"By golly, Atlanta is burning! Hurrah! It has just this minute broke out and a grand sight it is this summer night. The whole sky is illuminated. What havoc war makes with this sunny south. There is nothing left behind us this side of Chattanooga but desolation and so it will be as we advance. I never want to see another war as long as I live and I hope this will soon end."
Dexter Keeler
Letter to his wife - July 27, 1864, page 4
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Introduction
In 2020 I obtained scans of Frank Hayes Butterfield Jr.'s Keeler Civil War letters, medals, and ribbons courtesy of Michigan Civil War Collection, with transcriptions and scans of the letters here:
https://micivilwar.us/results.php?auth=KeelerDexterD.
The scans were of exceptional quality, and I converted them to a more compact format for ease of sharing and editing. I also tried to identify the persons named in the letters. If you have any corrections or further information, please contact me.
John William Myers, III
January 1, 2021
Canyon Lake, California
KEELER CIVIL WAR LETTERS
most written by, some written to:
HIS FAMILY MEMBERS
Parents: Lewis S. Keeler & Sarah L. (Warner) Keeler, she died 5 October 1862
Step-mother: Amelia P. (Hubbard) Keeler, who married his father after the war
Brother & Sister-in-law: Sanford "Sant" Keeler & Lucy M. (Nelson) Keeler
Niece: Harriett E. "Hattie" Keeler, ages 0 to 5 during the war
Brother: Francis Duane "Frank" Keeler, unmarried during the war
Sister: Sarah Edwene Keeler, ages 12 to 17 during the war
Wife: Susan M. (Reading) Keeler
Daughter: Rachel Keeler, died before the war at nearly age 1
Son: George C. Keeler, died early in the war at age 3
Daughter: Frances D. "Frankey/Franky/Frankie" Keeler, ages 0 to 5 during the war
Father-in-law & Mother-in-Law: Daniel Lanning Reading & Rachael (Mead) Reading
Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law: Sarah E. (Reading) Lester & Harrison H. "Tip" Lester
Niece: Charlotte "Lottie" Lester, ages 9 to 14 during the wa
Nephew: Daniel L. Lester, ages 6 to 11 during the war
Niece: Nellie Lester, ages 1 to 6 during the war
Cousin: Edwin C. Moody
OTHERS & UNIDENTIFIED
Dr. Andrew B. Spinney (1st cousin of sister's future husband Dr. William Hoyt)
Benjamin F. Fisher (see Letter written by Francis Duane Keeler to Mrs. Fisher)
Mrs. L. M. Mead (probably related to his mother-in-law Rachael Mead)
Henrietta E. Hall (unknown)
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All transcriptions in a single PDF file.
A transcription precedes each original.
| DATE | FROM | TO
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|---|
| 16 Aug 1862 | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Sep 1862 | Dexter Keeler | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 21 Sep 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Jeffersonville, IN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 24 Sep 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Jeffersonville, IN | Lewis & Sarah Keeler, parents
| | 28 Sep {1862} | Dexter Keeler, Louisville, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 1 Oct 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Louisville, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | {5 Oct 1862 --- | death of Sarah L. (Warner) Keeler}
| | 11 Oct 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Frankfort, KY | Lewis Sanford Keeler, father
| | 11 Oct {1862} | Dexter Keeler, Frankfort, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 18 Oct 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Frankfort, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 Oct 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bradfordsville, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 26 Oct 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bradfordsville, KY | {Sanford "Sant" Keeler}, brother
| | 1 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Lewis Sanford Keeler, father
| | 2 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 15 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Lewis Sanford Keeler, father
| | 16 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Nov {1862} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, {KY} | Sanford "Sant" Keeler, brother
| | 19 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 23 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Sanford "Sant" Keeler, brother
| | 30 Nov 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 9 Dec 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Dec 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Dec 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | {Sarah E. Keeler}, sister
| | 20 Dec 1862 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 Dec {1862} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | {28 Dec 1862} | Dexter Keeler, {Bowling Green, KY} | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Jan 1863 * | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Jan 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Jan 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Lewis Sanford Keeler, father
| | 26 Jan 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 30 Jan 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 1 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Lewis Sanford Keeler, father
| | 3 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 7 Feb 1863 | Edwin C. Moody, Union, NY | {Dexter Keeler}, cousin
| | 9 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | {13 Feb 1863} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 15 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 28 Feb 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Mar {1863} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Mar 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Mar {1863} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 20 Mar 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 Mar 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | {29 Mar 1863 --- | death of George C. Keeler} |
| | 30 Mar 1863 | Sanford "Sant" Keeler, East Saginaw, MI | Dexter Keeler, brother
| | 2 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Apr {1863} | Susan Keeler, East Saginaw, {MI} | Dexter Keeler, husband
| | 4 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 5 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Apr 1863 | Sanford "Sant" Keeler, Flint, {MI} | Dexter Keeler, brother
| | 8 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 8 Apr 1863 | Benjamin F. Fisher, East Saginaw, MI | Dexter Keeler, friend
| | 13 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Apr 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Apr {1863} | Susan Keeler, East Saginaw, MI | Dexter Keeler, husband
| | {late Apr 1863 --- | he visited home on a 20-day furlough} |
| | 14 May 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 17 May 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 May 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 May 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 28 May {1863} | Dexter Keeler, Bowling Green, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Jun 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Glasgow, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 7 Jun 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Glasgow, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Jun 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Glasgow, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 17 Jun 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Glasgow, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 21 Jun 1863 | Lewis S. Keeler, East Saginaw {MI} | {Susan Keeler}, daughter{-in-law}
| | 21 Jun 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Glasgow, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 1 Jul 1863 * | Dexter Keeler, Tompkinsville, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Lebanon, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 9 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Elizabethtown, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, on the Ohio River | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 15 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, {on the Ohio River} | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Portsmouth, OH | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 28 Jul 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Cincinnati, OH | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 2 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Paris, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 13 Aug 1863 * | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, New Market, KY | Sanford "Sant" Keeler, brother
| | 21 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Columbia, KY | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Jamestown, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 28 Aug 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Jamestown, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Sep 1863 * | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 26 Sep 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 2 Oct 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Oct 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Oct 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 29 Oct 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Nov 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Loudon, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Dec 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Blaine's Crossroads, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 20 Dec 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Blaine's Crossroads, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 Dec 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Strawberry Plains, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 31 Dec 1863 | Dexter Keeler, Strawberry Plains, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Strawberry Plains, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Strawberry Plains, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Clifton, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, on the Ohio River | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 29 Jan 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 4 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 9 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 13 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Francis "Frank" Keeler, brother
| | 14 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 15 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Charlotte "Lottie" Lester, niece
| | 20 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 Feb 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Strawberry Plains, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 4 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 8 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 17 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Morristown, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 20 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 24 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 30 Mar 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 10 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 13 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 18 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 21 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 24 Apr 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Mossy Creek, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 2 May 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Charleston, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 May 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Knoxville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 15 May 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Chattanooga, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 May 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Cassville, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Jun 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Allatoona, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 28 Jun 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Acworth, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 5 Jul 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Marietta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 8 Jul 1864 | Rily Mead | Susan Keeler, friend
| | 9 Jul 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Chattahoochee River, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 17 Jul 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Chattahoochee River, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 Jul 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Atlanta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Aug 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Marietta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Aug 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Atlanta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 21 Aug 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Atlanta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Sep 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Atlanta, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Sep 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Decatur, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Sep 1864 | Mrs. L. M. Mead{?} | Susan Keeler, friend
| | 16 Sep 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Decatur, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Sep 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Decatur, GA | {Sarah E. Keeler}, sister
| | 26 Sep 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Decatur, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 2 Oct 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Decatur, GA | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 12 Oct 1864 | Henrietta E. Hall, Port Allen, IA | Mrs. Keeler & Mrs. Mead, friends
| | 27 Oct 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Cedar Bluff, AL | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 6 Nov 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Chattanooga, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 8 Nov 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Chattanooga, TN | Lewis S. Keeler, father
| | 13 Nov 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 23 Nov 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 3 Dec 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 4 Dec 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Francis "Frank" Keeler, brother
| | 8 Dec 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 16 Dec 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Nashville, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 29 Dec 1864 | Dexter Keeler, Columbia, TN | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 29 Jan 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Bellaire, OH | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 17 Feb 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Feb 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 1 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 4 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Washington, DC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 8 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Atlantic Ocean of NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 11 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Beaufort Harbor, NC | Francis "Frank" Keeler, brother
| | 11 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Beaufort Harbor, NC | Sarah E. Keeler, sister
| | 11 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Beaufort Harbor, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 14 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Morehead City, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 19 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Morehead City, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Morehead City, NC | Charlotte "Lottie" Lester, niece
| | 31 Mar 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Moseley Hall, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | {9 Apr 1865 --- | surrender of Lee at Appomattox C.H.} |
| | {15 Apr 1865 --- | death of President Abraham Lincoln} |
| | 15 Apr 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Raleigh, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 18 Apr 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Raleigh, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 20 Apr 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Raleigh, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 Apr {1865} | sister, East Saginaw, MI | Sarah Lester, sister
| | {4 May 1865 --- | funeral of President Abraham Lincoln} |
| | 7 May 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Greensborough, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 13 May 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 25 May 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 31 May 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 4 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 9 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 18 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 22 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 23 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
| | 27 Jun 1865 | Dexter Keeler, Salisbury, NC | Susan Keeler, wife
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* Indicates that the letter ends without any closing, so one or more pages are probably missing.
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This information is provided for the use of persons engaged in non-commercial genealogical research
and any commercial use whatsoever is strictly prohibited. Copyright © 2021 by John William Myers III.
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