Cosner's letters reflect his rather unusual position as a middle-aged soldier. Sixteen of the 18 letters in the collection were written to his wife, Ann B. Cosner, and the other two were addressed to his daughter, Martha, one in 1880. Cosner's handwriting suggests that he was not an experienced letter-writer, nor are his descriptive skills well developed, seldom advancing beyond straightforward comments and never at length. Cosner's letters, however, do reflect the attitudes of many pious, honest soldiers trying to live a Christian life in the middle of a seemingly godless war, and, unusually, display an open reticence about entering combat.
Cosner, Adam
Rank: Pvt.
Regiment: 21st Ohio Infantry Regiment. Co. F and I (1861-1865)
Service: 1864 January 25-1865 July 25
In January, 1864, Adam Cosner enlisted in the 21st Ohio Infantry at the relatively advanced age of 43, leaving behind his wife, Ann, and children (including Martha A., Jacob, Rose, Angeline, and Sumner) in Findlay. After only four months of duty in northern Georgia, marked most notably by his industrious efforts to make money by doing other soldiers' laundry, Cosner fell ill and was sent to hospital in Chattanooga where he remained until August. Early in September, he returned to his regiment, and served during the later stages of the Atlanta Campaign and on Sherman's March to the Sea.
