Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The John Birkinbine II Collection of of Arizona and New Mexico Postal History continued...

Civil War and Confederate Arizona continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

1087

1862 January 29-February 13--C.S.A. Military Express to Major Henry W. Raguet. Buff cover endorsed Official” and addressed Major H. W. Raguet, 1st Rt S Bde [Sibley’s Brigade] 2d Rt T.M.R. [Texas Mounted Rangers]”, in the hand of Col. James Reily, carried to Maj. Raguet as he advanced with the Texas Rangers from Fort Thorn toward Fort Craig--Col. Reily returned to Mesilla from his diplomatic mission to Chihuahua on Jan. 29, 1861, and left on a second special assignment Feb. 13, which establishes the date range for this cover--John Birkinbine reports this is the only C.S.A. military express cover from Mesilla; pencil field notes on back and vertical folds (suggesting this was carried by Maj. Raguet in his pocket), flap reinforced (Image)

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E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction

1088

Mesilla N.M. Jan. 5” (1862). Exceptionally clear strike of circular datestamp with manuscript Due 10” C.S.A. rate in hand of Postmaster William D. Skillman on buff cover with soldier’s endorsement John Collins Soldier, Co. I, 1st Regt. Sibleys Brigade & 4th Regt T.M.V.”, addressed to sender’s cousin, Robert L. Bliss Jr. at Florence, Alabama, contemporary notations on cover (humorous on back--Procrastination, Florence, Ala.”), original letter datelined Camp on the Rio Grande (Willow Bend) New Mexico--33 miles above Fort Bliss Tex. & about 25 miles below Mesilla (pronounced Mesea) Arizona, Dec. 23d 1861” with good content including mention of Sibley’s strategy, scouting for Indians” and news of other military activity, mentions postal procedures (see below), cover opened a bit roughly at right with minor edge mend

VERY FINE. A RARE SOLDIER’S COVER AND LETTER FROM THE CONFEDERATE MILITARY TERRITORY OF ARIZONA AND POSTMARKED AT MESILLA.

On September 25, 1861, when Arizona was a Confederate territory under Lieutenant Colonel Baylor’s military governorship, the C.S.A. Postmaster General appointed William D. Skillman as postmaster at Mesilla, the westernmost and only Arizona post office in the Confederacy. Postmaster Skillman used the existing Mesilla N.M.” datestamp with the old New Mexico designation. Mail was carried between Mesilla and San Antonio on a portion of the old Overland Mail route, which was operated by Skillman and his brother, Henry, under the familiar San Antonio & San Diego Mail Co. name. Advertisements for the mail line predate Skillman’s September 25, 1861, appointment (see page 75). On August 28, 1861, George H. Giddings (with the Skillmans) received a contract from the C.S.A. Post Office Department to carry mail between Mesilla and Texas, commencing November 1, 1861. Mail on the first C.S.A. contract trip from Mesilla was postmarked on Sunday, November 3, 1861.

Enlisted soldiers were not permitted to use military expresses to carry their mail, so this letter was carried by Private Collins as his company marched from Camp Willow Bar to Fort Thorn. He placed it in the post office at Mesilla on December 27, and it was postmarked January 5, 1862, the date of the Skillman express trip to El Paso. He was not permitted to prepay postage, as the letter explains: You must excuse me Rob’t for not paying the postage. I have the means & would have but our Adj’t will not receive it.”

Illustrated in C.S.A. Catalog (p. 242). Ex Walske (Siegel Sale 980, lot 2829) (Image)

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E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $15,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1089

Mesilla N.M. Feb. 16” (1862) Circular Datestamp--First Day Postmark from the Confederate Territory of Arizona. Mostly clear strike of circular datestamp and manuscript Due 10c” C.S.A. rate in hand of Postmaster William D. Skillman on 2-page blue folded letter datelined La Mesilla, Territory of Arizona, February 13th 1862” from Dabney W. Lewis, Co. A, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Mounted Rangers, C.S.A., to his parents, Meriwether and Amanda Lewis in Turkey Cove, North Carolina (same correspondence as lot 1086), soldier’s endorsement, describes beauty of region, mentions Col. Baylor, directs parents to address letters to Fort Bliss, notation on back Direct Care Capt. John T. Aycock” (Capt. Aycock was located at Mesilla), some splits along folds, otherwise in excellent condition

VERY FINE. A HISTORIC FIRST DAY COVER FROM THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.

On January 13, 1862, the Confederate Congress passed the Act to Organize the Territory of Arizona,” subject to a provision that required a Confederate presidential proclamation for it to be in full force and effect. After signing the bill on January 18, President Jefferson Davis issued his formal proclamation on February 14, 1862, which effectively created the Confederate Territory of Arizona. The first mail trip from Mesilla after the Davis proclamation was on Monday, February 16; therefore, this date is the official First Day of the Confederate Territory of Arizona. (Image)

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E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $25,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1090

Mesilla N.M. Feb. 16” (1862) Circular Datestamp--First Day Postmark from the Confederate Territory of Arizona. Unusually clear strike of circular datestamp and manuscript Paid 10c” C.S.A. rate in hand of Postmaster William D. Skillman on buff cover addressed to Miss Jettie Word, Care of Col. T. J. Word, Palestine, Texas”, sent by Dr. Henry J. Hunter, who later married Jettie, the sister of Private John J. Word, both Hunter and Word were members of Gardner’s Division, Company I, 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers, cover expertly cleaned with some minor cosmetic edge improvements

VERY FINE. A HISTORIC FIRST DAY COVER FROM THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA AND REPORTED TO BE THE ONLY KNOWN PREPAID COVER FROM MESILLA.

Dr. Henry J. Hunter, a member of Company I, 7th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers, was detached as assistant surgeon at Mesilla from December 14, 1861, to April 21, 1862. He was appointed 2nd assistant surgeon on March 11, 1862. Dr. Hunter was taken prisoner and exchanged June 6, 1862.

It is reported that ten Confederate Mesilla covers are known, but all of the others were sent postage due (a note on back from Brian M. Green states Paid 10 [only one known]”). The letter in lot 1088 states that the sender wished to pay postage, but the adjutant refused to accept payment.

Illustrated in C.S.A. Catalog (p. 242) (Image)

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E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $25,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1091

1862 March--C.S.A. Military Express from Tucson to Major Henry W. Raguet at Albuquerque. Cover endorsed Col. J. Reily, 1st Rt. S. Bde” (1st Regt., Sibley’s Brigade) addressed Major H. W. Raguet, 1st Rt Sibly Bde Ft Thorne”, in the hand of Col. James Reily, re-used envelope with earlier address to Dr. Jon Thuirth, Doña Ana, small piece of backflap missing, Very Fine, John Birkinbine dates this to March 2, 1861, when Col. Reily was in Tucson en route to Hermosillo, Mexico, on a special mission to negotiate with Gov. Ignacio Pesqueira for cooperation with the Confederate government, the use of a previously addressed envelope reflects shortages of basic supplies at Tucson--reported to be the only known C.S.A. military express cover from Tucson, which was received by Maj. Raguet at Albuquerque (Image)

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E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction

1092

1862 May--Mesilla to Palestine, Texas, via El Paso. Cover endorsed Private J. J. Word A.G.Q. Hd. Qrs. Army NM” from Assistant Quartermaster General John J. Word to Jeff Word in Palestine, Texas, blurry partly readable strike of El Paso Tx. May 18” circular datestamp, red crayon due 10”, repaired along edges and cleaned, part of one flap missing

FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM MESILLA IN CONFEDERATE ARIZONA TERRITORY THAT WAS POSTMARKED IN TEXAS.

John Birkinbine records this as the latest Confederate cover known from Mesilla--the post office was inoperative, so mail was carried by Skillman to El Paso and postmarked there. (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1093

1862 March--Soldier’s Mail from California Volunteers, U.S. Army, at Fort Yuma to Camp Drum and Los Angeles by Military Express and Courier, U.S. Mail to San Francisco and Michigan. Buff cover to Memphis, Michigan, with soldier’s endorsement Soldiers Letter, D. C. Vestal, Ast. Adjt.”, red manuscript re-endorsement Soldiers Letter C.O.D., Ben C. Cutler, 1st Lt. & Adjt., 1st Inf CV”, carried from Fort Yuma by military express to Camp Drum, California, then by military courier to Los Angeles where it entered the mails with Los Angeles Cal. Mar. 30” (1862) circular datestamp and DUE 10 CTS” oval handstamp (manuscript rate), slightly reduced at left

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER FROM FORT YUMA, THE STAGING AREA FOR UNION TROOPS PREPARING TO INVADE THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA. (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1094

1862 July--Vedette Mail from Los Angeles to Tucson via Fort Yuma. Yellow cover addressed to Mr. Julius C. Hall, Co. K, 1st Regt. Cal. Vol., Fort Yuma, California”, 1¢ Blue and three 3¢ Rose (63, 65), 1¢ small fault top right, 3¢ at right blunted perfs, two with manuscript X” cancels, two tied by Williamsport Md. Jun. 3” (1862) circular datestamp, carried from Los Angeles to Fort Yuma by Vedette, then by another Vedette to Tucson, where the 1st Regiment was located in July 1862, reduced at left, half of backflap missing, still a Fine appearing and rare Vedette Mail cover to Military District of Arizona (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

1095

1862 July--Vedette Mail from Tucson to Los Angeles via Fort Yuma. Cover endorsed Soldier’s letter, 1st Lt. J. P. Hargrave, Act. Adjt.” (Lt. Joseph Priestly Hargrave, Co. F, 1st Regiment, California Volunteers), addressed to Memphis, Michigan, in the hand of De Witt Vestal (see lot 1093 for another from this soldier), carried by Vedette Mail from Tucson to Fort Yuma, then by another Vedette rider to Los Angeles where it entered mails with Los Angeles Cal. Aug. 1” circular datestamp and 10” in oval due handstamp, which replaced the earlier device requiring manuscript rate, slight edgewear, still Very Fine, a rare Vedette Mail cover from Union-occupied Tucson in Military District of Arizona (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1096

Gila river, Arizona Territory, May 4th 1862”--Soldier’s Letter from California Volunteers on Gila River, Vedette Mail to Fort Yuma and San Diego, U.S. Mail to San Francisco and New York City. Blue folded letter with clear dateline and soldier’s endorsement Soldiers Letter, Chas. W. Smith, Capt. Co. B, 2nd Infty. Cal Vols”, red manuscript re-endorsement C.O.D., Ben C. Cutler, 1st Lt. & Adjt., 1st Inf. C.V.” (Captain Benjamin C. Cutler--see photo on page 83), carried from a temporary supply depot on the Gila River near Pima Villages, halfway between Fort Yuma and Tucson (named Fort Barrett on May 10), Vedette rider to Fort Yuma, then by another rider to San Diego military depot, and from there to the post office at San Diego, 10” due handstamp (style used at San Diego), letter mentions prisoners captured at Battle of Picacho Pass in Arizona, All I have seen of them was about a dozen prisoners in a fort in California and three that had been captured 100 miles from here, and were being escorted to safe post in Cal. They looked like Arkansas horse thieves”, faint dampstains and minor splits in letter portion, but not affecting address leaf
VERY FINE. PROBABLY A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF SOLDIER’S MAIL FROM THIS REMOTE GILA RIVER OUTPOST ESTABLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS ADVANCING THROUGH ARIZONA--DAYS AFTER THIS WAS WRITTEN, FORT BARRETT WAS ESTABLISHED AT THIS LOCATION.
In April 1862 Brigadier General James H. Carleton ordered the establishment of a regular express to carry soldiers’ mail in areas occupied by Union forces (Special Orders No. 49). The bravest and most skilled cavalry riders, called Vedettes, and the finest horses were selected for this service. They rode relays along the old Butterfield Overland Mail route. On April 21, 1862, General Carleton reported, I have established, as you see by the inclosed order, a chain of vedettes to bring and to carry information. While they will exercise surveillance upon the route, and in some places guard sub-depots of supplies necessarily deposited here and there upon the road, they will keep me informed of all that transpires in my rear; all that relates to the approach of supplies, and keep me in open communication with the general.” On June 8, 1862, General Carleton declared martial law in Tucson and established the Military District of Arizona.
The Battle of Picacho Pass, fought about 60 miles from Tucson on April 15, resulted in the Union army’s temporary retreat westward to the Pima Villages, where they established a supply depot and started construction on Fort Barrett, named in honor of Lt. James Barrett, who was killed in the battle. This letter was written on May 4, 1862, from an officer with the California Volunteers, who was located at the site of Fort Barrett. Following the capture of Tucson later in May, the construction of Fort Barrett was stopped, and it was abandoned except as a post for Vedette and military express riders. (Image)
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E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1097

Mesilla Dec. 7” (1862) Manuscript Postmark--Earliest Reported Post Office Marking after Union Occupation of Arizona. 3¢ Rose (65) with manuscript X” cancel on yellow cover to Cornville, Maine, postmark applied by Postmaster George W. Frazier, carried on Cottrill, Vickroy & Co.’s Santa Fe and Colorado Stage Co. line from Mesilla to Kansas City via Santa Fe (this became U.S. Post Office Route 14465 on January 1, 1863), stamp has faults, cover slightly soiled, still Fine, an important cover postmarked at Mesilla after Union forces occupied Arizona and established the Military District of Arizona--one of two known (Image)
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E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction