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.
book-signing dates.
Wednesday 22nd October, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Peru Public Library
1409 11th Street, Peru IL 61354
Saturday 9th August, 2025 at 1 p.m.
LaSalle County Historical Society
Heritage Center-208 Clark Street
Utica, IL 61383
Tuesday 4th November 2025 at 6 p.m.
Putnam County Library
S. McCoy Street
Granville, IL
5th-6th September 2025
Savas-Beatie Author Meet-up
Heritage Center
Gettysburg, PA
Saturday 11th October 2025 (all day)
Shadows of the Blue and Gray Event
City County Park (Route 26)
Princeton IL 61356
Thursday 16th October 2025 at 6 p.m.
Princeton Public Library
698 E. Peru Street
Princeton , IL 61356
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Starved Rock Civil War Round Table
Ottawa High School
Ottawa, IL
Friday 13th March 2026
at noon
Civil War Museum
Kenosha, WI
Saturday 14th March 2026
at 1 p.m.
Bess Bower Dunn Museum
Libertyville, Illinois
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