6th Minnesota Letter Collection from Arkansas and Missouri

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015

A good group of six war-date Minnesota soldier and home front letters, totaling 17 pages, directed to George Palmer originally of Brownsville, Minnesota. The archive dates between October 1864 and January 1865. There are three letters from Pvt. James M. Darling, Co. F, 6th Minnesota Vols. His letters begin in Helena, Arkansas and end while he is stationed in St. Louis. Colorfully written Darling gives a good description of these places and of the military happening as they occur. There is also one letter from William Rippe, a newly discharged soldier, and two from family members giving good accounts of life back home including family prices and news of an ill relative who was perhaps a soldier. The letters, read, in small part: "…[Camp Buford, Helena, Ark., Oct. 23, 64, James Darling]…2000 Rebels ware out on the Little Rock Road and ware bound to come in and see us…the 15 Ill. Cavalry ware ordered out…the cavalry numbered 1000 strong…I expect that the six Reg. will soon be ordered out…Joseph has gone up to St. Louis…they took 50 Rebel as prisoners…that knife is a savage looking devil. Thare has bin some whare abouts 300 hundred prisoners brought in since I came her. The general opinion of the boys is that the war is about played out. The Rebels say if Little Mac is elected they are all right but if Old Abe is elected they are gone up. The boys all think they stand a good chance to git back to Minnesota before another fourth of July…I am glad that all the girls rite to you…you will have plenty of ass wipers for a month or two…you say you got a good revolver it out near ya'll while there is a piece of Colt lead in it. I had a good one, but sold it for 25 dollars…I shall get another, a Smith & Wesson…[Independence, Iowa., Nov. 9, 1864, William Rippe]…when I wrote to you last I was in the army but now I have got out that hole and I am glad of it for I was tired of it before I had served two months…[St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 30, 1864, James Darling]…I have just come of guard…no George, I do not like St. Louis as well as I did Helena…in Helena I had to go on guard about once a week and plenty of fun the rest of the time…now I go on guard every other day…day before yesterday 25 of our boys that belong to the 23 Missouri Cavalry, went out on a scout in the afternoon. They came up with 200 Rebels and pitched into them and killed 50 of them and took the rest to this place. They got here this morning…they were a hard looking set. They belong to Price's command. They say the Rebels are played out…in the spring I shall send home a new blanket, a new dress coat and 2 rubber blankets…next year…I shall go up to the Northern part of Minnesota and kill elk and Bear and wolf and dear…I have been on guard at the prison where there is from 300 or 400 hundred prisoners. When they say anything to me I just tell them to shut their mouths or they will git a ball through them. They have got so they know me and they don't like me no more. By Hell I don't like them no better. Our quarters are on Winter Street, they corner with 10 & South street. Thats all I can tell you about St. Louis only it is the cussel place for where I was ever in…[St. Louis, January 7, 1865, James M. Darling]…I shall be very glad when I git back to Brownsville…so we can pick up our old trade. I am perfectly sick and tired of Saint Louis. It is the most Hellish hole I was ever in. It is so smokey everyday that you cant see ten rods. The coal smoke is what makes me have such a cough and sore lungs. I shall be glad when we git ordered away…". Expected wear, else VG. (8 pieces)

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