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Civil War Letter: Missouri Raider Attack, 1861

Civil War Union Letters

1861 St. Louis Letter Regarding A Missouri Raider Attack

December 20, 1861, Autograph Letter Signed, "John N. Straat," St. Louis, MO., Choice Very Fine.
1861, where John N. Straat has written to J.B. Anthony of the Providence Tool and Armory regarding the value of paper in Missouri, that the Bond market is falling, and that a large force of Southern Rebels have taken over the banks. This letter includes interesting reading about the Raider turmoil being just outside of Lexington, Missouri. The second Letter, being a copy of a letter from the firm of Sawyer and Sharp, which was trying to get out of paying a bond. (2 items).

September 19th, 1861, the casualty count from the Battle of Lexington was 25 killed and 75 wounded on Price's side, while the Federals had 39 killed and 120 wounded. Price did experience some immediate gains from the battle. He captured five artillery pieces, 3,000 rifles, and 750 horses, all of which were highly beneficial to his under-equipped army. Beyond that, he returned some $900,000 that the Federals had looted from the local bank and therefore he became a hero throughout the South. In response to the defeat at Lexington, the Union commander in Missouri, Gen. John C. Fremont, mounted a massive force to drive Price from Missouri. In the face of this threat, Price had little choice but to retreat back to Southwest Missouri. Then the Lexington and the Missouri River Valley once again returned to Union control.