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

VERY FINE. THE QUINTESSENTIAL OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM THE BURCKMYER CORRESPONDENCE, SHOWING TRANSIT MARKINGS OF NASSAU AND LONDON, AND DELIVERED FULLY PREPAID TO PARIS, FRANCE.

This letter from Cornelius Burckmyer to his wife (number 6 in the correspondence) contains his eyewitness account of the Federal naval attack on Fort Sumter and Morris Island in the Siege of April 1863 (the letter mentions the sinking of the U.S.S. Keokuk). Carried by blockade-runner Ella & Annie, dep. Charleston Apr. 18, 1863, arr. Nassau Apr. 23, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau May 12, arr. New York May 16, then Cunarder Australasian, dep. New York May 20, arr. Queenstown May 29, sent through London to Vanderbrock & Co. in Paris, who forwarded it outside the mails to Tours. The Ella & Annie was owned by the Importing & Exporting Co. of South Carolina (William C. Bee) and operated by the C.S. Navy (Captain Frank Bonneau), active Mar. 1863 to Nov. 1863, 8 for 9 in successful trips, captured by the U.S.S. Niphon on Nov. 9, 1863, trying to reach Wilmington, attempted to ram the Niphon, which turned slightly to avoid a direct hit and then boarded and captured the Ella & Annie (detailed report in New York Times Sep. 18, 1892), she became the U.S.S. Malvern, the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Ex Birkinbine (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER TO FRANCE VIA WILMINGTON AND NASSAU.

Carried by blockade-runner Will of the Wisp, dep. Wilmington Jun. 28, 1864, arr. Nassau Jul. 2, mailed at Nassau the same day and carried on Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Jul. 4, arr. New York Jul. 8, then Cunarder Arabia, dep. New York Jul. 13, arr. Queenstown Jul. 24. 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.

The Augusta, Georgia, origin of this cover is additionally confirmed by a June 1865 cover to the same addressee in identical handwriting, which originated in Augusta and was handled by the Southern Express Company (Sale 801, lot 169).

Ex Ludington (written up in London Philatelist, May 1963). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE CENSORED OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER IN SUPERB CONDITION.

The letter that was contained in this envelope (number 17, which no longer accompanies) is datelined "Charleston 23 Sep. 1863" from Cornelius L. Burckmyer. Carried on blockade-runner General Beauregard, dep. Wilmington Sep. 30, 1863, arr. Nassau Oct. 4, held by agent until next New York steamer departure, carried on Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Oct. 26, arr. New York Oct. 31, then Cunarder Scotia, dep. New York Nov. 4, arr. Queenstown Nov. 13, forwarded to France by Fraser Trenholm & Co. outside of mails and received at Tours Nov. 18 (according to correspondence history). The General Beauregard was purchased in Oct. 1862 by Fraser Trenholm & Co., active Feb. to Dec. 1863, 16 for 17 in successful trips, Captain Louis Coxetter was a famed Confederate privateer and blockade-runner, chased ashore and destroyed by U.S.S. Howquah at Wilmington on Dec. 11, 1863.

Special Order 156 requiring censorship of blockade-run mail took effect Aug. 11, 1863, at Charleston and Sep. 1, 1863, at Wilmington.

Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 121). Ex Birkinbine (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM THE BURCKMYER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE ORIGINAL LETTER EXPLAINING HOW BLOCKADE MAIL IS CARRIED.

The letter is datelined "Summerville Dec. 6, 1863" (number 23 in the correspondence). It explains how blockade-run mail is handled: "They go from Wilmington to Nassau by blockade runners and at N a mail is made up every four weeks for Liverpool which is carried to New York by an English Steamer and without going to the New York Post Office or without being opened is transferred direct to one of the Cunarders, so that the Yankees have no handling of it. Your letters to me come the same way, passing through New York on their way to Nassau." The letter also mentions the route of the "West India Steamer" from Mobile to Havana, and it gives some war news.

Carried by blockade-runner Gem, dep. Wilmington Dec. 14, 1863, arr. Nassau Dec. 19, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Dec. 21, arr. New York Dec. 26, then Cunarder Australasian, dep. New York Dec. 30, 1863, arr. Queenstown Jan. 8, 1864, forwarded outside the mails to Mrs. Burckmyer in France by Fraser Trenholm & Co. The Gem was owned by Cobia & Co., active Aug. 1863 to Mar. 1865, 2 for 2 in successful trips, survived the war. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A STRIKING OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM PETERSBURG TO LONDON VIA WILMINGTON AND NASSAU, ADDRESSED TO THE FAMOUS ROTHSCHILD BANKING FIRM.

Carried by blockade-runner Coquette, dep. Wilmington Apr. 1, 1864, arr. Nassau Apr. 5, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Apr. 11, arr. New York Apr. 15, then Cunarder Persia, dep. New York Apr. 20, arr. Queenstown Apr. 30. The Coquette was owned by the C.S.A. government, active Nov. 1863 to Feb. 1865, 13 for 14 in successful trips, survived the war.

Ex Ludington (written up in London Philatelist, Mar.-Apr. 1963) (Image)

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VERY FINE. A FASCINATING OUTBOUND COVER CARRIED ON THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER GENERAL BEAUREGARD TO THE MANAGER OF FRASER, TRENHOLM & COMPANY.

Carried by blockade-runner General Beauregard, dep. Charleston May 7, 1863, arr. Nassau May 11, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau May 12, arr. New York May 17, then Cunarder Australasian, dep. New York May 20, arr. Queenstown May 29 (23 days transit time is extremely fast). The General Beauregard was purchased in Oct. 1862 by Fraser Trenholm & Co., active Feb. to Dec. 1863, 16 for 17 in successful trips, Captain Louis Coxetter was a famed Confederate privateer and blockade-runner, chased ashore and destroyed by U.S.S. Howquah at Wilmington on Dec. 11, 1863. (Image)

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FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF A CENSOR MARKING ON OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN MAIL.

Carried on blockade-runner Fannie, dep. Wilmington Nov. 3, 1863, arr. Nassau Nov. 7, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Nov. 23, arr. New York Nov. 27, then by Cunarder Persia, dep. New York Dec. 2, arr. Queenstown Dec. 11. The Fannie was owned by the Importing & Exporting Company of South Carolina (William C. Bee), active May 1863 to Apr. 1865, 20 for 20 in successful trips, survived the war.

John Marshall Otey was Assistant Adjutant General under General P. G. T. Beauregard. He authored C.S.A. Special Order No. 156, requiring censorship of blockade-run mail. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND VERY RARE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER TO GERMANY FROM THE WATSON CORRESPONDENCE.

Carried on blockade-runner Alice, dep. Charleston Jul. 7, 1863, arr. Nassau Jul. 11, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau Jul. 31, arr. New York Aug. 4, then Cunarder Africa, dep. Boston Aug. 5, arr. Queenstown Aug. 15. The Alice was owned by the Importing & Exporting Co. of South Carolina (William C. Bee), active May 1863 to Mar. 1865, 24 for 24 in successful trips, survived the war.

Henry Watson Jr. was a lawyer and planter in Greensboro, Alabama. During the Civil War he relocated to Europe. His papers (including the letter carried in this cover) can be found in the Duke University Libraries (http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/watsonhenry/inv/) (Image)

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