Silsbee, Case & Co. bm.  "Kurtz origionally was commisioned in the 13th Massachusetts Infantry as a Captain in July 1861. On September 28, 1861 he was commisioned Lt. Colonel in the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry and became their colonel on October 23, 1861. He resigned November 25, 1862 due to "Dissatisfication relative to rank." He was the police chief of Boston, Massachusetts from 1863 until 1870.