United States Army Officer. He entered the Union Army on September 16, 1861, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on January 30, 1863, he was wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and was discharged due to disability on August 11, 1863. He was engaged in the lithograph business after the war, but health concerns led to him move to Montana in 1874. Finding success as a mining magnate there, he was involved in the Montana National Guard in 1887, he became Colonel and commander of the 1st Montana Volunteer Infantry in 1898 when it was mustered into service during the Spanish-American War. Arriving in the scene too late to partake in any of the conflict in Cuba, the regiment was sent to the Philippines to help quell the insurrection that arose there after the war ended. He was heavily involved in the guerrilla warfare that marked the insurrection, and on October 6, 1899 was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers for his service (one of the last brevet general promotions awarded by the United States Army before that practice was discontinued). Returning to Montana, he resumed his mining interests before he passed away in his native Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1907.
Montana's Official State Flag is based on the flag General Kessler flew for his 1st Montana Volunteers regiment.
Montana's Official State Flag is based on the flag General Kessler flew for his 1st Montana Volunteers regiment.
United States Army Officer. He entered the Union Army on September 16, 1861, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on January 30, 1863, he was wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and was discharged due to disability on August 11, 1863. He was engaged in the lithograph business after the war, but health concerns led to him move to Montana in 1874. Finding success as a mining magnate there, he was involved in the Montana National Guard in 1887, he became Colonel and commander of the 1st Montana Volunteer Infantry in 1898 when it was mustered into service during the Spanish-American War. Arriving in the scene too late to partake in any of the conflict in Cuba, the regiment was sent to the Philippines to help quell the insurrection that arose there after the war ended. He was heavily involved in the guerrilla warfare that marked the insurrection, and on October 6, 1899 was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers for his service (one of the last brevet general promotions awarded by the United States Army before that practice was discontinued). Returning to Montana, he resumed his mining interests before he passed away in his native Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1907.
Montana's Official State Flag is based on the flag General Kessler flew for his 1st Montana Volunteers regiment.
Montana's Official State Flag is based on the flag General Kessler flew for his 1st Montana Volunteers regiment.
