Personal Papers of Major Milton Mills
Letter from Philip Kershner To Mrs. Milton (Catherine) Mills
June 30, 1889

Web Author's Notes:
The following letter was transcribed from the original document and reflects information exactly as it was written. Information listed which is suspected in error or for which transcription was difficult is shown in
red.

This letter is a reply to the recent widow of Milton Mills, from a former superior officer, regarding information Mrs. Mills requested in her attempt to gain a military pension. Apparently, there was a long-standing issue between Major Mills and the military regarding military stores which were not properly accounted for during the war (upcoming additional document transcriptions will further identify this issue)

Detroit June 30th 1889
Mrs Milton Mills
Zanesville Ohio

Dear madam

I have received from your pension attorneys a letter in refference to your application for a pension. This is the first indication I have received of my dear old comrades death. I regret that I was not notified of his death as nothing would have prevented my attending his burial. Major Mills was as gallant brave and true a soldier as ever trod a battlefield. I always called him the (????) of the 16th Regt. "the bravest of the brave" being his superior officer I have had frequent occasion to test his ability and never found him wanting in all the essential qualifications of a soldier. He was subordinate in the very highest sense of the term. An order placed in his hands for execution was sure to be well done if in human power to do it. I felt that in the death of Major Mills I have lost more than a brother. I had hoped to meet him at our next reunion to be held at Zanesville but providence has decreed otherwise. Whatever aid I can render you in the prosecution of your Pension claim will be cheerfully given. Will you be so kind as to give me an account of the Majors illness and death and how many of a family he left. Anything relating to him will surely interest me.

Very truly your friend
955 Trumbeull ave
Philip Kershner

Envelope included and transcribed as follows:

 return to P. Kershner                                          DETROIT  MICH 
 955 trumbull ave Detroit                                       JUL 1 1PM 89 
 Mich if not called for in 5 days 
                               

	
                                  Mrs. Kate J. Mills
                                  Zanesville
                                  Ohio

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