Its my 3rd great uncle, born 1 Jan 1834 in Antioch, Monroe, Ohio and died 13 Feb 1916 in Crested Butte, Gunnison, Colorado . Not sure what more but im really just interested in the doc and the war involvement. Thank you all in advance!
It is the discharge of Shadrach Bottenfield, of Co. D, 27th Ohio Infantry. They were in the western theater, operated in MO, TN, MS, and participated in Sherman's March and Carolina Campaign. He volunteered in December of 1863, and was enlisted for "three years or the duration of the war," whichever came first. As it was, the war ended less than a year and half later, so he was discharged in Louisville, KY, July 11, 1865.
Here is his name listed in the records of Ohio Civil War vets. https://www.ogs.org/research/results_ohcwss.php
Here is a general unit history: https://www.ohiocivilwarcentral.com/entry.php?rec=1260
Edit: it just clicked that he enlisted on Christmas Day 1863. I'm certain there's a reason he chose that, but I'm afraid with out family stories, diaries, etc. you'd be hard-pressed to know exactly why. Perhaps someone with access to local newspapers in his hometown could reveal some special call for troops or an ad for men to enlist.
Looks to me like he served in the Union army for 2 years (1863 to 1865) during the Civil War, under Captain John Cooper, Company D, 27th Regiment, 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Wikipedia says the 27th Ohio mustered out in 1865 in Louisville Kentucky, which matches the document you found:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27th_Ohio_Infantry
"The 27th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 11, 1865."
He appears to be listed here as a non commissioned officer or private of Company D of the 27th:
https://books.google.com/books?id=dHNDAQAAMAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA62&ots=UZhdpi5Yup&dq=shadrach%20bottenfield&pg=RA1-PA62#v=onepage&q=shadrach%20bottenfield&f=false
The Ohio Civil War roster search shows that he entered as a corporal and left as a Sargeant:
https://www.ogs.org/research/results_ohcwss.php
Looks like at some point after his death, someone applied for a military headstone for him:
And apparently he's buried in Colorado:
There's apparently a lot of family information about him online, including land grants and patents he received in Kansas after he was discharged and lots of census records.
Since you mentioned you might be having trouble with the cursive, I transcribed it as best I could. The only word I wasn't able to figure out is part of the reason that's covered by a pretty thick crease. The hand-written parts are bolded. Hope this helps!
Know ye, that Shadrach M. Bottenfield,
a Sergeant of Captain John H. Cooper's
company ("D") 27th Regiment of Ohio Infantry Veteran
Volunteers, who was enrolled on the twenty-fifth day of December
one thousand eight undred and sixty three to serve three years or
during the war, is hereby discharged from the service of the United States
this eleventh day of July, 1865, at Louisville,
Kentucky by reason of existing Order from the War Dept of date June 22'' 1865.
(No objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist.*)
Said Shadrach M. Bottenfield was born in Monroe County
in the state of Ohio, is 31 years of age,
5 feet 6 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes,
light hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a soldier.
Given at Louisville, Ky this eleventh day of
July 1865.
The only signature I can confidently see is the one on the left, belonging to the above-mentioned Captain John Cooper.
I can't quite tell the one on the right, though from what I can see it appears to be a Captain ("Capt.") of 10" (tenth?) infantry - I can't tell what the word before that is.