from camp douglas to vicksburg: the civil war letters of william J. Kennedy, 1861-1863
on
A TRUE STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR
In August 1861 William Kennedy was a harness-maker living in LaSalle, Illinois. Married with four young children, he volunteered to recruit a company in response to Lincoln’s call for more troops. During the next two years, he saw action at Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, and finally the Siege of Vicksburg. Observant, patriotic and sometimes cynical, Kennedy’s letters give us an intriguing picture of how people of the North really experienced the war.
WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING
“For once, the book’s blurbs do not exaggerate: This is one of the best collections of soldier letters that has been published in recent years. For anyone interested in Union operations and soldier life in the western theater, this volume merits an enthusiastic recommendation. Kennedy is an unfailingly interesting correspondent, and his letters hold a number of surprises even for veteran consumers of such anthologies. For students of the war exploring the connections between home and camp, there is much good material here. For general readers, Kennedy’s story is both absorbing and poignant.”
Reviewed by Professor George C. Rable in the Civil War Monitor - May 29, 2025
For the full review click HERE
About rachael
Rachael is a teacher, writer, genealogist and historian. Educated at the University of London (UK), she earned a Master’s in Humanities from California State University Dominguez Hills. She lives in Peru, Illinois and is thrilled to share the story of William Kennedy with you.
Meet the mellen family
Writer Rachael Mellen is shown with her late husband, Robert, and their children, Elizabeth, Robin, and Alice, in 1992. This family was involved in Battery G, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery, participating in reenactments and community events. Photo by Nicholas Burman.
Savas Beatie meet-up at Gettysburg
September 2025
OCTOBER 2025- ILLINOIS HISTORY CONFERENCE- SPRINGFIELD
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 14th February 2026
On-line at 11 a.m.
Central Louisiana Civil War Roundtable
https://www.facebook.com/cwrtofcenla/
Friday 13th March 2026
at noon
Civil War Museum, Kenosha WI
https://museums.kenosha.org/civil-war-museum
Saturday 14th March 2026
at 1 p.m.
Bess Bower Dunn Museum
Libertyville, Illinois
Wednesday 10th June 2026
On-line at 7 p.m. PST (9 p.m. CST)
Civil War Warriors Round table
https://www.civilwarriors.org/home
26th September 2026
South Suburban Civil War Round Table
Frankfort, Illinois
BOOK A PRESENTATION!
I would love to share William Kennedy’s Civil War story with your group! Presentations can be tailored to your needs. I guarantee you will come away with a new understanding of this turbulent time in the nation’s history.
Email me at rachaelmellen@outlook.com