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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  
1076 c Image1861 April--Steamer and Stage to Tucson via Confederate Texas, Lathrop’s Buckboard Mail to Tubac. 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26) pair and single tied by New-York Apr. 8, 1861” duplex datestamp and grid on cover to Raphael Pumpelly in Tubac, red docketing with note Newspapers enclosed”, sender’s directive Via St. Louis & Overland Mail” but the Southern Route was closed, so this traveled by steamers to New Orleans and Indianola, by stage through Confederate Texas and on to Tucson in seceded Arizona Territory, then by Lathrop’s Buckboard Mail to Tubac, stamp faults, small tear, still Fine, this cover traveled across dangerous territory--newspapers were carried free, so examples with first-class postage are rare, the four covers offered in lots 1075-1078 are addressed to Raphael Pumpelly, a geologist, engineer, author and later a professor at Harvard, who was associated with the Salero Mining Company, headquartered in Tubac from 1858 to 1861, Pumpelly was recruited to improve the company’s performance, but constant attacks by Apache Indians eventually led to the company’s demise, as well as the death of one of its principals, Horace C. Grosvenor (see lot 1074) (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
1077 c Image1861 April--Steamer and Stage to Tucson via Confederate Texas, Lathrop’s Buckboard Mail to Tubac. 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26) tied by Owego N.Y. Apr. 12” (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Mr. Raph. Pumpelly (Mining Engineer of the Santa Rita Silver Mining Company), Tubac, Arizona, New Mexico”, sender’s route directive Via San Antonio Texas”, red docketing from Mother”, carried by steamers to New Orleans and Indianola, by stage through Confederate Texas to Tucson in seceded Arizona Territory, then by Lathrop’s Buckboard Mail to Tubac, Very Fine, rare route designation, the four covers offered in lots 1075-1078 are addressed to Raphael Pumpelly, a geologist, engineer, author and later a professor at Harvard, who was associated with the Salero Mining Company, headquartered in Tubac from 1858 to 1861, Pumpelly was recruited to improve the company’s performance, but constant attacks by Apache Indians eventually led to the company’s demise, as well as the death of one of its principals, Horace C. Grosvenor (see lot 1074) (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
1078 c Image1861 June--Steamer and Stage to Tucson, Lathrop’s Buckboard Mail to Tubac. 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26) tied by San Francisco Cal. Jun. 5” (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Raphael Pumpelly at the Santa Rita Mining Co. in Tubac, red docketing, probably carried on the steamer Panama, sailed south to Mazatlan on June 6, taken by stage from San Diego to Tucson, Very Fine and rare use to seceded Arizona Territory, the four covers offered in lots 1075-1078 are addressed to Raphael Pumpelly, a geologist, engineer, author and later a professor at Harvard, who was associated with the Salero Mining Company, headquartered in Tubac from 1858 to 1861, Pumpelly was recruited to improve the company’s performance, but constant attacks by Apache Indians eventually led to the company’s demise, as well as the death of one of its principals, Horace C. Grosvenor (see lot 1074) (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction
1079 c Image1861 July 11--Suspended Mail Route to Fort Buchanan, Sent to U.S. Dead Letter Office. Corning N.Y. Jul. 11, 1861” circular datestamp on cover addressed to Orville G. Irvine in Fort Buchanan Care of Boyle & Marshall Esq.”, signed and free franked by his father, U.S. Representative William Irvine, Dead Letter Office P.O. Dept. No. -- Nov. 23, 1861” oval datestamp (release date) and DUE 3cts.” straightline, reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine, Fort Buchanan was burned and abandoned by Union troops in July 1861--this might have been sent back from San Francisco (the Central Route was open in July 1861) or sent directly to the DLO without traveling west--a unique Civil War use (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
1080 c Image1861 August--Guaymas (Mexico) to San Francisco by Steamer, then by Central Overland Mail to New York. Red FRANCO EN/GUAIMAS” two-line handstamp (paid in Guaymas), matching 2” reales prepaid rate handstamp on back of 10¢ Yellow Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U41) to Mrs. William A. Rowntree in Trumansburg N.Y., from her husband in Mexico (near the silver mines at Alamos), carried north by steamer, entered U.S. mails with San Francisco Cal. Aug. 21, 1862” double-circle datestamp and cogwheel, carried on eastbound Central Overland stage, forwarded to Drummondville, Canada West, Trumansburg N.Y. Sep. 17” duplex datestamp and target struck twice, U.S. 10cts” in oval frame handstamp, CANADA 20Cts” straightline due handstamp and manuscript 10¢ plus 10¢ notation, Drummondville backstamp (Sep. 20), Canada forwarding address crossed out so apparently returned (to Trumansburg?), part of backflap missing, sealed tear at top, still Very Fine, a rare use of the U.S. entire from Mexico to Canada via San Francisco (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
1081 c ImageWells, Fargo & Co. 25¢ Blue Printed Frank. On 3¢ Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to Mrs. William A. Rowntree in Sacramento from her husband in Mexico (near the silver mines at Alamos), carried on the Holladay & Flint steamer Panama, which sailed from Mazatlan October 11, 1861, and arrived in San Francisco October 28 (Daily Alta California, Oct. 28, 1861), carried mail picked up along route including this Wells Fargo entire at Guaymas, entered U.S. mails with San Francisco Cal. Oct. 28, 1861” double-circle datestamp and large SHIP” handstamp with blue crayon 2” for 2¢ ship captain’s fee, backflap repaired and reattached

VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED WELLS, FARGO & CO. BLUE FRANKED STAR DIE ENTIRES USED FROM MEXICO--ENTERED MAILS AT SAN FRANCISCO AS A SHIP LETTER WITH 2¢ DUE.

Ex Clifford (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
1082 c ImageWells, Fargo & Co. 25¢ Blue Printed Frank. On 3¢ Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to Mrs. William A. Rowntree in Sacramento from her husband in Mexico (near the silver mines at Alamos), carried on the Holladay & Flint steamer Panama, which sailed from Mazatlan November 23, 1861, and arrived in San Francisco December 3 (Daily Alta California, Dec. 4, 1861), carried mail picked up along route including this Wells Fargo entire at Guaymas, entered U.S. mails with San Francisco Cal. Dec. 3, 1861” double-circle datestamp and SHIP 5” handstamp (no credit given for 3¢ entire), slightly reduced at right

VERY FINE. THE SECOND OF THREE KNOWN WELLS, FARGO & CO. BLUE FRANKED STAR DIE ENTIRES FROM MEXICO--ENTERED MAILS AT SAN FRANCISCO AS AN UNPAID SHIP LETTER.

(Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
1083 c ImageMesilla N.M. Nov. 3” (1861)--Earliest Recorded Use of Mesilla Confederate Postal Marking. Unusually clear strike of circular datestamp with manuscript Due 10c” C.S.A. rate in hand of Postmaster William D. Skillman on cover to Jonathan M. Beavers in Bastrop, Texas, with soldier’s endorsement T. J. Beavers, Co. ‘E’ 2d Regm’t T.M.R.” (2nd Texas Mounted Rifles), minor cosmetic improvements around edges

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN IMPORTANT COVER IN CONFEDERATE AND ARIZONA POSTAL HISTORY, POSTMARKED ON NOVEMBER 3, 1861--THE FIRST CONFEDERATE CONTRACT MAIL OUT OF MESILLA AFTER IT BECAME THE ONLY CONFEDERATE POST OFFICE IN ARIZONA.

On July 1, 1861, Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor occupied Fort Bliss, near El Paso. On July 25 Baylor and his regiment of Texas mounted riflemen were welcomed by the residents of Mesilla, who had Southern sympathies and were desperate for protection against marauding Indians. After hearing of the Confederates in Mesilla, U.S. Army Major Isaac Lynde advanced with 380 regulars from Fort Fillmore to engage the enemy, but after a relatively minor battle—the First Battle of Mesilla—Lynde abruptly ordered a retreat back to the fort. On July 26 Lynde and his troops abandoned Fort Fillmore and made their way toward Fort Stanton, but the Confederates cut them off at San Augustine Pass. Without firing a shot, Lynde surrendered his command on July 27, a humiliating defeat for the Union army in the Southwest and an encouraging victory for the Confederates.

Following his success, Baylor issued a proclamation on August 1, 1861, establishing the Confederate Territory of Arizona, with Mesilla as its capital and himself as military governor. The territory was defined as all of the land south of the 34th parallel, from the Texas border to the Yuma Crossing in California. 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.

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 below). 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.

The Battle of Glorietta Pass on March 26-28, 1862, decisively turned the tide against the Confederate hold on Arizona. Mesilla was occupied by Union forces in July 1862, following the Second Battle of Mesilla, and the U.S. post office was reestablished. (Image)

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 E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $25,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
1084 c Image1861 December--Confederate Military Express from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Camp Cottonwood and Camp Willow Bar. Legal-size buff cover endorsed Official Business, HdQrs. Army of N.M.” (Army of New Mexico) and addressed to Commanding Officer, 4th Regt. T.M.V., Camp on Rio Grande, Arizona” (4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers), all in the hand of Major Alexander Jackson, Assistant Adjutant General to Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley

VERY FINE. A RARE AND SIGNIFICANT CONFEDERATE MILITARY EXPRESS COVER FROM ARIZONA AFTER INVASION BY SIBLEY’S ARMY OF NEW MEXICO.

In late 1861 Gen. Sibley ordered Col. James Reily—a prominent Texas attorney, diplomat, military officer and former U.S. Minister to Russia (1841-44)—to proceed south on a diplomatic mission to obtain the cooperation of Mexican authorities in Chihuahua to supply the Confederate army. Col. Reily departed Camp Cottonwood on December 25. Camp Willow Bar was in existence for only one week in late December—the regiment marched to Mesilla under Reily’s appointed successor, Maj. Henry Raguet, on December 27. The official military express covers offered in this and the following lot were intended for the commanding officer of the 4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers. However, because Gen. Sibley’s adjutant, Maj. Alexander Jackson, did not know who would replace Col. Reily after he left for Chihuahua, this cover is addressed simply to the Commanding Officer.” The cover in the following lot is addressed to Major Raguet. They date from late December 1861 and followed the regiment from Camp Cottonwood to Camp Willow Bar. Maj. Raguet was commander for only about one week, making these covers very rare.

This official military express cover was addressed to the Commanding Officer” of the 4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers, because Major Jackson did not know who would replace Col. Reily after he left for Chihuahua. It dates from late December 1861 and followed the regiment from Camp Cottonwood to Camp Willow Bar. (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction
1085 c Image1861 December--Confederate Military Express from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Camp Willow Bar. Legal-size buff cover endorsed Official Business, HdQrs. Army of New Mexico” and addressed to Major H. W. Raguet, Comdg. 4th Regt. T.M.V., Camp on Rio Grande, Arizona” (4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers), all in the hand of Major Alexander Jackson, Assistant Adjutant General to Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley

VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT AND VERY RARE CONFEDERATE MILITARY EXPRESS COVER TO MAJOR RAGUET AS COMMANDER OF THE 4TH REGIMENT, TEXAS MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS.

In late 1861 Gen. Sibley ordered Col. James Reily—a prominent Texas attorney, diplomat, military officer and former U.S. Minister to Russia (1841-44)—to proceed south on a diplomatic mission to obtain the cooperation of Mexican authorities in Chihuahua to supply the Confederate army. Col. Reily departed Camp Cottonwood on December 25. Camp Willow Bar was in existence for only one week in late December—the regiment marched to Mesilla under Reily’s appointed successor, Maj. Henry Raguet, on December 27. The official military express covers offered in this and the previous lot were intended for the commanding officer of the 4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers. However, because Gen. Sibley’s adjutant, Maj. Alexander Jackson, did not know who would replace Col. Reily after he left for Chihuahua, the cover in the previous lot is addressed simply to the Commanding Officer.” The cover in this lot is addressed to Major Raguet. They date from late December 1861 and followed the regiment from Camp Cottonwood to Camp Willow Bar. Maj. Raguet was commander for only about one week, making these covers very rare.

This official military express cover is addressed to Major Henry W. Raguet as commander of the 4th Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers after Col. Reily left for Chihuahua. It chronologically follows the cover offered in lot 1084 and shows that Gen. Sibley had been notified of the name of the new commanding officer. This reached Major Raguet at Camp Willow Bar.

Ex Camina” and Walske (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
1086   Image1861 August 9--Letter Describing First Battle of Mesilla, Confederate Invasion of New Mexico and Union Surrender. 2-page letter datelined Fort Bliss, El Paso Co. Texas, August 9th, 1861” 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 1089), no address panel or markings, small erosion spot and splits, but intact and readable, a rare account of the First Battle of Mesilla:

I have just returned from the battle field of Mesilla, although it can scarcely be termed a battle as we whipped them so easily only firing 32 shots. They retreated 600 of them and we took them all prisoners the next day with our company of 85 men... Arizona is one of the finest countries I have ever beheld. We have cleared it of all troops and now have it under our protection. The people are happy, contented and free again... Col. Baylor speaks of going and if he does Company A will be sure to follow him... not one of us have been wounded at the battle of Mesilla the balls went between our heads as we stood behind the wall a ball glanced the wall within 6 inches of my nose, grazed my hat and went 30 feet farther & through a panelled door 5 in. thick. The enemy has fatal minie rifle. We have them in our possession now....I was one night so close to the walls of Fillmore that I could see the sentinel...” (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

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