Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., orange prisoner-of-war cover to Mark Fisher Esq. in Trenton N.J., unusual soldier's letter endorsement provided by fellow prisoner, Captain William D. Wilkins, "For Clark Fisher U.S.A." and additional "Prisoner of War, Soldiers Letter" at top, censored with manuscript "exd HW." by Captain Henry H. Wirz, later of Andersonville Prison infamy, "Due 3" handstamp for U.S. rating; couple minor stained spots, Very Fine, ex-Walske. Estimate  $2,000 - 3,000. 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.References: Illustrated in Harrison on page 92. $0 (Image)

Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., Prisoner cover endorsed "Libby Prison" and with "Old Point Comfort Va. Oct 3" dcds and matching "Due 6" rating handstamp, addressed to Mrs. A. M. Paulding in care of Admiral H. Paulding at the Navy Yard in New York City, original enclosed letter datelined "Libby Prison Sunday Morn Sept 20 1863" from Private Paulding to his mother in which he says he is well and asks for a number of items to be sent to him, Extremely Fine; with 2004 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate  $1,000 - 1,500. Sent by Private William A. Paulding (1842-1906) of Co. 'K' New York 78th Infantry to his parents. He was the son of Union Admiral Hiram Paulding. Private Paulding was first captured as a POW at Salem Church during the Chancelorsville Campaign May 4, 1863 but was very soon paroled and exchanged rejoining his regiment in time for Gettysburg where he was slightly wounded and again captured as a POW July 3, 1863. This time he was confined at Libby Prison until exchanged and released in early 1864. His release was due to a special exchange possibly due to the prominence of his family. Libby Prison ranks only behind Andersonville on the list of notorious Southern Civil War prisons. $0 (Image)

Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., Prisoner cover with "Old Point Comfort Va. Nov 10" dcds and matching "Due 6" circled handstamp, endorsed "M. M. Moore, 2nd Lieut, Prisoner of War" at left and addressed to his mother Mrs. A. W. Moore at Grand Rapids Mich., Feb. 14, 1864 letter from same correspondence accompanies where he states he is able to only write six lines and he expects to stay in prison for the duration of the war, Very Fine. Estimate  $1,000 - 1,500. He was in fact exchanged or released in early 1865 and rejoined his unit on April 1, 1865 and did not muster out of service until November 24, 1865. $0 (Image)

Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., buff prisoner's cover with "Old Point Comfort, Va., Oct 2" cds and matching "Due 6" rating handstamp addressed to Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding, Navy Yard, New York, cover with pencil Examiner's initials, original one page letter from Private William A. Paulding (1842-1906) in Company K of N.Y. 78th Infantry to his parents, Very Fine and choice; with 2004 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. The original one page prisoner's letter from Private Paulding to his father is included in which he says he is well and that he received the letter with the $15.00 and was surprised to hear that they have not received his letters as he has been writing every week and taking great care not to include anything that would be objectionable to the examiners. The letter is datelined "Libby Prison Richmond Sept 23 63." Private Paulding was first captured as a POW at Salem Church during the Chancelorsville Campaign on May 4, 1863 but was very soon paroled and exchanged. He rejoined his regiment in time for Gettysburg where he was slightly wounded and again captured as a POW on July 3, 1863. This time he was confined at Libby Prison until exchanged and released in early 1864. His release was due to a special exchange possibly because of the prominence of his family. $0 (Image)

Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va. - "Enchantress Affair", cover addressed to Lt. Col. S. Bowman (Prisoner of War), Richmond, Va. bearing C.S.A. 1862, 5¢ blue, Stone 2, position 21 with "spur" variety, margins to cutting, used over "Wilkes-Barre, Pa. May 20" cds (stamp lifted and hinged in place to show) and tied by blue "Petersburg Va. Jan 27" cds, matching black grid at left, reverse with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose as seal and cancelled by manuscript (torn from opening), Very Fine, A scarce example from the short-lived Petersburg route used only May through September 1862., Ex-Ron Tate; with 2000 P.S.E. certificate. Scott No. 4  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. On July 22, 1861, the merchant schooner "Enchantress" was captured off Hatteras N.C. by a Union vessel. The 14 Confederate privateers aboard were sent to prison and charged with piracy. Four of the crewmen plus ten more from another privateer were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. Outraged by the whole affair, especially the verdicts, the Confederate government responded by selecting an equal number of captured high-ranking Union officers and threatened to execute these prisoners of war should the U.S. carry out the sentences of the condemned privateers. Lt. Col. Samuel Bowmand (1818-1889) in the Field & Staff of the 8th PA Infantry, was one of these officers encarcerated at Libby Prison in Richmond. Ultimately, the U.S. government reconsidered the case and decided to treat the captured Confederate privateers not as pirates but prisoners of war. Lt. Col. Bowman was exchanged September 1, 1862 at Aiken's Landing, exchanged for Francis T. Nicholls of the 8th Louisiana. Bowman was captured on June 7, 1861 when he crossed the Potomac in the neighborhood of Williamsport, unattended, to reconnoiter and was suddenly seized by rebel scouts and borne away a prisoner. $0 (Image)