CSA #4, 5¢ blue, roughly torn from sheet, tied AUGUSTA / GA double circle cancel on cover with a couple tiny edge tears at top otherwise Fine [GA]

CSA #4a & #6, rare mixed franking of 5¢ milky blue lithograph and 5¢ blue typograph, #4a is a "narrow stamp", but matters not, tied together by neat LIBERTY / Va. / 22 / JUL cds on homemade cover to "Mr. J.F. Phillips Petersburg Va In care of Capt. R. M. (?) Co A 46 Regt. on turned cover with hand carried inside use to "Mr. Orren Phillips, Lumberton NC In care of Mr. H. Pitman Jr.", worth more research to ID the officer [VA]

CSA #4, vertical pair 5¢ blue (bottom stamp with colorless streak printing variety) tied neat together by neat blue COLUMBIA / S.C. /AUG / 5 cds on cover to "Rev. R. B. Barnwell, Richmond, Virginia", 2007 SCV $450. [SC] [VA]

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied by almost discernible Virginia town cancel Sep 28 on pristine cover to Fancy Hill P.O., Va. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by indistinct cds on small homemade cover, slightly reduced at left, addressed to "Mr. J.M. Garelnees, In care of Capt. McAul(a)y 7th Reg. N.C. State Troops, Gordonsville, Va." [VA] [NC]

Capt. James R. McAulay was a 25-year old teacher when he enlisted in Co I, NC 7th Infantry. He was wounded at Gaines Mills in 1862, again in 1863 at Chancellorsville and finally killed at Reams' Station in 1864. Detailed military bio included.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue, two singles, clear to mostly ample margins, tied by large Canton grid cancels on pale green cover to Williamsboro, N.C., "Canton, Miss, Dec 9, 1862" origin cds alongside, F.-V.F., a scarce usage, with 2004 C.S.A. certificate noting a sealed cover tear in error - it is actually the end of a stitch watermark in the paper. Ex-Boshwit. [MS]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue horizontal pair tied OAKS / N.C. cds to Hillsboro, NC on pristine homemade cover, slightly reduced at right. Operating from 1845-1865, the Bingham School at Oaks, NC served as a preparatory school for young men seeking entrance to the University of North Carolina at nearby Chapel Hill, for which reason the Oaks cancellation is considered by many students to be a college postmark. Ex-Tate [NC]

CSA #4, 4-margin 5¢ blue tied neat RICHMOND / Va ./ JUN / 9 / 1862 cds on homemade cover to “Mrs. John A. Benbury, Enfield, No.Ca. Care of Gov. Branch” which has been crossed out and redirected to Warrenton, N.C. John Avery Benbury (1827-1862) was a  captain in the 1st North Carolina Regiment, C.S.A. in Virginia   [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue,  clear color and impression, large margins all around, tied by "Richmond Va. / Mar 13 1862" cds on homemade cover to Clarksville, Va., tiny overall age speckles, Very Fine, 1982 PF certificate  [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by indistinct cds (likely Gordonsville, Va) on cover addressed to “Rufus Lenoir, Esq., Lenoir, Caldwell Co., N.C.” with Lenoir crossed out and redirected to Fort Defiance; verso has contemporary docketing “Gordonsville” and in hand of sender on top back flap is noted “Jackson has cut off a whole lot of the Yanks on the Potomac & sent for reinforcements”, reduced at left. Neat piece of history. [VA] [NC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue used on cover with Boykins Depot Va April 27 / 62 manuscript cancel on cover to “John W. Cunningham Esq Raleigh N.C.”, Ex-Wyche and Tobias. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair, Stone 2 positions 37-38 (plated / signed by Daniel C. Warren) tied neatly on cover by RICHMOND / VA. / JAN / 17 /1863 cds on homemade cover with restored piece at upper left, addressed to “Mr. N. J. B. Whitlock, Dunville Enoch (County) Va”, 2008 SCV $450 – oddly enough a pair and a pair on cover catalog the same?   [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢  blue, Stone 2, plated by prior owner as position 6, large margins to clear, tied by two strikes of "Richmond Va. ? 18, 1862" cds on homemade cover to “Revd Wm N. Ward Care of Revd J. Peterkin, Richmond,Virginia”, Very Fine, overpaid drop letter, Ex-Gunter  [VA]

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue, four margins, tied on darling embossed ladies cover by GRIFFIN, GA cds, missing most of back flap, otherwise Very Fine. Note that the stamp is upside down, which is said to be an expression of love and there is a verse within the top of the embossing which says "LOVE IS THE LOAN FOR LOVE". A total charmer. [GA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue used on cover with manuscript “Columbia, Va April 10 / 62” cancel addressed to “Surgeon S. W. Carmichael, Camp Winder near Richmond Virginia”, small flap tears wrapping around in one tiny place at top otherwise Very Fine, Spottswood Wellford Carmichael was a surgeon in the Confederate States Infantry. He was born and died in Fredericksburg, Va. (1830-1904) and during the war served in various hospitals in Culpeper C.H., Danville, Chaffin’s Bluff, Richmond and Lynchburg. [VA]

Dr. Spottswood Wellford Carmichael (1830-1904) was born in Fredericksburg and received his M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia in 1852. He served as Asst. Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Virginia Volunteers in 1861 until appointed Surgeon in charge of General Hospital #2 at Danville. He also had service at Hospital Chaffin’s Bluff, Va; Stuart Hospital Richmond; and Pratt Hospital Lynchburg.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied double strikes of neat RICHMOND / Va. / JUL / 6 / 1862 cds on pristine folded business letter to “Mssrs Thos Branch & Sons, Petersburg, Va.” from Dunlop, Moncure & Co., Extremely Fine Gem, Ex-Tate  [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, three singles tied triple strike of RICHMOND / Va. / APR / 24 / 1862 cds on fresh cover to “Mr. W. R. Johnson, Petersburg, Va.”. Although not plated, the left stamp appears to be different plating or for sure different shade. A wonderful multiple use on what was no doubt an overweight letter. Ex-Tate. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair with huge margins to just touching at left, tied by STAUNTON / Va. / JUN / 12 / 1862 cds on oversized cover to “R.I. Echols A.Q.M. (Assistant Quarter Master), Charlotte, N.C.” but misdelivered to Fayetteville where it received a double circle town cancel dated June 20th and ms. “Missent to & For(warde)d”, cover reduced at sides and edge worn, but a wonderful use. There is no additional fee assessed for the missent cover.  Echols is shown in military records as a Major in the field and staff of Gen. and Staff of CS Infantry. Ex-Tate.[VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, Stone 2 Position 8 with huge left margin showing part of adjacent stamp, tied neat blue COLUMBIA / S.C. / MAR / 2 cds on small homemade cover with some cover edge wear, addressed to “Miss Cora R. Jordan, Georgetown, S. Carolina”,  Ex-Tate. [SC]

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied neat HALIFAX C.H. / VA. JUL / 24 / 1862 cds on spectacular thick bordered mourning cover addressed to “Mr. Thaddeus McGee, Rlaeigh, N. Carolina via Richmond”, back flaps beautifully edged as well; Ex-Tate. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (torn in half prior to use) tied SALEM / VA. / JUN / 23 (1862) cds on pristine Roanoke College printed corner card, addressed to “Miss E. Jane Younce, Wytheville, Va”, Very Fine, Ex-Warren and Tate. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied ORANGEBURG / S.C. / JUN / 24 cds on fresh elaborate Papergoods Advertising cover addressed to “Robert N. Gourdin, Charleston, S.C.” cover missing back flap and slightly reduced at top and with tiny repairs along top edge of face. Ex-Tate.  Stunning appearance. [SC]

CSA #4 and #6, 5¢ blue lithograph and 5¢ blue typograph tied together by neat clear ORANGEBURG / S.C. / NOV / 12 (1862) double circle cancel on neat adversity cover made from a Patent Circular, addressed to “Hon. Wilmot G. DeSaussure, Adjutant Inspector Gen(eral), Columbia, So. Ca.”, a scarce mixed franking on a wonderful adversity cover. The DeSaussure family played heavily into South Carolina history and politics from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War and beyond. Signed Brian Green, Ex-Tate. [SC]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue tied ANDERSON C.H. / S.C. / JUN / 30 (1862) cds on small cover to “Miss Lucy Mills, Abbeville C.H., South Carolina”, Last Day of 5¢ Rate, a key date exhibit item. [SC]

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue tied KINSTON / N.C. / JUN / 21 (1862) cds on homemade cover to “J.J. Hoyle, Esq. C. F. 55th Regt. N.C.T. Camp Mangum, Raleigh, N.C.” The 55th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, NC in May 1862. The unit served in the Department of North Carolina, then moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Davis' and Cooke's Brigade. It fought with the Army of Northern Virginia in Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox. The regiment lost 31% of the 640 engaged at Gettysburg and 59% of the 340 at The Wilderness. It surrendered with 4 officers and 77 men on April 9, 1865. Joseph J. Hoyle was not one of the lucky ones. He mustered in as a private at age 24 (a teacher) and rose to the rank of 1st Lieut. He was wounded at Globe Tavern, Va 8-18-64 and died of wounds in Richmond 9-1-64. Detailed military bio included [NC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, small defect at left, tied by CHARLESTON /  S.C. / MAY 19 cds on cover to addressed to Mrs. John H. Chiles, New Market P.O., Abbeville District, South Carolina with manuscript endorsement at lower left "Please send by Millway Carrier”.  $450. [SC]

The "Millway Carrier" notation has always been somewhat of a mystery. Even though the cover originates in Charleston, the mark is associated with the Millway S.C. post office. Pre-war and C.S.A. covers are both known with the "Millway Carrier" notation. "Millway" was also the name of a plantation in that area. Noted C.S.A. Philatelist Dick Krieger wrote a two-part article on the "Millway Carrier" notation which appeared in the May-June and July-August 1988 issues of the Confederate Philatelist. In his article, he outlines the very confusing mail routes in the Millway region of the Abbeville District and points out that the "Millway Carrier" notation is seen only on covers addressed to New Market S.C. New Market was a depot on the Greenville and Columbia Railroad some 15-20 miles distant from Millway. Neither New Market nor Millway appear on a current map of South Carolina. He further concluded that the notation was a routing instruction applied by the sender to make certain that the letters were carried on to Millway by the official government mail routes. In other words, this was not a private carrier service. There has been some speculation among SC Postal Historians that a slave from the plantation may have been used at least part of the time to bring the mail from New Market to Millway, but this remains as speculation and has not been proven.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, stone 3, position 11, left sheet margin single tied by blurry ROME / Ga cds on small cover to Fairburn, Georgia, missing back flap. $120. [GA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, stone 2,  tied by RICHMOND / Va. cds on overpaid drop cover to “Judge R C L Moncure, Richmond, Va.”, flap faults, 2009 SCV $400.  $250. [VA]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue, stone 3, positions 35-36 (4 margins) tied by RICHMOND / Va. / JUN 18 / 1862 cds (Powell 3b) on cover to Greenville CH, SC, slight cover reduction at right, 2009 SCV $500. $400. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied light GRIFFIN / GA. MAR / 25 (1862) cds (4 margins) on neat homemade cover to “Mrs. M. A. E. Mooney, Greenville, So Ca”, small bit of back flap missing, otherwise Very Fine, Ex-Kohn and Crouch  $400. [GA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair (4 margins) tied neat JACKSON / Miss / AUG / 4 (1862) cds on fresh cover to Ripley Mississippi via Pontotoc, most of back flap missing and shallow piece out at top with small tear. $250. [MS]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue, two singles (small faults) tied by LITTLE ROCK / ARK. double circle cancels on adversity cover made from printed form, addressed to Mr A. D. Massre Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Texas,, ink erosion in address and cover in rough shape, but scarce color stamps and Arkansas use. $300. [AR] [TX]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair, Stone 3, late state – clean shirt variety at right, tied by  blue EMORY / Va. NOV / 5 cds on pink lined cover to “Lt. Ambrose W. Winston, Castle Craig, Campbell Co, Va.”, flap faults, military records shows residence  as Lynchburg, Va; enlisted on 10/12/1861 at Richmond, VA as a 2nd Lieutenant. On 10/12/1861 he was commissioned into "E" Co. 58th Virginia Infantry, he was dropped from rolls on 5/1/1862 (Failed re-election), but this cover proves he was somewhere after that or at least still addressed by rank. More research needed. $200. [VA]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue tied RICHMOND / Va. / JUN / 28 / 1862 on clean homemade cover to Farmville, Va.  $280. [VA]

CSA #4 & 7, 5¢ blue lithograph and typograph mixed franking on clean turned cover of 3¢ Nesbitt entire with inside addressed to Louisville, Ky with no postal markings. Manuscript cancels on stamps with small faults, addressed to Col. J. Duncan, Esq., Jackson, Miss. with docketing up left side of contents from “Dr. S.P. Phillips, Holly Sp[rin]gs [Miss] Aug. 9/62” and “Flora & Fruit.” Showy and scarce use, ex Wm. Weiss collection and illustrated in his book on adversity covers of the Confederacy. $450. [MS]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue right sheet margin pair canceled with faint blue grid (very small faults) with matching blue RALEIGH / N.C. JUL / 23 / 1862 dc  on cover to “Mrs Amanda Cork, Younguesville, SC” with endorsement of Private W. Cork, Alexander’s Company, 56th N.C. Troops., slightly reduced at right. $325. [NC]

Walter Cork was a 20 year-old student when he enlisted on April 21, 1862 as a private in Company K 56th Infantry. He was taken prisoner 3-25-65 at Fort Stedman, Va. (part of Lee’s Petersburg campaign in the waning days of the war)  and confined to Point Lookout where he died of scurvy 5-28-65 after two months a prisoner. Military record included.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair, Stone 3 according to prior owner (not plated by me) tied double strike of bold RICHMOND / Va. /  JUL / 11 / 1862 cds on cover to Mr. James H. Hollingsworth, Augusta, Ga. $350. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied RICHMOND / Va. / APR / 14 / 1862 cds on folded letter to C. Rutherford, Esq., P.O. Lock Lomond, Goochland County [Va] with rusty paper clip stain and other stain at center; 3 full pages of excellent content to children by John C. Rutherford and his wife saying, in part, “Mrs. G. Randolph has given her house & its contents to a friend & gone to Danville as her husband is Secretary of War & ought to know the Danger…Tom Taylor [has a case of] Tyhus Fever in its mildest form…we hope to build him up & render him fit for service. His Troop is at Ashland & the Legion, for the most part, are I believe in or near Fredericksburg. Large bodies of Troops are daily moving to the Peninsula . Genl. Jos. E. Johnston & Staff are there, - & a battle is soon looked for. Our Troops are … in high spirits…Do you hear anything of your servants who are sent to work on the fortifications?...I trust that the Army will not be in Richmond except as prisoners…the news from Beauregards Army on the whole has been cheering. The Enemy were terribly (?) on the 6th. I do not appear to have gained any theory in the second Day’s Battle with Buell. But the details come in slowly.” $400. [VA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (gum stains) used over U.S. #U19, 1¢ star-die entire with blue RALEIGH / N.C. double circle to John W. Kirkland, Esq., Cashr, Hillsboro, N.C., envelope with USPOD watermark, reduced at left and bit of each, Nice use! Could easily be moved aside to display the star-die. $300. [NC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair tied AUGUSTA / GA / JUN / 27 double circle cancel on clean homemade cover to Mr. W. R. Johnson, Petersburg, Va., Very Fine $400. [GA]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, tied bold FORT GAINES / Ga. // MAY / 29 [1862] cds on blue cover to Major O P Anthony, Pantowles C.&.S.R.R., S.C. 51st Reg Ga Vol.; flap tear, Ex Kohn  $250. [GA]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue tied bold LEXINGTON / S.C.  cds with manuscript June 23rd [1862] date on cover to Mr. Simon P. Wingan, Pocotaligo, S. Carolina Care of Captain Coughman with contemporary pencil docketing  “This one has Bob’s letter enclosed” (it’s not enclosed now) $400. [SC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (4 margins) tied SPARTANBURG / S.C. / MAY / 29 / 1862 double circle cancel on adversity cover fashioned from legal document; addressed to Surgeon C. E. Fleming, 22nd Palmetto Regt. So. Car. Vol, Col. Goodlett Commanding, Charleston, S.C. Unpublished but proprietary detailed biography of Fleming included showing all assignments before, after and during the war. [SC] $500.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied beautifully struck JAMISON / S.C. // JUN cds with “5” in ms, 1862; on cover front only and addressed to Messrs J. Bomar & Co, Bivingsville, Spartanburg Dist, So Ca; fresh and pretty $100. [SC]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue pair tied CHERAW / S.C. double circle cancel on cover to Miss Salie E. Marsden, Hartsville, Darlington, S.C.; ex Needham  $400. [SC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair, Stone 2 positions 21-22 with spur variety on left stamp, grid tied on cover with matching AIKEN / S.C. // JUL / 22 cds on narrow cover to Mrs. George M. Coffin, Columbia, So Ca; ex Walcott  $350. [SC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (two singles, left with a sealed tear) used with manuscript cancel and no town cancel on thick black bordered mourning cover (back flaps bordered as well, opening tear in top back flap), addressed to Dr. C[harles] E[dwin] Fleming, Asst. Surg[eon] 22nd Regt So Car Vols, Col. S[partan] D. Goodlett, Charleston, S.C.; Unpublished but proprietary detailed biography of Fleming included showing all assignments before, after and during the war. Col. Goodlett was cashiered By Court-Martial by Shanks Evans following Kinston which was the beginning of the open warfare between the Colonels and General Evans. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee wrote that “Evans had the honor of opening the fight (First Manassas), we might say fired the first gun of the war." $550. [SC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue vertical pair, top stamp with white cravat variety and bottom stamp close to being the same, irregular margins and small pre-use tear on top stamp at right, used with manuscript cancel of Newton Station, Miss, July 6 / 62 on cover to Mr. Jesse Thomas, Marietta, Ga with endorsement “From M. Thomas, Soldier”; more in-depth research needs to be done to determine which Thomas this was, slightly reduced at left.  $220. [MS]

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue pair, used with manuscript cancel of Forest, Miss Sept 20 on small mottled commercially made cover to Mrs. G. W. Baynard, care Stanton & Stockman, Natchez, Missi.  $250. [MS]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue top sheet margin vertical pair, tied QUITMAN / MISS // JUL / 21 cds with second clear strike at left on somewhat stained cover to Mrs. Sarah P. Elam, Millard PO, Ga.; top back flap missing and side flap tear  $200. [MS]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue top sheet margin vertical pair, tied QUITMAN / MISS // JUL / 21 cds with second clear strike at left on somewhat stained cover to Mrs. Sarah P. Elam, Millard PO, Ga.; top back flap missing and side flap tear  $200. [MS]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied CHATTANOOGA / TENN cds on cover addressed to Miss Mollie S. Sewell, Tazewell, East Tenn. This was the subject of my column in the March 2007 in the American Stamp Dealer & Collector under the title “Ordinary looking cover…to the lady who ‘danced herself to death?” See full article at http://www.webuystamps.com/ASDMAR07.pdf  $250. [TN]

CSA #4, 5¢ light milky blue pair (somewhat oxidized) tied SPARTANBURG / S.C. // JUL / 23 / 1862 on cover front only, to Mr. John E. Rivers, Charleston, So Ca  $125. [SC]

CSA #4b light milky blue, Stone 2, tied by LAURENS C. H. / S.C. // JUN / 30 [1862] cds on folded letter headed Greenville SC to Mrs. Mary A. Stevenson, Carnsville Georgia, sealed tear at bottom and top left, some archival repaired splitting along folds, stamp with horizontal file fold and slight soiling, Very Fine appearance, scarce use on last day of 5¢ rate, which changed to the flat rate of 10¢ irrespective of distance the following day. Part of bottom of the last page cut out, although does not get into the writing. Letter from sister to sister concerning “these troublesome times…everywere you turn you[r] eyes there is distress[ed] Mother weeping for their children and refuse to be comforted” – this in regard to disease and not military service. Writer mentions numerous deaths by name and describes on in particular in great detail of suffering. Then the letter does turn to battle and the wounded and killed by name.“ I have been spinning today it will nearly take all our Cotton money to pay taxes and thread is so high two dollars a bunch.”  Mentions relatives serving on James Island (Charleston Harbor)    $550. [SC]

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, two singles (with faults) tied RICHMOND / Va. cds on cover to Mr. Martin V. Barkley, Williamston, SC with original note from son Josiah M. Barkley asking father to try to loan out his money if he can and to pass off the 2 dollar bill he is sending for it is nearly “wore out.”  [VA] $150.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (small faults) tied neat NEWBERRY C. H. / S.C. // JUN / 17 [1862] cds on cover to Rev Jas. P. Boyce D. D., Greenville, So. Ca.; docketed as from “J. P. Branttry / payment on note – Private”[SC]   $150.

James Petigru Boyce (1827-1888) was an accomplished Southern Baptist pastor and educator. During the Civil War, Boyce served in a variety of capacities. He was a chaplain for a Confederate regiment of volunteers from Greenville, a Representative to the South Carolina Legislature, and aide-de-amp to the governor of South Carolina. Following the war, Boyce was a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of South Carolina and proposed the article that officially illegalized slavery in South Carolina.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (large uneven margin with small faults) used with grid and matching SPARTANBURG  S.C. / MAY / 10 / 1862 cds on cover to Dr. J. Winsmith, Glenn Springs PO So Ca. with endorsement “From Capt. Winsmith, 1st Regt. S.C. V.” Capt. Winsmith was wounded at Sharpsburg 9-16-62 and again at Fort Harrison in 1864, but did survive the war and continued his career as a lawyer. He was appointed to brigadier general of state militia in South Carolina in 1865 and served for one year. Ex Lemley. [SC] $200.

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue (4 margins) tied CHERAW / S.C. // MAY / 22 [1862] double circle pmk on clean homemade cover to Mrs. C. A. Dugan, Darlington, SC; Ex Kohn. [SC] $425.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue Stone 3, position 25 (4 margins, tiniest faults) tied neat blue COLUMBIA / S.C. // JU? / 28 cds on cover to Mr W W Winn, Laurens CH, SC; flap faults, plated by Knapp, Ex Knapp, MacBride and Kohn. [SC] $400.

SA #4a, 5¢ dark blue pair used with manuscript cancel of Macfarlands Va / June 23rd on clean homemade cover to Miss E. M. Smithson, Chesterfield, Va Care J. A. Coleman  [VA] $230.

CSA #1, 5¢ blue Stone 2, Position 10 right sheet margin copy tied SAVANNAH / Ga. cds on cover to Mrs. Fannie Boynton, Care Jno Andrews, Griffin, Georgia; Ex Daniel C. Warren [GA] $220.

CSA #4a,  5¢ dark blue Stone 3, Position 6 as plated and signed by Leonard H. Hartmann, tied RICHMOND / Va. // APR / 27 / 1862 (pre-use vertical crease) on cover to Mrs. S. W. Carmichael, Palmyra PO, Fluvannah Co, Virginia endorsed by Lt. J. R. Bryan, Hd Qrs Axxx. Scarce first month use of Stone 3 with great military endorsement. The Bryan and Carmichael families were related. [VA] $550.

John Randolph Bryan was educated at Virginia Military Institute and Bloomfield Academy, 1852-1861; entered Richmond Howitzers, CSA, April 1861; commissioned 2nd Lt. Prov. Army Virginia, 1861; A.D.C. Staff of General J. B. Magruder, 1862; Ordinance Sergeant, McLaw's Division, 1863; Capt. and Inspector of Field Transportation, Dept. of S. W. VA. and TN, 1863-65.

Dr. Spottswood Wellford Carmichael (1830-1904) was born in Fredericksburg and received his M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia in 1852. He served as Asst. Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Virginia Volunteers in 1861 until appointed Surgeon in charge of General Hospital #2 at Danville. He also had service at Hospital Chaffin’s Bluff, Va; Stuart Hospital Richmond; and Pratt Hospital Lynchburg

CSA #4a variety, 5¢ dark blue Stone 3, Position 33 with C and E joined, in combination with CSA #6, 5¢ blue (both stamps small faults) tied together by neat blue LYNCHBURG / Va. // AUG / 5 [1862] on folded business letter to Messrs W. D. Tompkins & Bro., Richmond, Va. from Staples & Anderson in the hand of Hon. Waller R[edd] Staples as testified to in writing on the cover and signed with a flourish by a signature with which I am not familiar. Ex August Dietz and Ronald R. Tate. [VA] $750.

Waller Redd Staples (1826 –1897) was a Confederate Congressman in the First and Second Confederate Congress. Postwar he was Judge of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals as well as president of the Virginia Bar Association. Prewar, he was a member of the Virginia state legislature.

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue (small faults) tied indistinct cds on homemade cover to Mr. W. P White, Flint Rock, Catawba Co, N.C.  [NC] $150.

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue tied neat RICHMOND / Va. // JUN / 13 / 1862 cds on cover to Miss Fanny Williams, Wilkesboro, N.C.  [VA] $180.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue variety (with mutilated E of BLUE CENTS) lightly tied MADISON / N.C. on on folded business letter headed Danbury March 29th 1862 to Dr. T[homas] C. Pugh, Greensboro, N.C.; transcript of letter included from B. M. Jones saying “After seeing Mr. Daniel, I did not think it absolutely necessary that I should see you in regard to the bond for the hire of the negroes.”  Madison is in the Northern Piedmont area in Rockingham County of North Carolina. Danbury is in Stokes County, about 20 miles from Madison. This was said by a prior owner to be the only known postmark of the period from Madison, but I have not confirmed that. Scarce, in any case. A very detailed bio is included from unpublished database of Hambrecht, F.T. & Koste, J.L., Biographical register of physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity. [NC] $600.

Dr. Thomas Colman Pugh (aka Pugg; Paugh) was born 10-16-37 at Hamilton, Martin County, NC and received his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia (thesis: pain). He enlisted 5-28-62 as an Assistant Surgeon info Field & Staff NC 17th Infantry, transferred to 7th Ga as Asst. Surgeon 7-2-65. Served in various units and states: 57th NC Infantry; b Infantry; Ambulance Train Gen. Hood’s Division; detailed to remain with wounded of Gen. G. T. Anderson’s Brigade at Plank Farm Hospital, Gettysburg where captured and imprisoned at Fort McHenry. Exchange and back in 9th Ga a year later where also served 21st NC Infantry, 17th NC. He was paroled 5-1-65 at Greensboro and died at home in Baltimore 1911.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied CHARLESTON / S.C. // APR / 15 [1862] cds on legal cover ms “Official Business” with red crayon “Due 10”, addressed to Col. L. B. Northrop C.G.S, Richmond, Virginia with pencil docketing up left side that the contents are from “Capt Jno B. Herst / Charleston, SC / 1st Qr / 62”, bit tattered, but presentable. [SC]  $130.

Lucius Bellinger Northrop (1811 –1894), was the Commissary-General of the armed forces of the Confederacy.  Appointed by President Jefferson Davis, a personal friend, Northrop was responsible for the logistics and supply chain that transported food, clothing, and forage to the Southern armies, particularly the Army of Northern Virginia.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair with large margins all around, tied neat clear HAYNEVILLE / Ala. // MAR / 3 cds on brown homemade cover to Mrs. E. Y. Peay, Care Dr. Manly, Tuskaloosa, Ala;  bit of age spotting and tiny bit of top back flap missing. [AL] $250.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (4 margins) tied ORANGE C.H. / VA // APR 5 cds on homemade cover to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Keen, Mt. Airy, Va / Care of E Starkey [VA] $180.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by neat target cancel with matching SELMA / ALA // APR / 14 [1862] cds on protest notice for non-payment  of draft of Benjamin Trimble of Wetumpka, Ala. from the notaries public for Louisiana State Bank. This sent only a week before the Union attack and two weeks before Union occupation of New Orleans. Ex Malpass and Tate. [AL] $450.

CSA #4, 5¢ light blue tied by blue grid with matching neat UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA / VA // MAY 2 / 1862 double circle on cover to Mr. H. P. R. McCoy, Raleigh, North Carolina.  Southern Historical Society papers show McCoy was from Union Theological Seminary at Hampden Sidney who served as a chaplain in the Confederate army; Ex Thacker  [VA] $275.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (2 singles of slightly differing shades) used with pen cancels on folded letter with COBHAM / Va. cds (ms J[u]n 29 [1862] date) addressed to “Capt. Alfred L. Rives, Engineer Office, War Department, Richmond” with “Urgent” at lower left; Excellent letter headed “Castle Hill (the family estate) 29 June 1862” from his father, the illustrious William Cabell Rives.  It says, “My Dear Son, Tho’ we have an imperfect account of the late event, it seems certain that we have put the enemy to flight & have a fair prospect of capturing his discomfited army. God be praised for his great mercies! – I have written the enclosed letters of congratulation to the President & General Lee which I have left open under flying seals that you may read them if you please & then put wafers, also enclosed, herewith the seals & deliver them as soon as possible to their respective destinations as soon as possible as the value of such congratulations depends always on their promptness. I wish you would offer to General Randolph de vive voix, my hearty congratualtions on the great & most auspicious , as well as glorious termination of the ?? conflict. – Hoping to hear from you once sure of the details of these events, which have made us all most devoutly thankful. I remain  in haste, most affectionately yours, WC Rives”. This was undoubtedly referring to the one of the battles that was a part of the Seven Days’ Battle which cost 919 Union casualties compared to approximately 450 Confederate.  On June 29th, 1862 the Battle of Savage’s Station ends the series of events by a driving rainstorm.  This cover and letter are subject of my column “The Confederate Post” in the July-August 2012 issue of the American Stamp Dealer & Collector. Ex Thacker. [VA] $550.

Alfred Landon Rives was born in 1830 in Paris, France, the son of William Cabell Rives, the distinguished minister to France. During the War, he was acting chief engineer for the State of Virginia and later for the Confederate States, which position he held until the end of the War as a Colonel. He was one of the two Chiefs of the Corps of Engineers to General Robert E. Lee.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue  and CSA #6, 5¢ blue used with pen cancels on folded letter with COBHAM / Va. cds (ms Aug 1st [1862] date) addressed to ”Capt. Alfred L. Rives, Engineer Office, War Department, Richmond” with “WCR” at lower left; Excellent letter headed “Castle Hill (the family estate) 31 July 1862” from his father, the illustrious William Cabell Rives. It says, in part, “We were all very much pleased with your letter of the 13…with news that Lieut. Minor had brought back from McClellan’s ‘ New base of operations’ and Mr. Cridland’s account of Lord Seymours’s impression of the six days’ battle…at present the cloud seems to be gathering in this quarter & I trust the government is fully aware of the importance of largely reinforcing Genl. Jackson.” The elder Rives includes part of a newspaper advertisement and another letter to William C. Rives from Alfred T. Harris concerning the hiring of an overseer. In part, the Harris letter says “The recent military operations in this vicinity will give us some respite it is true but I fear neither the opinion of the civilized world nor the sober reflections of the enemy himself will induce him to speedily acknowledge the folly and wickedness of the attempt to subjugate the South.” The “six days’ battle” is what history now refers to as the Seven Days’ Battle. This and another cover and letter are subject of my column “The Confederate Post” in the July-August 2012 issue of the American Stamp Dealer & Collector. Fully  typed transcript  included which was done by Judge Harry J. Lemley. Ex Lemley and Thacker. Mixed frankings are prized by Confederate collectors as well as the Rives correspondence for its often excellent content. [VA] $650.

Alfred Landon Rives was born in 1830 in Paris, France, the son of William Cabell Rives, the distinguished minister to France. During the War, he was acting chief engineer for the State of Virginia and later for the Confederate States, which position he held until the end of the War as a Colonel. He was one of the two Chiefs of the Corps of Engineers to General Robert E. Lee.

CSA #4a, 5¢ milky blue (likely Stone 3 but not plated) tied GREENWOOD DEPOT / Va. // SEP / 7 large balloon cds in conjunction with CSA #6, 5¢ blue by 11482 CSA #4a, 5¢ homemade cover addressed to Major Fredk W. M. Holliday, Charlottesville, Va.; #6 with small faults and cover with faint vertical file fold. Wonderful scarce combination cover to the Chief of Staff of Gen. Stonewall Jackson and later Governor of Virginia. Ex Thacker. [VA] $500.

CSA #4, 5¢ dark blue pair used with manuscript X mkgs and neat bold WARRENTON / N.C. // MAR / 14 [1863] cds on cover to Dr. J. C. Gordon, Bentivoglio, Albemarle Co., Va.; with small piece of cover missing at upper right; original letter headed Warrenton March 13th 1863 from Mr. Battle concerning other doctors’ accounts. $225.

Dr. John Churchill Gordon (1831-1919) was born at “Edgeworth” Virginia and received two M.D. degrees – one from University of Virginia, Charlottesville and the other from Medical College of Virginia, Richmond. He married Mary Beall Pegram June 4, 1861 and was appointed Asst. Surgeon a little over a week later to the 38th Va. Infantry. He resigned in November the same year, but practiced medical in Albemarle County until 1910. The Gordons had ten children.

 CSA #4, 5¢ blue (small internal crease) tied by neat CHARLESTON / S.C. // JUN / 3 / 186[2] cds on pristine cover to Andrew P. Calhoun Esq., Pendleton, So.C.; A. P. Calhoun was the son of John C. Calhoun. Very Fine, Ex Richard L. Calhoun  $260.

Andrew Pickens Calhoun was born October 15, 1812 in Abbeville Dist SC and died March 16, 1865 at "Fort Hill," his plantation home in SC. Fort Hill  is also known as John C. Calhoun Mansion and Library, Clemson University campus, Clemson. In 1835, A.P. Calhoun removed with his family and numerous slaves to Marengo County. He built a large log house, where his children were born, and named his home "Tulip Hill." A. P. Calhoun was son of John Calhoun. John C. Calhoun spent his entire career working for the U.S. government in a variety of high offices. He served as the seventh Vice President of the United States, first under John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and then under Andrew Jackson(1829-1832), but resigned the Vice Presidency to enter the United States Senate where he had more power. He was an outspoken proponent of slavery and still influential during the Civil War even though he died a decade before. 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by neat CHARLESTON / S.C. // MAY  / 21 / 1862 double circle postmark on somewhat soiled cover to Mrs. M J Bradbury, Eighteen Mile PO, Pickens Dist[rict], SC; Ex Calhoun  $180.

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue, Stone 2, tied blue PETERSBURG / Va. // MAR / 2X [1862] cds on blue folded letter to Edw[ard] Drumgoole Esq, Summitt, No. Ca. from McIlwaine Sons & Co. regarding sale of meal and wheat. [VA] $325.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, unusual shade, tied incredible strike of COMPANY SHOPS / N.C. // JUN. / 3 (ms) [1862] on pristine homemade cover to Alex[ander] M. McPheeters Esq., Liberty, Virginia. A real Gem! [NC] $600.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair (pre-use faults) tied by Georgia double circle postmark partly struck off top of small homemade cover to Master W. S. Bean, Clarkesville Ga; [GA] $200.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair (4 margins, crease in gutter) tied by neatly struck blue HILLSBORO / N.C. // SEP / 11 / 1862 on cover to Mrs. M. A. Curtis, Kittrells Springs, N. Carolina; slightly rumpled cover. Mrs. Mary Jane DeRosset Curtis was the wife of the preeminent mycologist, Rev. Moses Ashley Curtis. Turned cover with inside of an unused  preprinted address to Mssrs Burnap & Co., Savannah. [NC] $250.

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue two singles (faulty) tied neat blue CHARLOTTESVILLE / VA // JUNE / 26 / 1862 double circle on bit soiled cover to Mrs. Martha Campbell, Seguin Texas – double rate for over 500 miles. [VA] [TX] $250.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair (4 margins, creasing in gutter as well as in right stamp), ms canceled with light greenish blue N.C. cds at left; homemade cover addressed to William C. Love, Care of Robt. E. Love Esqr, Salisbury, N.C. [NC] $200.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, uncanceled with pencil “Due 5 cents” at right on cover addressed to Rev. John M. Pilcher, Box 899, Richmond, Va; pencil docketing likely noting sender as Lieut. J. R. Bouknight, Co. M 7 SC and penned addresses of R. D. Chappell, Hamptonville NC and Livinia E. Kennedy Knoxville Ga on verso; section of face of cover out at top right and pencil docketing on face of July 3, 1862; [SC] [VA] $100.

 CSA #4, 5¢ blue singles placed in either top corner of the envelope, one canceled by a grid and the other by an Athens, Georgia postmark. Included is a long letter from Judge Junius Hillyer to his son, Captain George Hillyer, dated Athens July 29th, 1862. He states that he has spoken to Governor Joseph E. Brown, and that he will do everything in his power to get George a solicitorship as soon as Col. [Samuel Pinckney] Thurmond resigns.[GA] [VA]

Capt. Hillyer had served in the Georgia legislature before the war. His father had been a U.S. Congressman representing Georgia before the war as well as Solicitor of the United States Treasury under Buchanan from December 1, 1857 to February 13, 1861 when he resigned after Georgia joined the Confederacy. Thus it is obvious they were both well acquainted with Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown.

With his letter to his son, the elder Hillyer included a letter in the hand of Governor Brown, signed and dated July 27th, 1862 (ALS) in which Brown says, “It will afford me very great pleasure to appoint George in his [Thurmond’s] place if the Col. resigns his office…I have every confidence in George and have for him the warmest friendship.”

Judge Hillyer’s letter says that George can base his action upon the assurance that Governor Brown would give him that appointment. The stumbling block, of course, is that this would happen only after Thurmond resigned. Judge Hillyer, according to his letter to George, had a personal interview with Thurmond which he recounted,

“I told him today that I was authorized by you to claim the office & asked him to make out his resignation. He said that he could not do it until you resigned & came home. He said that if he were to resign now, it might turn out that you might change your mind or the government might refuse to accept your resignation & give you a discharge & that then in that event he would have lost his place without any reason. He said that it had been some time since I heard from you & that you might have perfectly recovered your health. He said the place was ready for you provided you claimed it at once. But until you put yourself in a position to accept it he did not feel willing to give up. He talked very fair & did not seem disposed to dodge but appeared to be candid & acting in perfect good faith. I told him that there was much good reason in his position & that I thought you could not object to it. So the matter stands. If you can resign & be discharged & come home I have no doubt that Thurman will place his resignation in your hands & you can go with it to Gov. Brown & get the appointment. He authorizes me to say so…My own opinion is that you had better get a furlough for sixty days in that time you can look over the ground. If you get a furlough you can resign as soon as you please…”

Capt. George Hillyer (1835 –1927) left his law practice to join the Confederate Army and raised a company known as the Hillyer Rifles in June 1861.  He served as a Captain and fourth regimental commander of Company C, 9th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Longstreet’s I Corps, Hood’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.  He lost over half his men at Gettysburg. He made the official report on actions at the famed “Wheatfield” 2 July 1863. From 1870 to 1874, he was a member of the Georgia State Senate and later served as Mayor of Atlanta for one term. His father, Hon. Junius Hillyer, had been a U.S. Congressman representing Georgia before the war as well as Solicitor of the United States Treasury under Buchanan from December 1, 1857 to February 13, 1861 when he resigned after Georgia joined the Confederacy.

A scarce insight into the war via communication between father and son with fantastic addition of an ALS from Georgia Civil War Governor Joseph E. Brown, one of the most successful politicians in Georgia history. Subject of one of my forthcoming columns in The American Stamp Dealer and Collector. $750.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (4 margins) used with OAKLAND COLLEGE / MISS. cds on delightful embossed ladies cover addressed to Mr. Albert Batchelor, Red River, Landing Point, Coupee Paris[h] La.; 2013 CSA Certificate stating “it is a genuine use from Oakland College, Mississippi. No opinion on the “5c” manuscript marking on the stamp”  [MS] [LA] $450.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue vertical pair tied neat bold PORT HUDSON / LA cds on homemade cover, slightly reduced at both ends, addressed to Miss Lizzie Kennon, Tangipaho, St. Helena, La. [LA] $250.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair tied by almost discernible NC postmark (I’m sure a NC will figure it out) on homemade cover to “Hon. Thomas Ruffin (in his absence Mrs. Ruffin) Near Graham, Alamance County, N. Carolina”. Ruffin was a prominent politician and CSA officer who was captured 3 different times, wounded at Gettysburg and ultimately killed at Auburn Mills, Va 10-15-63; slightly reduced at top with part of top flap missing. [NC] $175.

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue, Stone 2, tied incredibly bold clear RICHMOND / Va. // MAR / 27 / 1862 cds on small cover to Miss A. C. Taylor, Fredericksurg, Va. “Planter’s House”, slightly reduced at left, signed in pencil on verso “In My Opinion This Cover is Genuine In All Respects Stanley B. Ashbrook”. [VA] $250.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue Stone 2, position 17. used with UNIONVILLE / S.C. // JUNE 3 [1862] on showy adversity cover made from Unionville Female High advertising flyer . An old photocopy is included which shows the cover open and fully readable before closed back up and sealed. It gives a full proposal of how the school is to be established and run in the old Methodist Church. Unionville became Union in 1873. Addressed to Rev. Whiteford Smith, Spartanburg, S.C. Nifty adversity use. [SC] $400.

CSA 1-2 and CSA 4-2, 5¢ Green, Stone 1-2, and 5¢ Blue, Stone 2: Two covers, each with fresh color, both stamps tied by bold strikes of NEW ORLEANS LA. 16 FEB [1862] and NEW ORLEANS LA. 6 APR [1862] circular datestamps on "New Orleans Prices Current Commercial Intelligencer and Merchant's Transcript" to Memphis, both folded prices current with full page letters on one blank side, making them ineligible for the 2¢ circular rate, Very Fine. A wonderful matched pair of prices current perfect for exhibition, the second used only three weeks before Federal occupation of New Orleans. [LA] [TN] $1,200. Also listed under CSA 1

CSA 1, 5¢ green and CSA 4, 5¢ blue mixed franking tied bold GOLDSBOROUGH / N.C. // MAR / 31 cds on homemade cover to Mrs. Clifford Anderson, Care of F. H. Stone, Macon, Georgia. Stamps with light gum soaks otherwise fresh and Fine. Ex Matz.  [NC] [GA] $450. Also listed under CSA 1

Clifford Anderson (1833-1899) enlisted as a private in Co. C, 2nd Georgia Infantry and rose to 2nd Lieut. before he was discharged and elected a CSA Congressman. Represented Georgia in the Confederate Congress from 1864 to 1865. Also served as a State Court Judge from 1856 to 1858, as a member of the Georgia State House of Representatives in 1859, as the Georgia State Attorney General from 1880 to 1890. 

CSA Catalog 4-3-v3, 5¢ blue, Stone 3 positions 41 / 1 from the transfer stone of 50  (41 / 51 from the printing stone right pane of 100), vertical pair crossing two transfers of the stone, Position 1 showing the classic Leaking "N" variety, tied by manuscript "Nanafalia Ala / July 30" postmark and used as forwarding postage on cover to Dayton Ala., pair affixed over CSA 2-P, 10¢ blue top sheet margin single, tied by CHATTANOOGA / Ten. // JUL / 3 / 1862 cds, original use from Chattanooga to Mrs. Mattie G. Cuningham, Nanafala. Pair with light pre-use corner crease at bottom right, some inconsequential gum staining on 10¢ stamp. Very Fine. A strikingly unusual Stone 3 rarity with Hartmann certificate and added bonus of fixed franking and forwarded. Great exhibit piece. Ex MacBride and Tate. [AL] [TN] $2,500.

CSA 4 5¢ blue, Stone 2 and Stone 3 used in opposite upper corners on the same cover: two singles tied by MEMPHIS / TEN. // APR / 29 / 1862 circular datestamps on cover to Mr. Wm. J. Cathey, Belton Tex.; left stamp Stone 3, Position 41, smeared "E" in "Postage" variety, right stamp Stone 2, Position 43, slightly irregular separation into bottom of one and right of other, otherwise Very Fine and unusual use from both stones on cover, SCV as single Stone 3 on cover [TN] [TX] $500. $600.

CSA 4, 5¢ blue horizontal pair and two singles, three different shades, mostly large margins, tied by double strikes of BRENHAM TEX. cds on cover to Hon. M. S. Munson, Brazoria Texas, small part of back flap missing, a scarce double-rate franking, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate not mentioning transient white spot flaw variety in E of CENTS on right single listed in CSA Catalog as 4-2-v9. [TX]  $ 1,250.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue tied SUFFOLK / Va. // MAR / 22 cds on cover to Mrs. A. McIntyre, Marion C.H., S.C. with manuscript “Mail Direct” routing instruction at lower left, bit of scuffing at left cover edge. [VA] [SC] $220.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue tied blue COLUMBIA / S.C. // APR 21 [1862] cds on fresh homemade cover to G. A. Fike Esq, Damascus S.C., slightly reduced at left, Very Fine. [SC]  $220.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue, position 48 tied neat SAVANNAH Ga. / PAID // MAY / 9 [1862] cds on cover to A. L. Alexander, Washington, Geo., top back flap missing otherwise Fine. Plating by Hartmann on verso.  [GA] $220.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue tied KNOXVILLE / TEN // MAY [1862] cds on homemade cover to George H. Neill, Rogersville, Tenn., faint file fold at center. [TN]  $230.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ light blue (small defects) tied blue PETERSBURG / Va. // JUN / 14 [1862] cds on cover to R. A. Cole, Carthage, N.C.; reduced at left and bottom with a bit of soiling at top. [VA] [NC] $140.

CSA 4-2, 5¢ blue position 9 tied RICHMOND / Va. // MAR / 5 / 1862 cds on cover to Mr. George Calvert, Upperville, Va. – quite early postmark. Earliest recorded is February 26, 1862 so this is first week of use. Ex Wolcott and Ashbrook. CSA Catalog places a 200% premium on February or March 1862 dated postmarks on cover thus this catalogs $900. $700.

CSA 4, 5¢ blue tied WILMINGTON N.C. // PAID cds on cover used over Tawboro NC PAID 5 stampless use, CSA Catalog type B. Cover addressed to John F. Speight, Fort Caswell Care of Lieut. D___ which has been scratched out and readdressed to Tawboro. Inside is addressed and handcarried use to Miss E. L. Speight, Tawboro N.C. A wonderful and unusual adversity use of the same side of the cover twice as well as an inside use – thus a triple use cover.  Fort Caswell was part of the tiered defenses of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington and helped to keep blockade running open there. John F. Speight was 20 years old when he enlisted in Battery F of the 2nd NC Light Artillery. He was promoted to 2nd Lieut. 10-9-61 and mustered out on 5-1-62.  [NC] $400.