1862-3 ARCHIVE OF 100+ CIVIL WAR SOLDIER\'S LETTERS 107th ILLINOIS INFANTRY For Sale

Included in the archive are 82 letters that George Messer wrote to his wife Lottie (Charlotte) during his time of service (many with their original covers; 3 of these are illustrated), 6 letters from Lottie to George, 8 letters from George Messer to Captain A. Kelley and son Thomas Kelley, 6 letters to Lottie from her nephew Wesley (Wm. W. McNulty, who served with Messer in the 107th), as well as 2 letters pertaining directly to George\'s death. There is also a small archive of some 15+ family associated letters.

Included with this amazing archive of 100+ letters is a small lot of miscellaneous ephemera which includes: a morning report of Capt. H.G. Wismer, 107th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company F, a note for guards to pay George Messer, a list of company musicians, a tintype of 2 unidentified men, a tintype of an unidentified young girl, a pre-war account book, and, most notably, a small envelope containing a lock of hair that is referred to several times in George\'s letters; the lock belonged to his daughter Caitie, and George carried it with him after Caitie\'s death until his own, at which time it was returned to his wife.

The Letters range from one page to 12 pages and are written on various size Letter sheets with some written in pencil and others pen. This is an extensive and varied archive dealing with the entire Civil War service time of George Messer - from the time of his enlistment until the day of his death from disease - and after.

George Messer, who was from Clinton, DeWitt County, Ill., enlisted as a musician on July of 1862. The 107th Regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Ill. and was mustered into the United States service on September 4, 1862. The letters contained in this archive reflect not only the movements of the Regiment (most particularly in regard to John Morgan and his troops until his eventual capture) during the next sixteen months, but also detail the last sixteen months of George Messer\'s life, including personal issues between George and his father, George\'s attempts to see to the care of his family during his absence, and the death of his daughter, as well as his near-constant struggle with chronic disease. The first Letter written by George is dated September 1st, 1862 and the last of the 82 Letters written by him is dated December 23rd and 24th, 1863, just a few days before his death on December 30th .

On September 1st, 1862, George writes to his wife Lottie that the Regiment is ready to be mustered in, and speaks of going on drill and dress parade. On September 9th, he writes that they are to go to Louisville, Kentucky, for the 73rd Regiment is near there, and they are to be assigned to the same Brigade. Still in Camp Butler on September 14th, Messer says \"Troops are coming in here and going out all the time. There are, I should judge, about ten thousand men here now. The secesh prisoners have all left except a few guerillas...\", and he goes on to describe his quarters and the guns that the men have been issued.

By November 25th the Regiment has moved to Springfield, Illinois, and they then move to Louisville, Kentucky. On the 28th of November Messer describes the trip from Springfield to Louisville, and on November 30th he gives his address as \"Barracks No. 2\" and describes the barracks and the food the men are given: \"...we only have some bread, poor coffee + spoiled meat, mixed with plenty of dirt\". on December 3 Messer says \"...got to the Regiment at last...\" and in a letter dated December 7th and 8th says that the Captain has a disease \"A derangement of the private parts, for he has been in the house where disreputable characters keep themselves\". There is a rough sketch of the outlines of the camp on the back of the December 8th letter.

On December 14th, 1862 from Mumfordsville, Kentucky, Messer describes the trip from Elizabethtown to Camp Mumfordsville, the camp situation, and speaks about the \"ravages of war\" and desertions by the men, and on December 16th from Camp Woodsonville he writes that there was \"...a great fire last night...the hospital burned down\" and he \"...counted over 200 wagons + ambulances pass here yesterday on their way to Nashville\".

On December 21st from the Camp near Woodsonville, Kentucky Messer speaks with bitterness about his father, gives us a description of a \"bell tent\", and a description of a lieutenant publicly mustered out under the guard of 6 men with fixed bayonets for \"desertion and drunkeness\".

On December 24th, 1862 Messer reports that we \"expect to be attacked tonight. Morgan is within a few miles of us with 8 or 10 thousand men. Scouts out watching their movements\", and on January 2nd, 1863 he says: \"...since the 24th of December our mail was cut off by John Morgan and Forrest...our outposts have been skirmishing with them. We have had to stay by our breastworks for most of the time. They have taken the Regiment that took our place at Elizabethtown and Capt. Wismer along with them, small loss he is too. They burned all the bridges and trestles between here and Colesburgh and done considerable damage\".

The unit stays in the Camp near Woodsonville, Kentucky through the middle of March, 1863, and disease begins to take it\'s toll. On January 20th Messer says: \"It might surprise you for me to tell you that when we left Camp Butler we had about 68 men and now we can raise only about 43, and the other companies are cut down equally as much in proportion...such is the life of a soldier. For my part I have tried to take as good care of myself as I possibly can...\".

While the 107th is camped near Woodsonville, Messer\'s letters refer to his daughter Caitie\'s grave (we learned of her illness through letters from Lottie), and to his ongoing dispute with his father - a letter to his father (Mr. William Messer) is included in George\'s letter dated February 19, 1863. He also speaks about harsh punishments of men who deserted or went AWOL.

On March 17th, 1863 there is a description of the march from Woodsonville to Glasgow, Kentucky, where the troops arrive at Camp Jo Kelly, whose name is later changed to Camp Hobson. On March 28th George Messer tells us that he has been promoted to corporal, and on April 16th he provides us with a sketch of the camp. Subsequent letters from Glasgow detail more of Morgan\'s movements and scout parties going in and out of camp, capturing prisoners and horses, etc. On May 23rd there is a description of 2-man \"dog tents\" and on June 22nd there are orders to march.

On June 24th, 1863, Messer describes the move from Glasgow, Kentucky to Scottsville, Kentucky. July 5th finds him back in Glasgow, Kentucky in the hospital. The Regiment marched back to Glasgow from Tompkinsville on July 4th, and the brigade continued on towards Mumfordsville, but he was not physically able to, due to the severe diarrhea he has been suffering. This chronic disease will now plague him for the rest of his days, and in fact, will be the ultimate cause of his death.

On July 11th Messer writes to Lottie that he is at a private house, and he is still sick. He says he weighs 143 pounds now; six weeks ago he weighed 169 pounds. On July 21st he says: \"There was a lot of our boys that were left at Scottsville sick arrived here yesterday...last Sunday morning the Rebels came in there and killed one man belonging to the 14th cavl. and took the arms + clothing + money of all the rest and abused them considerable...\".

On July 30th, 1863 George Messer is in the Convalescent Camp of the 107th Ill., One mile and a half Northeast of Lebanon, Marion Co., Kentucky, and the trip from Glasgow is described; by August 5th he has moved to the camp of the 107th Ill. Volunteers, and in the days to follow he moves to the Camp of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, and ultimately to the Camp of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 23rd Army Corps. On August 22nd Messer describes the march from Green River to an area southeast of Columbia.

August 28th finds the 107th at Jamestown, Tennessee, five miles up the Cumberland Mountains. The brigade then moves to Louden, TN, and Messer is once again in the convalescent hospital. On October 26th, 1863 George Messer is in the Hospital of the 2nd Division at Louden, East Tennessee, and by October 30th he has moved to the Lamar House Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. He will remain there until his death on December 30th, 1863. Messer described his situation: \"...I feel considerable better although I am pretty weak, but I have a good appetite, plenty to eat + well cooked, a good warm room to be in although the arrangements for sleeping is not so very good for we have no bunks and have to sleep on the soft side of the floor...\".

On November 10th, Messer says of his illness: \"...it is now going on 6 months since I first took it and I have not been shut of it over one week at a time since I first took it...\". On December 3rd, 1863 he says: \"to tell you the truth I can\'t see that I am any stouter now than I was...and perhaps not so stout. I am very weak and I can\'t keep my diarrhea stopped long enough at a time to gain much strength. I don\'t think that I will get entirely well until I can get to come home where I can get proper diet and better care and nursing, and there is no possible chance for one to leave here at the present for this place is surrounded by the Rebels and all communication is cut off from the country in almost every direction.

George Messer\'s last letter to his wife Lottie, written on December 24th and 25th, 1863, from the Lamar House Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee says, in part: \"...I am gaining strength but my feet and legs are so bloated and swelled and so stiff that I can hardly get up when I am down, but when I am up a little while I can manage to walk a little from my room out into the hall and back...\". On the 24th he writes: \"...I must tell you what I have done. During the siege here at this place I was considerable under the weather and the prospect at one time was doubtful whose hands we would fall into so I...destroyed all of your letters that I had as I did not wish for other eyes to see what was never intended they should and I did not know but I would get down so I could not take care of them myself...those other keepsakes, the locks of hair of yourself and our Dear Child that sleeps beneath the sod I keep close to me night and day...I would get my likeness taken and send to you but I am afraid it would scare you...\".

On December 31st, 1863, D. Wiley wrote a letter to Captain A. Kelley which said: \"George Messer died on the 30 day of this month...tell his wife that he is buried nice and was well cared for while sick\". On January 4, 1864, Lieutenant J.D. Graham wrote to his brother: \"I am in Knoxville today...I was ordered here to look after convalescents belonging to our Reg\'t. which was left behind when the command left this place. There is a good many that are very poorly and some are dying...George Messer is dead - he died between Christmas + New Years. I want you to inform his friends of his death...what has become of his money is more than I can tell. He was in the hospital and I went to see about his effects and three dollars was all that could be reported or found with a watch and a few other things of but little or no account...\".On January 5th, 1864, Wm. W. McNulty (Wesley, George\'s friend and Lottie\'s nephew; often spoken about in George\'s letters) writes to his Aunt: \"George your husband is dead...the Doctors said he would get better in a few days but a disease of that kind cannot be depended upon. He died with the chronic diarrhea. I will send you all the little things he got from you such as Caitie\'s hair and his jacket\". Wesley also speaks of money being stolen from George\'s bedside. On January 7th Wesley again writes: \"...I will send you all the loose papers that I could find in his knapsack after our Lieutenant fetched it from Knoxville. The articles consist of some letters from you, an envelope with Caitie\'s hair in it and a few other papers...\". \"P.S. George was buried in the soldier\'s graveyard at Knoxville. His name will be on the headboard of his grave + also his Co. and Reg\'t.\"

On March 14th Wesley writes: Co. F; 107th Ills. Infantry, \"We had quite a skirmish with the rebel cavalry yesterday eve. They drove our advance picket in as far as the infantry picket lines when they had to come to a halt. Our Regiment was on picket at the time of the fight\" and \"You wanted to know if I seen George\'s grave when I was at camp...I was not allowed to go near the hospitals nor graveyards for fear of getting the smallpox which was very bad at the time\".

This is a truly remarkable archive of letters from a young, patriotic, soldier who wanted to serve his country and take care of his family. George tells us much about camp life as well as his personal life and his own trials and tribulations. The letters from his wife and friends serve to fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces of George\'s life and help to give us a solid overview of life in the 107th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

We would like to take a moment to say that in skimming these letters, my wife and I became very close to George and Lottie. We laughed, we cried, we felt the emotion, and became connected with this simple Illinois family from 150 years ago. Although George\'s letters do not contain significant battle content, the tale they tell is a fascinating one and truly the most complete such tale we have ever had the pleasure to offer.

This outstanding and extensive Archive of Letters and other materials related to Civil War Private Musician George Messer of Company F, 107th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, is offered here, as always, without reserve and with the confidence that it will attract the serious attention that it justly deserves!!!

A Short History of the 107th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry:

The One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteers was mustered into the United States service at Camp Butler, Ill., September 4, 1862, and was composed of six companies from DeWitt and four companies from Piatt counties. On September 30, 1862, the Regiment left Camp Butler for Jeffersonville, Ind., where it arrived on the morning of October 1. Owing to want of drill and discipline, it was ordered into camp, where it remained until October 12, employing the time in drill, and otherwise preparing for active field service.

The Regiment crossed the Ohio River, October 12, to Louisville - General Buell\'s Army, meantime, having moved in the direction of Perryville. Remained in Louisville until October 18, when it was ordered to Elizabethtown, Ky., to meet the rebel General John Morgan, who was advancing in that direction. A slight skirmish ensued between the One Hundred and Seventh and Morgan\'s advance, which resulted in the capture of some of the enemy and no casualties to the Regiment.Moved, thence, to Mumfordsville, Ky., early in December following, where it remained until March 1863, when it left for Glasgow, remaining there until the following June.

The Twenty-third Army Corps, being organized, by order General Burnside, Brigadier General H. M. Judah was ordered to Glasgow, to assume command of all troops organizing for the Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, Department of the Ohio; and the One Hundred and Seventh Illinois, being assigned to this Division, marched, on the 18th of June, for Tompkinsville, Ky., on Cumberland River, in order to meet an anticipated movement of John Morgan, who was preparing for the invasion of Kentucky. Followed him to Mumfordsville, Ky., and from thence, by rail, to Louisville, and then, by steamer, to near Buffington Island, where he was finally captured.

Returned to Lebanon, Ky., late in August, when after reorganizing, proceeded with General Burnside on Campaign of East Tennessee. General Judah, being in delicate health, was relieved by General Julius White, who assumed command of the Division August 24.The enemy retiring from East Tennessee, the command arrived at Loudon, September 1, 1863. Remained there until middle of October; then proceeded toward Greenville. Having marched some sixty miles east of Knoxville, received orders to countermarch, and moved, with all speed, to the assistance of General Rosecrans. Reached Sweet Water, 75 miles north of Dalton, where it heard the battle of Chickamauga.

Returned to Loudon, where was soon confronted by advance of Longstreet. Retired to north side Holston River, where it remained until November 13, when it was ascertained that the enemy had effected a crossing, by aid of pontoons, at Huff\'s Ferry, 4 miles below. Division retired to Lenoris Station. Was met by General Burnside, who ordered a countermarch in direction of enemy, who was found 3 miles below Loudon. Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois, as skirmishers, commanded by Captain Milholand, attacked the enemy\'s skirmishers, who retired. Line was formed and an attack was made by the whole Division, driving the enemy back to pontoons. Regiment lost one killed and several wounded.

Encamped, on night of 15th November, at Lenoris. General Burnside issued order No. 81, requiring all baggage and part of ammunition trains destroyed, in order to facilitate movements of artillery, etc. The Regiment lost all books and papers. Having destroyed trains, retired, at 3 o\'clock A.M., in direction of Knoxville. Engaged the enemy at Campbell\'s Station, 11 A.M., November 16. Engagement lasted till night. Arrived at Knoxville, November 18. Engaged enemy at Danbridge, December 21. Returned to Knoxville, by order of General Schofield, where it remained until April.

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