(Alabama River Confederate Usage) Packet Le Grande, red circular handstamp on U.S. 3¢ star die buff entire addressed to Newberry Court House S.C., original enclosed letter datelined "Sebastopol, Ala. Feby 21st 1861" that is located 23 miles NW of Demopolis on the Tombigbee River, entered mails with two strikes of "Montgomery Ala. Paid Feb 23" cds and "Steamboat" straightline; cover staining, F.-V.F. Milgram No. 783  Estimate $300 - 400. At the date of Alabama's secession from the Union on 11th January 1861 no mail contracts were running to Montgomery by steamboat. However, letters were carried by vessels operating on the Alabama River and put into the Post Office at Montgomery.The "Le Grande" of 235 tons was built at New Albany, Indiana in 1856 arriving at Mobile Nov 5th 1856 with Capt. George W. Cloudes as Master. Enrolled in the Confederate registry in January 1861. $0 (Image)