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

Flag-of-Truce Mail: Richmond-Old Point Comfort continued...
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
137 c Danville Prison, Va.> Tissue-paper prisoner-of-war cover to Manalapan N.J., endorsement at bottom, censored in pencil by the Prison Commander <<Examined R.C. Smith Lt. Col Comdg>> (Oct. 1864-Jan. 1865), mixed franking with <10c Blue, Die A (11) andDanville Prison, Va. Tissue-paper prisoner-of-war cover to Manalapan N.J., endorsement at bottom, censored in pencil by the Prison Commander "Examined R.C. Smith Lt. Col Comdg" (Oct. 1864-Jan. 1865), mixed franking with 10c Blue, Die A (11) and 3c Rose (65), both tied by segmented cork cancel, "Old Point Comfort Va. Jan. 17" (1865) double-circle datestamp, pencil receipt docketing at top, cover with faults incl. part of back missing, also some restoration due to the fragile paper

FINE APPEARANCE AND VERY DESIRABLE PRISONER'S FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER WITH MIXED FRANKING AND CENSORED BY THE DANVILLE PRISON COMMANDANT.

The Danville prison consisted of six tobacco warehouses and a hospital, and was active from November 1863 until the end of the war. Northbound mail was processed through Danville, although not usually postmarked there, and entered the U.S. mails at Old Point Comfort. Accordingly, most of the few known mixed-franking covers from this prison have no C.S.A. postal markings. Fewer than 50 surviving covers are known and can only be identified by letter contents, manuscript examined markings or prisoners' service records. The commandant's censor marking combined with the mixed franking on this cover are most unusual (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
138 c Danville Prison, Va.> Inner prisoner-of-war cover from Pvt. Elijah Rockhold to Bainbridge O. with original letter datelined <<Danville Va. Prison & Hos. April 21st 1864,>> censored with <<Exd MM>> in pencil by Danville Prison Commander Major MasoDanville Prison, Va. Inner prisoner-of-war cover from Pvt. Elijah Rockhold to Bainbridge O. with original letter datelined "Danville Va. Prison & Hos. April 21st 1864", censored with "Exd MM" in pencil by Danville Prison Commander Major Mason Morfit (Aug.-Oct. 1864), entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. May 2" circular datestamp and "Due 3" straightline for unpaid soldier's letter, receipt docketing at left, soiling and some wear, still a Fine flag-of-truce cover sent via Richmond and Fortress Monroe, desirable with the Morfit censor mark, Elijah Rockhold was a member of Company H of the Ohio 89th Infantry Regiment, ex Harrison (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
139 c Danville Prison, Va.> Inner prisoner-of-war cover from Lt. Col. Samuel A. Moffett to Rodman, N.Y., with original letter datelined <<Danville Military Prison Nov. 20. 1864,>> endorsed with prisoners rank and <<Via Flag of Truce Boat to the UnitedDanville Prison, Va. Inner prisoner-of-war cover from Lt. Col. Samuel A. Moffett to Rodman, N.Y., with original letter datelined "Danville Military Prison Nov. 20. 1864", endorsed with prisoner's rank and "Via Flag of Truce Boat to the United States", censored with manuscript "Examined RC Smith Lt Col Comdg" by the Danville Prison Commander (Oct. 1864-Jan. 1865), entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. Jan. 18" (1865) circular datestamp and "Due 6" in circle (officers not entitled to 3c due rate), some edgewear and edge splitting, Fine appearing flag-of-truce cover sent via Richmond and Fortress Monroe, desirable with the Prison Commander censor mark, Samuel A. Moffett was born in 1836 and at the age of 25 enlisted in the 94th N.Y. Volunteer Infantry, in April 1863 he was promoted to head of the Regiment and lead it at the Battle of Chancellorsville as part of Gen. John F. Reynold's 1st Corps, after his capture in 1864 he was held at Libby Prison in Richmond, then Salisbury N.C. and Danville, ex Seacrest, with 1986 C.S.A. certificate (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
140 c Lynchburg Prison, Va.> Prisoner-of-war cover to Capt. Edwin J. Swan in Washington D.C., original letter datelined <<Lynchburg, VA May 8th 1864>>, endorsed <<by flag of truce boat>>, mixed franking with C.S.A. postage to Richmond paid by <10c BlueLynchburg Prison, Va. Prisoner-of-war cover to Capt. Edwin J. Swan in Washington D.C., original letter datelined "Lynchburg, VA May 8th 1864", endorsed "by flag of truce boat", mixed franking with C.S.A. postage to Richmond paid by 10c Blue, Die B (12), huge margins to close at left, tied by greenish-black "Lynchburg Va. May 25" (1864) circular datestamp, U.S. postage paid by 3c Rose (65) tied together with C.S.A. stamp by quartered cork, small tear at top, entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. Jun. 4" double-circle datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER FROM A PRISONER AT LYNCHBURG PRISON SENT THROUGH RICHMOND AND OLD POINT COMFORT. FEWER THAN FOUR ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST.

The writer of the enclosed letter was a private in the 76th N.Y. Volunteers, which was part of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Writing to Captain Swan, commander of Company H in the 76th N.Y., he lists the prisoners captured with him on May 5, 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness and states that they are all well. He goes on to instruct the captain on sending flag-of-truce mail by putting 10c silver into an unsealed envelope.

Lynchburg Prison held more than 10,000 prisoners during the war, but with most of them remaining for short periods of time, covers are extremely rare. Medical care was reportedly better at Lynchburg than at most other C.S.A. prisons due to the presence of the base hospital center used by the Confederacy throughout the war. During a December 1863 outbreak of smallpox, vaccine was sent from Fortress Monroe by General Benjamin F. Butler to inoculate the prisoners at Lynchburg (Harrison p. 79).

Ex Antrim and Kilbourne. Illustrated in Antrim (p. 140) and Special Routes (p.243) (Image)

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 E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $10,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
141 c Lynchburg Prison, Va.> Prisoner-of-war cover to Toledo O. endorsed <<flag of truce,>> no censor markings, mixed franking with <10c Blue, Die A (11)> tied by smudgy strike of greenish-black Lynchburg Va. May 25 (1864) circular datestamp, another bLynchburg Prison, Va. Prisoner-of-war cover to Toledo O. endorsed "flag of truce", no censor markings, mixed franking with 10c Blue, Die A (11) tied by smudgy strike of greenish-black "Lynchburg Va. May 25" (1864) circular datestamp, another blurry strike on back, 3c Rose (65), defective, tied by segmented cork, "Old Point Comfort Va. Jun. 4" double-circle datestamp, cover slightly reduced at right, some soiling and small tear on back, still Fine and rare P.O.W. cover from Lynchburg Prison, fewer than four known (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
142 c Belle Island Prison, Richmond Va.> Inner prisoner-of-war cover to Washington Pa. with original letter from Pvt. Sample S. Bane datelined <<Richmond Va. Dec the 10th 1863,>> endorsed <y Flag of Truce,>> no censor marks, 3c Rose (65) tied by OldBelle Island Prison, Richmond Va. Inner prisoner-of-war cover to Washington Pa. with original letter from Pvt. Sample S. Bane datelined "Richmond Va. Dec the 10th 1863", endorsed "By Flag of Truce", no censor marks, 3c Rose (65) tied by "Old Point Comfort Va. Feb. 1" (1864) circular datestamp, contents include a request for provisions "Direct it to Richmond Va. Belle Island Prisoner of War.", stamp with faults and cover soiling, Fine and very scarce P.O.W. letter from Belle Island, Harrison records only eight known, Sample S. Bane was a private in the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, after Belle Island he was transferred to Andersonville Prison where he died less than two months after this letter was written (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction
143 c Castle Thunder, Richmond Va.> Inner cover from William F. Carr to his wife in Keedysville Md., with original letter datelined <<Room No. 10, Castle Thunder Prison, Richmond Va. March 26th 1864,>> endorsed <<Citizen prisoners letter per flag of truCastle Thunder, Richmond Va. Inner cover from William F. Carr to his wife in Keedysville Md., with original letter datelined "Room No. 10, Castle Thunder Prison, Richmond Va. March 26th 1864", endorsed "Citizen prisoners letter per flag of truce" at top, no censor mark, entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. Apr. 19" double-circle datestamp and "Due 6" in circle handstamp, minor wear and couple light stains, splits throughout enclosed letter, overall Fine, scarce P.O.W. letter from Castle Thunder from a well-known correspondence, Harrison records only 11 covers known, Castle Thunder, also known as Grainer Tobacco Warehouse, received its nickname because it was near cannons defending the city, William F. Carr was arrested as a spy after the Battle of Antietam, ex Antrim (Image)

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 E. 500-750

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction
144 c Castle Thunder, Richmond Va.> Inner cover to Hopkinsville Ky., censored with manuscript <<Ex Jno L Eustis adc,>> who was a clerk in the Richmond War Office, franked with three singles of <1c Blue (63),> stamps defective, cancelled with segmented coCastle Thunder, Richmond Va. Inner cover to Hopkinsville Ky., censored with manuscript "Ex Jno L Eustis adc", who was a clerk in the Richmond War Office, franked with three singles of 1c Blue (63), stamps defective, cancelled with segmented cork, one tied by "Old Point Comfort Va. Apr. 18" double-circle datestamp, cover with some wear and couple small tears and stains, Fine appearing and very scarce franking, inner P.O.W. covers going to the North are almost always franked with a 3c Rose (65) or stampless with a due marking (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
145 c Libby Prison, Richmond Va.> Inner cover from prisoner-of-war to Trenton N.J., unusual soldiers letter endorsement provided by fellow prisoner, Captain William D. Wilkins, <<For Clark Fisher U.S.A.,>> censored with manuscript <<exd HW.>> by <CaptLibby Prison, Richmond Va. Inner cover from prisoner-of-war to Trenton N.J., unusual soldier's letter endorsement provided by fellow prisoner, Captain William D. Wilkins, "For Clark Fisher U.S.A.", censored with manuscript "exd HW." by Captain Henry H. Wirz, later of Andersonville Prison infamy, "Due 3" handstamp, no other U.S. postal markings, couple minor stained spots

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE COMMANDANT HENRY WIRZ'S CENSOR MARKING ON A FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER FROM LIBBY PRISON.

Henry H. Wirz took command of Libby Prison beginning in late 1862. In March 1864, he was assigned to Andersonville (Camp Sumter). After the war, Wirz was charged with conspiracy and murder by Federal authorities. His trial was held in the Capitol building in Washington and was presided over by Union General Lew Wallace. A number of former prisoners testified on conditions at Andersonville, many accusing Wirz of specific acts of cruelty (some of these accounts were later called into question by historians as exaggerated or false). The court also heard from Confederate officers and considered official correspondence from captured Confederate records. Wirz presented evidence that he pleaded to Confederate authorities to try to get more food and maintained that he tried to improve the conditions for the prisoners. Wirz was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death. On November 10, 1865, he was hanged in Washington at the site of the current Supreme Court building -- the only Confederate official to be tried, convicted and executed for war crimes resulting from the Civil War.

Illustrated in Harrison (p. 92) (Image)

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 E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction
146 c Libby Prison, Richmond Va.> Six inner prisoner-of-war covers from Libby Prison to cities in the North, dates range from February-November 1863, three franked with 3c Rose (65), others stampless with Due 3 or Due 6 markings, three with original coLibby Prison, Richmond Va. Six inner prisoner-of-war covers from Libby Prison to cities in the North, dates range from February-November 1863, three franked with 3c Rose (65), others stampless with "Due 3" or "Due 6" markings, three with original contents, nice variety of censor markings, one postmarked Annapolis Md. (possibly carried there by paroled P.O.W.), others with "Old Point Comfort Va." datestamps, some with notes on the prisoners, few small faults as normally found on prisoner covers

A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PRISONERS' FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVERS FROM LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND.

With the largest Union prisoner population in the C.S.A., Richmond was forced to use a number of facilities as prisons. Northbound mail was processed through Richmond, but virtually all known covers from Richmond prisons are inner envelopes which do not have C.S.A. frankings or Richmond postmarks, and which entered the U.S. mails at Old Point Comfort.

Libby Prison opened in March 1862 to receive transferred prisoners from Ligon's, Mayo's and Taylor's Warehouses. It re-opened in mid-1863, and quickly grew to over 4,000 inmates by the end of 1863. It was evacuated on the fall of Richmond in April 1865. Eight flag-of-truce covers are known from the via Norfolk period, and five are known from the via Petersburg period. More than 160 covers are known from the via Richmond period. (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
147 c Charleston S.C.> Blue inner cover to Lynn Mass., endorsed <<Per Flag of Truce>> and <<Prisoner of War Letter Charleston S.C.,>> no censor markings, entered U.S. mails with Annapolis Md. Oct. 20 64 double-circle datestamp, Due 6 in circle, alCharleston S.C. Blue inner cover to Lynn Mass., endorsed "Per Flag of Truce" and "Prisoner of War Letter Charleston S.C.", no censor markings, entered U.S. mails with "Annapolis Md. Oct. 20 '64" double-circle datestamp, "Due 6" in circle, also strike of circular target, soiling and some small tears on edge and backflap, Fine and unusual usage, most likely sent via Richmond with the flag-of-truce boat skipping Fortress Monroe and taking the letter all the way to Annapolis, ex Kohn (Image)

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 E. 500-750

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

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