Confederacy, Fort Delaware, Delaware City, Del. United States 1861 1¢ blue + 1861-66 2¢ black tied by grid cancels with "Delaware City, Del./Jul. 13" cds alongside on prisoner of war cover to New Orleans; neat oval "Prisoner's Letter/Examined/Fort Delaware, Del." censor's handstamp at left, some damage to reverse side and slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, a Lovely Blackjack Usage on a Prisoner of War Cover. Scott No. 63 + 73  Estimate $500 - 750. Fort Delaware was completed in 1859 on the marshy island known as Pea Patch Island. This stout Union fortress constructed in the shape of a pentagon and covering approximately 6 acres was used as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war during the Civil War. General Albin F. Schoepf was commandant of Fort Delaware Civil War Prison and was dreaded by the Confederates. He was known by the soldiers as "General Terror".Prisoners were held in wooden barracks, providing shelter unlike many other Civil War prisons, after the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the ranks of prisoners swelled to almost 13,000, leading to horrible conditions. Water became putrefied and food scarce. Scurvy, smallpox and severe malnutrition were prevalent. Approximately 2700 Confederate soldiers died while being held captive at Fort Delaware. $0 (Image)

Confederacy, Fort Delaware, Delaware City, Del. Prisoner cover from the Johnston correspondence to Summerville, Ala., franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose canceled by grid with matching "Delaware City, Del. Sep 5" cds, in combination with 1863, 10¢ blue tied by "Richmond, Va. Sep 13" cds, manuscript "for Flag of Truce" endorsement and "In care of, Fort Monroe"; some gum stains, a Very Fine use. Scott No. 12+U.S. 65  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)