The Steven C. Walske Collection of Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War continued...

FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE NORTHBOUND CIVILIAN FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER WITH THE 10-CENT ROSE LITHOGRAPH.

It is not clear to us how this flag-of-truce cover was handled. The regulations required the use of two envelopes for flag-of-truce mail. Ordinarily, on a South-to-North letter, the outer envelope would bear Confederate postage and an appropriately worded "Flag of Truce" address. At the exchange point the inner envelope bearing U.S. postage would be removed and put into the Federal mails. In this instance, it appears that the envelope bearing Confederate postage (the 10c Rose) was examined by the Confederate censor (ms. "Exd") and placed into the mails, receiving a Federal "Due 3" handstamp. While the regulations were often breached by placing Confederate and U.S. stamps on one envelope, this usage -- without any Federal postmark other than the "Due 3" -- is enigmatic and obviously extremely rare, if not unique.

Illustrated in Antrim (p. 195) (Image)

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FINE AND RARE. AN OUTSTANDING MIXED-FRANKING PRISONER'S FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER SENT VIA PETERSBURG AND OLD POINT COMFORT FROM THE PARRY CORRESPONDENCE.

When Federal troops occupied Norfolk on May 9, 1862, the C.S.A. flag-of-truce exchange point was moved up the James River to Aiken's Landing, Virginia, with the U.S. exchange point remaining across the Chesapeake Bay at Fortress Monroe. Aiken's Landing was used by the C.S.A. for only a short time, after which their exchange point was moved to City Point, Virginia. With the July 1862 implementation of the prisoner exchange cartel, prisoner populations were temporarily drastically reduced and flag-of-truce mail exchanges were virtually eliminated. Because of the very short period of time this route was in existence, mail via Petersburg is among the rarest of prisoners' flag-of-truce mail. These covers also represent the earliest possible mixed-franking covers with U.S. and Confederate stamps.

Joseph L. Parry was chief engineer on the U.S. transport steamer Union when it ran aground on November 3, 1861, on the North Carolina coast. Parry was held at Salisbury Prison until his exchange in September, 1862. The Parry correspondence to and from the prison was described in two outstanding articles by Lawrence Lohr in the Confederate Philatelist in 1995 and 2008.

Ex Hollowbush (who was Parry's grand godson). Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 69) (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE PRISONER'S FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER SENT VIA PETERSBURG AND OLD POINT COMFORT.

As described in the preceding lot, the Petersburg-Old Point Comfort route was in use for only a short period of time. As such flag-of-truce covers sent by this route are very rare. Dr. Charles Carroll Gray was a U.S. Army medical officer who saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). Upon his capture he spent time in Libby Prison in Richmond, Castle Pinckney in Charleston and Salisbury Prison. He was exchanged in July 1862. His fascinating 1861-1862 diary, housed at the University of North Carolina Library, contains detailed descriptions of prisoner medical conditions and social interactions between prisoners and guards.

Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 63). Ex Emerson and Cole. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY NORTH-TO-SOUTH FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER, WHICH ENTERED THE C.S.A. MAILS AT PETERSBURG FRANKED WITH A GENERAL ISSUE STAMP.

Aiken's Landing Va. (near Petersburg) was the regular exchange point for flag-of-truce mail from May to September 1862, when U.S. authorities stopped prisoners' mail exchange. Because Petersburg was the entry post office for flag-of-truce mail for only a few months, covers carried on this route are rare. This civilian flag-of-truce cover with Major General Crittenden's AAG's instructions to expedite delivery was carried in July 1863. By this time Union prisons filled up again, and prisoners' mail increased in volume. However, the exchange point had been moved to City Point Va., near Richmond (the entry point for C.S.A. mail). This North-to-South flag-of-truce cover was handled through the U.S. Provost Marshal's office and entered the C.S.A. postal system at Petersburg. The use of a Confederate stamp on a North-to-South flag-of-truce cover is unusual. Such covers typically show a due marking for C.S.A. postage. (Image)

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AN EXCEPTIONAL MIXED-FRANKING FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER SENT VIA FORTRESS MONROE AND PETERSBURG, MADE EVEN MORE DESIRABLE BY THE TURNED USAGE.

When Federal troops occupied Norfolk on May 9, 1862, the C.S.A. flag-of-truce exchange point was moved up the James River to Aiken's Landing, Virginia, with the U.S. exchange point remaining across the Chesapeake Bay at Fortress Monroe. Aiken's Landing was used by the C.S.A. for only a short time, after which their exchange point was moved to City Point, Virginia. With the July 1862 implementation of the prisoner exchange cartel, prisoner populations were temporarily drastically reduced and flag-of-truce mail exchanges were virtually eliminated. Because of the very short period of time this route was in existence, mail via Petersburg is among the rarest of P.O.W. mail. These covers also represent the earliest possible mixed frankings with U.S. and Confederate stamps.

James H. Griggs was born in Dedham Mass. and served as a private in the Massachusetts 5th Infantry Regiment from May 1, 1861, to June 24, 1862, during which time he was captured and sent to Salisbury Prison. After exchange in late May 1862, he served with the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment from August 7, 1862, to March 19, 1863. Finally he is listed as a commissioned officer in Company I of the 37th Regiment of U.S. Colored Infantry starting in 1864.

Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 68). Ex Seybold. With 1998 A.P.S. certificate (Image)

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