Michael Kessler

     A record of the gallant soldiers of Danville would be incomplete,
without at least a brief mention of "Old Mike Kessler."  In 1847
he joined the "Irish Greens" at Pittsburg and under General
Shields served through the Mexican campaign.  He was in the bat-
 tle of Cero Gordo  and also  of Contreras,  as well as  in the forlorn
hope at Molina  Del  Rey,  and finally at the storming of the gates of
Mexico  city.   With  General  Scott  he  entered  the  "Halls  of  the 
Montezumas,"  and  there  remained  for nine months.  In  this war
he lost one of his eyes, but none of his  courage as a soldier, nor of
his patriotism, always for his  country  without regard to what party
for  the  time  administered  the   government.   Accordingly  in  the
last  war  he  enlisted  in  the  "Guards"  under  Captain  Ephlin,  for
nine months, and acted as  color sergeant at the Battle of Antietam.
Here he was  badly  wounded and  being  unable  to  walk,  and his
regiment  yielding  for a time  to a terrific charge,  he was forced to
retreat  or  yield  the  flag.   With a  heroism  eclipsing  the  boasted
chivalry of romance, he crawled  back,  wounded and bleeding with-
out  lowering the  flag, still  keeping  it unfurled  and  defiant  in  the
face of  the coming  foe.  Though  he should  fall he was determined
to  keep the  "stars and stripes" afloat,  and he  succeeded  in saving
both, as  the  Union forces  rallied  and charged  in turn.  In the fear-
ful  slaughter  at Fredericksburg   on  the  13th  of  December,  1862,
Kessler escaped unhurt amid the storms of leaden hail that beat upon
the  Union  troops.   At  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  they  struck  the
old  soldier  again.   This  tme a shell  took off  one  of his  legs, near
the  body.  He  also lose his  remaining  eye and became totally blind.
And  here in our  midst,  minus a  leg  and both his eyes, the old hero
of two  wars lived  for a  numbe r of years;  kindly  cared  for  by  the
Government  and  his  friends  it  is  true;  still  often  thought  what a
priceless  sacrifice  that man  made  for our common country.  Unable
to  walk  and  darkness  unbroken  around  him;  surely  he  should be
gratefully  remembered  among  the  fallen  heroes  of the Republic.  I
often  turned  aside  to  pass  an  hour  with  him,  to hear  him  tell of
sieges  dire,  and  to  see  him  "shoulder  his  crutch  and  show  how
fields  were  won."   Long  may  his  memory  live  in  the  grateful re-
memberance  of his  countrymen,  for whose  ransom  he paid a price
more precious  than gold  and dearer  far than  the costliest treasures
of earth.

     "Old Mike Kessler" never lost the enthusiasm of patriotism, nor
his ardent devotion to the Republican party.  It was his delight to
be taken out to the public gatherings and to listen to the speeckes
that harmonized with the war sentiment.  On such occasions there
 were always good friends to bring "Old Mike," and there was al-
ways a seat of honor for him on the platform.  Nor was he for-
gotten on election days.  There was always a committee and a car-
riage to bring him to the polls, and it was always a sure Republican
vote.  He died a few years ago.