Civil War MO Soldiers Letter skirmish with rebels, killing 8, taking prisoners
Four page letter written by 2nd Lt. Alex D Mills, 1st Reg Missouri Vol Cav. Datelined Army of the Frontier. Camp at head of spring river, Lawrence County Missouri.
November 8th 1862 and addressed to Mr. Jersey Dear Brother, I think I last wrote to you from Osage Springs in Arkansas. Since then we went south so far as Fayetteville where we had a brisk skirmish with about 1,600 rebels, killing 8, wounding 20, and taking quite a number (of) prisoners.
We had but two wounded. All the rebel lands through there were dispersed and fled to the Boston mountains. I dont exactly know the reason why our Generals have fallen back, but presume they have thought it uselss to track these scattered bands further as there was not probability of ever getting anything like a general fight out of them. We are now 8 miles from Mount Vernon, and 33 miles southwest from Springfield. How long we shall remain here, or in what direction we shall move is not known, save perhaps by Genl. I have an idea though, that all the volunteers will be withdrawn from Mo. And sent down the Mississippi River. The aspect of affairs through the west looks most discouraging and threatening; not so much in the face of this southern rebellion, as in the political intrigue which has shown itself in some of the states where elections have already been held. It seems that this old Democratic party not content by plunging us into this southern rebellion, which we might soon crush and destroy now wish to get up a separation of the west from the east and by that blow, forever crush us as a free and independent nation. I have long thought that this was designed by many and I fear my predictions will be too-well realized.Should this take place (which looks probably) then good bye America all your honor, fame and everything are forever gone, and the proud American, who has always boasted of his freedom, and gloried in our institutions, will soon be found bowing and scraping before some European monarch. I have not received a letter from you for three or four weeks, and I hardly know what to make of it.
We have had one or two mails robbed lately, and perhaps, this may account for it. The weather here is warm in daytime and cold and frosty at night. The health of our battalion is good, but in some of the new Iowa regiments, a good deal of sickness prevails. I look to events that shall transpire in our unhappy country, within the next four months as settling our??? Hoping that you are all well.
I remain as ever, Your affectionate brother Alex. PS In addressing letters to me hereafter, insert "Volunteer" after Mo. As there is a First Militia regiment of cavalry in this state, and I have noticed a good many letters addressed to that regiment coming into our battalion, with precisely the same address as ours. I have no doubt, but my letters have gone to that regiment. The item "Civil War MO Soldiers Letter skirmish with rebels, killing 8, taking prisoners" is in sale since Tuesday, December 19, 2017. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Correspondence, Mail". The seller is "andalatelist" and is located in Metuchen, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russian federation, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica.