Letter signed James [James P. Groot], St. Louis, to his sister & Jesse. ". . . . This war has caused Produce & all kinds of Groceries to advance almost one half their usual prices & some things beyond the reach of the laboring class of People. What a moth, a curse & a pest to a civilized country & a nation like our own a civil war is. The middle & New England states dont or cant feel its severe pangs like the north-west or border states. . . . My prayers are that the Federals may conquer & become invincible. . . . God grant that we may see our country once more free. . . . To day I made an application for a situation as Register in one of the many Hospitals in the city. . . .", 1863 Feb

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 9

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists primarily of Groot family correspondence. Most of the letters were written by James P. Groot. Notable content includes three letters signed Rachel Mull to her sister Maria—dated September 2, 1855, April 5, 1856, and February 25, no year—that describe the abusive relationship with her husband, Barney Mull. The collection also includes 12 Civil War–era letters signed James P. Groot describing affairs in St. Louis and his military service in the 6th Iowa Infantry.