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)