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Auction: 313 - Numismatic Collector's Series - Ft. Worth, TX
Lot: 1433

Civil War: Appomattox Outstanding series of 15 camp letters from trooper Rufus Smith of the 1st Maine Cavalry, 1864-65, highlighted by a letter in pencil from "Burksville Station Va," 3 pages, 8vo, April 12, 1865. He writes home that "Probably before this reaches you - you will have learned of the destruction of Lee´s Army. It may seem doubtful to you at first that such an army as his could be destroyed in ten days, but it is so for I was in his lines two days previous to his surrender - the 7th Va relieved me of all my necessary articles - such as hat, boots, coat, pockettbook, knife, Blankett istol Rations &c. It was well worth what I lost to have the pleasure of traveling through their lines, and seeing a race of poor conquered people...We escorted Gen Grant from the front to this place yesterday...My compliments to all...Tell them we have whipped Gen Lee into the Union." Smith had been captured by Lee´s forces, and as such he finds that his officers will not let him fight, as he has not been formally exchanged. He doubts he ever will, for as he writes on April 29, "the news has come to these Hd. Qrs. that the Rebel Gen Johnson [sic, Joseph E Johnston] has surrendered all his forces...to Gen Sherman." Johnston had surrendered on the 26th. On May 14 he worries about "the Mexican emigration" of many Confederates, and asks his father, "Do you think we are always going to have war, and I had better go?" On the 31st, he is at Chesterfield Court House, near Petersburg, VA, "for the purpose of keeping the Negroes in Subjugation and preserving order...As yet, we have had no trouble...The Whites were all sick of the war both in and out of he army, and they are now as humble as the blacks...We received news yesterday of the Surrender of Kirby Smith and all the Rebel forces west of the Mississippi...We will soon be home." The earlier letters are not devoid of good content, and cover Smith´s saber injury at the Battle of St Mary´s Church, his opinion of Gen Judson Kilpatrick (who makes a raid on Richmond in March 1864 and "it is thought it will be a failure;" it was), and news of Gen Philip Sheridan´s capture of Jubal Early (a false report, though Sheridan came close to making it true and Early was soon relieved of command). With the usual flaws, overall VG. With ten original envelopes. [25]

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$1,050