The Steven C. Walske Collection of Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM THE OFFICIAL BURTON CORRESPONDENCE -- CARRIED FROM BERMUDA, ENDORSED WITH THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER'S NAME "LILLIAN" AND THE WILMINGTON PROVOST MARSHAL'S CENSOR MARKING.

Carried on Cunarder Africa, dep. Liverpool Jun. 11, 1864, arr. Halifax N.S. Jun. 22, then Cunarder Alpha, dep. Halifax Jun. 23, arr. St. Georges Jun. 28, then blockade-runner Lilian, dep. St. Georges Jul. 2, arr. Wilmington Jul. 6. The Lilian was owned by the Importing & Exporting Company of Georgia, active May 1864 to August 1864, 5 for 6 in successful trips, captured by U.S.S. Keystone State coming out of Wilmington Aug. 24, 1864.

The Lilian was commanded by Lt. John N. Maffitt, who previously served on the blockade-runners Cecile and Nassau, and then was promoted to commander when he ran the cruiser Florida through the blockade at Mobile. His reputation was second only to Raphael Semmes of the Alabama. Lt. Maffitt was given command of the Florie (named after his daughter) and Lilian. After a brief tenure as commander of the ironclad Albemarle, he returned to Wilmington to command the blockade runner Owl, in which he made some of the last runs into Wilmington and Galveston. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM THE OFFICIAL BURTON CORRESPONDENCE. THIS WAS CARRIED FROM BERMUDA, EXAMINED BY THE PROVOST MARSHAL, STAMPED AND PUT INTO THE WILMINGTON POST OFFICE.

This and lot XX were mailed by Fraser Trenholm & Co. at the same time. They were carried on the Cunarder Africa, dep. Liverpool Jun. 11, 1864, arr. Halifax N.S. Jun. 22, then Cunarder Alpha, dep. Halifax Jun. 23, arr. St. Georges Jun. 28. At St. Georges, the forwarder chose to send this on an alternate blockade-runner, the Florie, dep. St. Georges on the same day as the Lilian, Jul. 2, arr. Wilmington Jul. 6. The Florie was owned by the Importing & Exporting Company of Georgia, active Feb. 1864 to Oct. 1864, 6 for 8 in successful trips, impressed by the C.S. Navy for use in the Point Lookout Expedition in Aug. 1864, ran aground inside the Cape Fear River in Oct. 1864. She was named after Lt. John N. Maffitt's daughter (he commanded both the Lilian and Florie) (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE INCOMING BLOCKADE COVER FROM THE BURTON CORRESPONDENCE.

This correspondence between Fraser Trenholm & Co. and Col. Burton concerned equipment shipped via Nassau. The letter that was contained in this envelope (held in the Yale University archives) is datelined "Liverpool 6 May 1864 via Nassau". The receipt docketing is dated July 13, 1864.

Carried on Cunarder Persia, dep. Liverpool May 7, 1864, arr. New York May 18, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. New York May 21, arr. Nassau May 25, then blockade-runner Will of the Wisp, dep. Nassau May 26, arr. Wilmington May 30. The delay between the May 30 arrival date in Wilmington and the July 13 receipt date in Macon was probably due to the advancing Federal forces in Georgia under General Sherman's command.

The Will of the Wisp was owned by the Anglo-Confederate Trading Co., active Nov. 1863 to Feb. 1865, 12 for 15 in successful trips, ran aground and destroyed on Feb. 9, 1865, at Galveston. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY FRESH AND CHOICE INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER, PROBABLY SENT VIA BERMUDA.

The origin of this cover to Col. James H. Burton is unknown. It was probably carried from Bermuda on the blockade-runner Index, dep. St. Georges Mar. 29, 1864, arr. Wilmington Apr. 1. The Index was owned by Alexander Collie & Co., active Jan. 1864 to June 1864, 8 for 8 in successful trips, it was deemed too slow for blockade service and returned to London. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE TRIPLE-RATE COVER FROM THE BURTON CORRESPONDENCE.

The original letter is contained in the Yale University archives. It is datelined Liverpool Oct. 22, 1864, from Fraser, Trenholm & Co. to Burton regarding shipment (see http://www.csarmory.org for Burton's diary and letters).

Carried on Cunarder Persia, dep. Liverpool Oct. 22, 1864, arr. New York Nov. 2, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. New York Nov. 7, arr. Nassau Nov. 11, then blockade-runner Kate Gregg, dep. Nassau Nov. 27, arr. Charleston Dec. 1. The Kate Gregg was owned by the Atlantic Steam Packet Company of Charleston, active Aug. 1864 to Jan. 1865, 4 for 4 in successful trips, survived the war. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE DOUBLE-RATE COVER FROM THE BURTON CORRESPONDENCE.

The cover offered here and the preceding lot were handled around the same time, but sent on separate ships. The original letter is contained in the Yale University archives. It is datelined "Leeds 6 Octr. 1864 No. 10".

Carried on Cunarder Persia, dep. Liverpool Oct. 22, 1864, arr. New York Nov. 2, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. New York Nov. 7, arr. Nassau Nov. 11, then blockade-runner Laurel, dep. Nassau Nov. 27, arr. Charleston Dec. 2. The Laurel was owned by the C.S.A. Navy, active Nov. 1864 to Jan. 1865, 2 for 2 trips, survived the war. (Image)

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