[ Autographs ] ST MINNESOTA BATTLE LETTER A fine Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., Camp Fair Oaks, Virginia, June 19, 1862,by Theodore A. Irvine of the 1st Minnesota Infantry. This unit suffered the highest loss of any Union regiment in a single action, losing 215 out of 262 men during an attack on the second day at Gettysburg. The letter, describing the unit's involvement in the battle of Fair Oaks, reads in part: "...we arrived on the battle field about four o'clock..took our position and laid down flat on our faces. Very soon the rebels emerged from a piece of woods in front of us. Their evident intention was to turn our flank...Co.s C and D poured a volley into their rank. They returned the fire and there was quite a spirited firekept up between them...the bullets whistled over our heads...one man sitting up behind our company was shot in the head and died the next morning...we laid down in the ranks and rested until morning...". Somestaining and soiling, about very good.