SHELBYVILLE/TE DUE (no rate), New Dietz type II with soldier docketing up left side from a private in the 24 NC Vols. and addressed to Mitchel Co, N.C., fresh homemade cover reduced slightly on 3 sides

"C.E. Taylor, Sig(nal) Corps. C.S.A." endorsed pale blue and white enameled wallpaper cover handcarried to Richmond, Va. The only C.E. Taylor from Virginia in the military records was in "H" Co.

The Signal Corps performed some of the most dangerous of duties in the War. The detailed men in all the various branches of the service numbered about fifteen hundred, and it was a remarkable fact, that while these men were often employed in independent service, and were in possession of important secrets, not one of them ever deserted or betrayed his trust. All the detailed men were instructed in the cipher system, and entrusted with the key-word. They were also instructed in the use of the electric telegraph. When occasion required, they became dauntless messengers and agents, going into the enemy's lines and cities, or to lands beyond the sea; communicating with agents and secret friends of the Confederate Government and people; ordering supplies and conveying them to their destination; running the blockade by land and sea; making nightly voyages in bays and rivers; threading the enemy's cordon of pickets and gunboats; following blind trails through swamps and forest, and as much experts with oar and sail, on deck and in the saddle, and with rifle and revolver, as with flags, torches, telegraph, and secret cipher.

GUINEY/Va. (due) no rate, soldier's cover docketed "J.Y. Thompson, Co. K 23rd Regt. S.C. Troops" to Dry Pond, S.C., Ex-Weatherly

RICHMOND/ VA. JUN 28, 1863 DUE 10 soldier's cover with regimental docketing up the left side, as required, fresh clean cover

Soldier's Due cover, no rate, on tiny homemade cover to "Mrs. Dore S. Clark, Attalaville, Attala County, Miss." with soldier endorsement from "Parsons (?) Regt, Finegan's (?) Brig Cav(alry), didn't spend time on the soldier history - worth research, Very Fine

Soldier's cover with endorsement of "Lt. M. N. Davidson, Co I 25 Va. Battl." but no postal markings, light penciled contemporary Sept 9th, 1863 at upper right, on homemade cover to Jas. D. Davidson, Lexington, Va., fresh and Fine, J.D. Davidson was a Washington & Lee trustee

Manuscript "Due 10" on soldier's cover and with a manuscript "Augusta, Georgia" town marking as part of the endorsement "Lt. J. L. Heath, Comp D 23 Ga Baty" on envelope made from an extremely high rag brown butcher paper sent to "Mrs. Isaac. P. Heath, Girard P. Office, Burke County, Ga.". The "Augusta, Ga" and "Due" notations are something the soldier probably added against regulations. Most interesting. Ex-Sam Zimmerman

DUE 10 in arc (possibly Knoxville, Tenn) on fresh homemade cover with docketing "from A.F. Boyd Serg Maj of the 52 Reg Ga. Vols" to "Miss Fannie Boyd, Dahlonga, Georgia". Very Fine. Augustus Franklin Boyd was born 16 August 1844 in Dahlonega, Georgia, the son of Senator and Judge Wier Boyd. He was killed 16 May 1863 near Vicksburg, Mississippi at the Battle of Bakers Creek at only age 18. Brief soldier history enclosed plus poignant detailed bio, including online photo in full uniform found in online family records. The photo was taken just a few days before he was killed when he was back home in Dahlonega to recruit more men and pick up supplies.

RICHMOND/Va./MAY/25/1862 cds with soldier's DUE 10 on cover endorsed by " ?? Danham, Jeff Davis Legion, Co. ?" to Mrs. H. M. Dunham, Riceboro, Ga." where it was forwarded with handstamped PAID 5 (value in ms), type I, to "Johnstons Station Gulf Rail Road Ga.", bit reduced at left and some file folds which make the light ink hard to translate. There were numerous Dunhams from Georgia in the military. With some research, this could probably be figured out. A scarce and very nice forwarded use.

VICKSBURG/MISS. DUE 10 soldier’s letter to “Mrs. H(enry) L. Muldrow, Tibbee Station, Lowndes Cty., M. & O. R.R., Miss. “(Mobile & Ohio Railroad) with pencil docketing “Vicksburg  Feb 18th 1863”. Soldier docketing of “John M. Erwin 35th Regt. Mississippi”. No specifics on Erwin, but a detailed bio of the illustrious Henry L. Muldrow included. Cover stained, but hey, this was during the siege of Vicksburg so it’s entitled to some battle scars! .

RICHMOND/Va. 1862 soldier’s DUE 10 endorsed by “W.P. Nixon, Co. J 28th Regt NCT (North Carolina Troops) to Judesville, N.C. on flashy red and white LYNCHBURG broadside, signed Brian Green, flaps can be turned to show as much or little of cover or broadside as desired. Brief soldier bio enclosed. William P. Nixon was 21 years old when he enlisted in Company A of NC 28th Infantry. He was wounded December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, returned March 26, 1863 and surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865 with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia. 

PETERSBURG/VA (DUE) 10 in blue on adversity cover fashioned from pale blue bill of lading form from Bancroft, Betts & Marshall and addressed to “Mrs. J. Adger Smythe, Wright’s Bluff, Clarendon Dist., So. Ca.” from J.A.S. QM Sergt 25th SCV Hagood’s Brig”. Soldier records show little more than the docketing, only that he was in Co. “A”. Online search reveal the prominence of the nineteenth-century Presbyterian families Adger and Smyth in SC. The outbreak of the Civil War and the shelling of Charleston scattered members of these families. The Smyth family relocated to Wright’s Bluff in Clarendon District. Thomas Smyth was doubtless the best known of that era. 

ADAM’S RUN/S.C./JAN 7 cds with manuscript “Due 10” soldier’s adversity cover fashioned from pale blue legal form docketed from “Corpl. Oakes, Co. C, 46th Va. Regt, Wise’s Brigade” to Pittsylvania Co, Va., George W. Oakes enlisted June 22, 1861 as a corporal with residence listed as Pittsylvania, he was promoted to 3rd Sergt on 7-1-64 and his military record (included) shows fairly numerous entries including hospitalizations, prisoner-of-war, and some interesting details.

CSA #11c (AD), 10¢ greenish blue, large margins on three sides showing portion of adjoining stamp, tied by blue COLUMBIA/S.C. cds on reverse of pink and white enamel floral design wallpaper cover to ”Mrs. Edmund Ravenel Care Ravenel & Co, Charleston, S.C.”, manuscript "Due 10" on front, some aging and small part of flap at back cut away, Fine. The Ravenel family operated a successful shipping business. Dr. Edmund Ravenel, Sr. was a successful physician and surgeon on the CS Medical Staff as well as an accomplished chemist and scientific conchologist. His son, also Dr. Edmund Ravenel, entered the service of the Confederacy as an Assistant Surgeon and this cover is likely from him. The Ravenel family played many important parts from military service to running the blockade. This is more likely Ravenel, Sr.