# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm
- **Event Description**: During her program, Rachael Mellen will discuss the new book that she and Dave Powell edited which is titled From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy, 55th Illinois Infantry, 1861-1863. 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.

Mellen and Powell used their expertise to sift through genealogical records, histories of the war, and other regimental accounts to flesh out the people, places, and events that can now be shared with everyone. These documents have brought William Kennedy and his family back to life for their 21st-century relatives and a wider audience.

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.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/kenosha/second-friday-lecture-from-camp-douglas-to-vicksburg-the-civil-war-letters-of-william-j-kennedy/200029411716100
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 10

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Kenosha
- **state**: WI
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53140
- **lat**: 42.58712
- **long**: -87.813
- **full address**: 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53140

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/203fc55e8659b1fdbfd560f4ad8444507a486d3626b0061e92ba7cde7235686f-rimg-w640-h360-dc020202-gmir?v=1773156412

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy being held?
  - **A:** Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy takes place on Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm to Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm at 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53140.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy?
  - **A:** Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy is organized by The Civil War Museum.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Kenosha, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Second Friday Lecture: From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

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