INDUSTRY / TEX PAID (no rate), ms date in cds open to interpretation (July 01?/July 61?) to Fayetteville, NC on somewhat soiled and edge worn cover, but rare and UNLISTED in New Dietz $400.

BROWNSVILLE / TEX / 23 / MAY with manuscript “Paid 10” on cover to “James W. Cowetz, San Marcas Hays County Texas”, reduced at left. $250.

WACO [VILLAGE] / Tex. partially struck cds on cover with matching handstamped PAID 5,. addressed to “Col. T. J. Word, Palestine, Texas”, Word enlisted as a private in Co. G of the 36th Texas Cavalry, ex Kaplan $200.

AUSTIN / TEX / SEP / 28 double circle cancel with matching PAID and manuscript 10 on cover to Mr. M. M. Young, Greensboro, North Carolina with docketing of ”Col. Tount, Sept 29/61 ““Might” claim got in hands), (Sheldon failed)”, top back flap missing, A prior owner and an auction house portrayed this as a provisional because the contents docketing is a day after the cancellation date. I do not subscribe to that theory, as there is no control marking. $300.

VELASCO / TEX // DEC / 2 [1863] cds with matching handstamped PAID 10, gorgeous strikes on cover addressed to Mr. Ja[me]s S. Penn, Ruters Ville, Fayette Co, Texas. Prior owner states only five recorded (not verified by me). Great 4-page letter war letter from Benjamin Allen tells of the death of his mother and grandmother but was refused consent to see them in their dying hours by Col. Batesas he was expecting the enemy to attack when Allen was sent for by his sister. Grammar and spelling mistakes uncorrected, although some punctuation added for ease of reading. Letter says, in part, “Sorry to hear of Pat and Abe Penn being wounded. O what a great blessing it would be if this unholy war could be stoped… I expect to join the service as soon as my six months is out in the militia. I haven’t anything to keep me at home now – I have no parents to look after their wants so I don’t believe I can be satisfied to remain out of the army. We are looking all the time to be attacked here. The enemy have taken St Josephs Island Gen Magruder has gone to meet them. I understand their is quite a large force centrating about Indianola that is near St Josephs Island. We have been looking for marching orders until here recently. We have learned our regiment is coming to us. I am afraid the enemy will flank us in the night and take us all prisoners. They can do it with all ease. If they do attack us our company will have to retreat – their isn’t but seven guns in the company fit for duty so yo see there is a poor chance for us to be in a fight. I don’t think there is any use in our being kept in the field without arms.” There are several by the name of Benjamin Allen in Texas units. More research would need to be done to determine which one this is. $600.

AUSTIN / TEX // DEC / 17 [1861] double circle cancels with matching PAID 10 on cover to Mr. M. M. Young, Box 976, New Orleans, docketed as from Col. Lount Dec 16 / 61, bit stained and roughly opened at top with top back flap missing. $350. While a quick search did not turn up a Col. Lount, there was a Col. Lountree in the 35th Texas Cavalry (Trans Mississippi Department), which possibly could be our man. $300.

“Belmont, T[e]xas Paid 10”, all in manuscript on folded business letter addressed to W. A. Menger, San Antonio, Texas, The letter is headed Belmont 29th August 1863 and written in German. A portion of the top of the letter torn away at top creating a ragged border at the top as well as an archival tape sealed tear down the center. It is docketed as from L. Cahn. A new listing in the forthcoming CSA Catalog. $350.

William A. Menger: Wilhelm Menger was born in Windecken, Nanau, Hessen, Germany. In his native land, he was a cooper and brewer. He immigrated to America in 1847 and became a U.S. citizen in 1852. In 1855, he established a brewery in San Antonio. In 1868, Menger bought out Naylor's Brewery and now was called "Beer King". Much more biography may be found online at http://www.germancontest.org/germansa/Biographies/menger_w.html

HALLETTSVILLE / TEX // MAY / 27 cds with matching handstamped PAID in circle on adversity cover fashioned of pre-printed shipping form noting hospital monies due, addressed to G. D. Gay Esq., Lattinton, Bee County, Texas; small restoration at bottom edge, Ex William A. Fox  $500.

“Athens, Texas, April 25 / 62” manuscript postmark and ms "Paid 10" on outer folded letter sheet addressed to Meriwether Lewis, Turkey Grove, N.C.. No doubt the addressee was related to or named for the Meriwether Lewis of 1804 Lewis & Clark expedition fame (and private secretary to Thomas Jefferson) as the family hailed from that part of the country. $325.

BONHAM / TEXAS // AUG / 28 with manuscript “Paid 10” on delicate small embossed ladies cover to Mrs. M. A. Avery, Acworth, Cobb County, Georgia; small internal hole in embossing otherwise Very Fine charmer. $500.

TYLER / TEX // DEC / 7 cds on clean cover with matching handstamped PAID and ms “10” addreesed to Sam F. Mosely Esq., Jefferson, Texas with name of J. S. L. Earle (likely sender) $300.

CHAPEL HILL / TEX // MAY / 20 cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 on clean homemade coer to Miss Laura Fruman, Navasota Texas; bit reduced at top and part of back flap missing, nice strikes $160.

INDEPENDENCE / Tex // JUL / 9 cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 on amber cover addressed to Capt T. L. Scott, Terrys [Texas] Rangers, Cypress [Texas]; top back flap missing, Ex Kohn. $300.

Terry’s Texas Rangers: This famous troop, officially designated the 8th Texas Cavalry, was organized and led by Benjamin Franklin Terry, a wealthy sugar planter from Brazoria. They had been heralded in New Orleans, and all along their route, as "The Texas Rangers." Technically, they may not have been "Texas Rangers," but this point seems to have been lost to people east of the Mississippi. During the war, they were refered to by a variety of names, including: "the 1st Texas Ranger Regiment"; "Wharton's Regiment"; "Harrison's Regiment"; "Cook's Regiment", "Wharton's Rangers"; "The Rangers"; and even simply as "the Texans." The Rangers distinguished themselves throughout the war by their skill and willingness to fight. Because of their abilities, and the arms they carried, they were regarded as a "charging regiment," frequently called upon to act as a form of shock troops. They are much written about and heralded.

OWENSVILLE / TEX // SEP / 5 cds with matching handstamped “PAID” (no rate) on cover to Capt G. H. Love, Wheelock, Texas; bit reduced at left, Scarce cancel. Capt. G.H. Love was in Company B of the 3rd Texas State Troops Cavalry, part of the Trans-Mississippi Department.   $200.

PARIS / TEXAS cds with penciled “Paid 10” on clean cover to P.T. Handy & Co., New Orleans, Lou[isiana]. Very Fine  $300.

WASHINGTON / Tex. // JUL / 29 [1861] cds with matching PAID 5 used on U.S. star-die entire #U27 – the only one known; to Mr. G. L. Chandler, Fayetteville, Fayette Co., Texas;  unlisted in prior catalogs but will be listed in forthcoming CSA Catalog.  $500.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE / TEX cds with matching unlisted handstamped PAID 10 on lengthy 3-page letter headed “Home August 22, 1864” from Lila to her sister “Mrs. Captain J. M. Williams, Tyler, Smith Co., Texas”. Excellent interesting letter optimistically asserting that everything going smoothly at plantation in their absence and never knew negroes to behave better. One of the slaves is sorely troubled that the injins or Yankees might be apt to get her. Williams is likely stationed at the prison near Tyler. $550.

ANDERSON / Tex. // JAN / 19 bold neat cds with ms penciled Paid 10 on homemade cover “out of square”, addressed to J. N. Scott Esqr., Capt Dickey’s Company, Elmore’s regiment, Galveston Cty Tex[as] $350.

J.N. Scott was a Private in Co. I, 20th Texas Infantry. Col. Henry Marshall Elmore’s infantry regiment, although composed predominantly of middle-aged men and despite the fact that they did not see much action outside of Texas, played an important part in the Confederate recapture of Galveston in January 1863 at the Battle of Galveston.