3d of May when the

Regiment went to Ringgold, to prepare for the campaign about to commence against Atlanta.

Commenced the march on the 7th of May, and, on the 9th, was in front of Buzzard's Roost Gap,

where the Regiment remained, doing some skirmishing, until the 12th, when it marched to the

right, passing Snake Creek Gap. On the 14th, was engaged in the battle of Resaca, losing 1 man

killed and 9 wounded. Remained in front, skirmishing, until the 16th, when the Regiment

marched to Resaca - the enemy having evacuated the night before. Followed the retreating rebels

to Kingston, arriving there on the 19th. Remained there until the 23d, when the Regiment

marched to Dallas, arriving there or in that vicinity on the 26th. Remained there, skirmishing,

and losing some men, until the 5th of June, when the Regiment moved to the left, in front of

Kenesaw Mountain, where it was engaged, skirmishing, nearly all the time, until the 3d of July,

when the enemy left the mountain. The command followed them through Marietta, until they

made a stand near the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochie River. The Regiment remained

here, skirmishing, until July 10, when the rebels fell back across the Chattahoochie. Did not

move until the 17th, and, on the 20th, crossed Peach Tree Creek. About 4 o'clock, P.M., the

enemy attacked the line (connecting with the Twentieth Corps on the left, and no works. They

were repulsed, however, and re-enforcements soon coming up, the Regiment was enabled to hold

its ground. The men fought nobly, and the loss was heavy, it being 50 - 2 officers and 14 men

On the 22d the command again moved forward, the enemy having left their works in front, and

went into Atlanta; but were met by Loring's Division, strongly entrenched, and the command

halted, and commenced throwing up works. Remained until August 3d, when the Regiment

moved to the right 3 miles, and, on the 6th, were formed on Utoy Creek. On the 7th, was

engaged at Utoy Creek, losing 1 officer and 4 enlisted men killed, and 18 enlisted men wounded.

On August 26, marched to the right, towards Jonesboro, and, on September 1, fought the battle of

Jonesboro, which gave possession of Atlanta; and, on the 6th, started for Atlanta, arriving there

The campaign, from May 7, when the Regiment left Ringgold, to September 6, when it left

Jonesboro, was very severe. The Regiment skirmished nearly all the time with the enemy, and

never halted for the night without throwing up works and preparing for an attack. The Regiment

was engaged in three battles: Reseca, Peach Tree Creek and Jonesboro. Losses in skirmishing

The Regiment behaved nobly during the whole campaign, especially at Peach Tree Creek, where

the right of the Regiment was nearly annihilated, and although the line grew shorter every day

The Regiment remained in Atlanta until October 3, when the rebels having crossed the

Chattahoochie, and were moving towards Allatoona, the command commenced moving north,

and, crossing the Chattahoochie on the 3d, passed through Marietta, reaching Kenesaw

Mountain on the 6th, and remaining in that vicinity until the 9th, when the Regiment marched

along the railroad to Kingston, reaching there on the 11th. Marched to within 3 miles of Rome,

on the 12th; to Calhoun, on the 13th; to Resaca, on the 14th; crossed the Chattagata Mountain, at

Red Run Gap, on the 15th; passed through Villenow, LaFayette and Summerville, reaching

Galesburg, Ala., on the 20th, where the Regiment remained until the 28th; then marched through

Rome, to Kingston, to get ready for the campaign to be commenced in a short time.

The Regiment was not engaged with the enemy after it left Atlanta; but the marches were very

hard - a great portion of the distance being traveled by night. The men were, also, short of

rations, until they reached the Summerville Valley, when requisitions were made on the country

Remained in Kingston until November 12, when the Regiment marched to Atlanta, arriving there

on the 15th, when rations and clothing were issued. On the 16th, commenced the "march to the

sea", taking possession of Savannah on the 21st of December. As this was but a succession of

marches, and but little opposition was met with, until the army reached Savannah, it is deemed

unnecessary to detail the march. The Regiment had its share of the hardships, marches, etc., as

Remained in Savannah until January 15, when was commenced the march through the Carolinas.

This, like the preceding campaign, was a succession of marches - the bad roads impeding more

than the rebels. It required more troops with the trains, to build corduroy roads, than it did on

the skirmish line. The Regiment was engaged in the battle of Bentonville, and had several

The command remained at Goldsboro, N.C., fitting up for another campaign, until April 10; then

marched to Raleigh, where the Regiment remained until the surrender of Johnston's Army.

The Regiment commenced with the march from Raleigh to Washington on April 30, arriving

Made muster-out rolls, and were mustered out on the 6th day of June. On the 8th, the Regiment

left Washington for Chicago, arriving there on the 10th. Were paid off, and the men returned to

The Regiment was engaged in the battles of Hartsville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain,

Mission Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Utoy Creek, Jonesboro and Bentonville, besides a