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Soldiers Correspondence 3Rd Iowa Cavalry Memphis TennI continue to sell my large collection of civil war letters and postal history. I am offering here a three-letter correspondence from two brothers from the barr family of big mound, lee county, iowa. The soldiers are lieutenant samuel barr and private james barr and btoh served in company b, 3rd iowa cavalry. (#1) 3 pages from samuel to hsi sister mary. Datelined hdqrs, co. B, 3rd iowa cav vet vols, memphis, tenn, may 24th, 1864. Samuel describes his camp as a very pleasatn place but with little water available for the horses. He writes about drilling on foot as there is no place to drill on horseback. Samuel thinks the war is aobut over and that the rebels are afraid of the union army and will fly at its approach. This letter comes with its original envelope franked by a sc. 65 tied by a nice memphis cancel. (#2) 2 pages from samuel to his sister mary. Datelined hdqrs, co.
B, 3rd iowa cav, memphis, tenn, augt 1st. 1864.
Writes that he is about to go on a scout and will be gone for 10 or 15 days. Samuel states that his brother james is not likely to go on the scouting party because of a general lack of horses.
He stresses to his sister the importance of good health and education. At the end of the letter he writes if i live till this war ends i will help you and all the rest of the children to get an education. Sadly samuel barr would never be able to act on that promise. He was severely wounded and had his leg amputated at big blue, mo on october 23, 1864.
Samuel barr died from these wounds on november 28, 1864. This letter comes with a cover addressed to mary barr with a tennessee, illinois cancel. This does not seem to be the original envelpoe but the postmark is undoubtedly very scarce. (#3) 1 1/2 large pages from james barr to his mother lilly ann. Dateliend memphis, tennessee, sept. 23rd, a. D. 1864, camp 3rd iowa cavalry, co. B. James writes that he had received a letter recently from asmuel who was in brownsville, arkansas. He says that they are expecting an attack any day but that the rebels won't get out as easy as they did before. James discusses the presidential election and writes that he bet another soldier $1,000 that mcclelland would not win.
He says htat there are not more than 3 men in his company who won't vote for old abe. Like his brother samuel, james' career in the 3rd iowa cavalry had a sad ending. He was woudned and taken prisoner at vicksburg, miss. On january 4, 1865 and died no the same day. This letter comes with its origianl envelope franked with a sc.
65 tied by a nice memphis, tenn. Cancel. This interesting and poignant soldiers correspondence would make a great addition to any ciivl war collection. Please see my other listings for other items of possible interest to the civil war enthusiast.
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