2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Late war-date POW letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Corp. Reuben Coomes, Co. C, 33rd Iowa Vols. [POW Saline River, Ark., April 30, 1864], Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., April 27, 1865, to his brother, in part: "- I am well. The boys are all well generally that belong to the 33rd Iowa - we are not exchanged yet and I don't think we will be soon. The officers here seem to think that we never will be exchanged. There was eleven hundred paroled prisoners came in here day before yesterday from Georgia. They was delivered at Vicksburg. There will be about thirteen hundred more here in a few days from the same place - we have nothing to do here only lay around and run down to the city - I wish that I had have stayed at home while I was there. I could have done it - they told us that we was foolish for coming back so soon - I play soldier part of the time and part of the time I am a citizen of St. Louis. I was down to town - and got a suit of citizen's clothing - now I can go to town whenever I feel like it. It is the best pass that I can get a hold of . A citizen does not have to have a pass to get out of the Barracks while a soldier does - I have not heard anything from Henry - I expect that they had some pretty hard fighting around Mobile - your brother, Reuben Coomes." Reuben became a paroled prisoner after returning to Union lines on December 15, 1864. He languished in St. Louis before being mustered out in May, 1865. The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Negligible spotting, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.