Lot
2463 
Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., letter datelined "Libby Prison, 22 July 63" in pencil with some interesting content, "…There is still some difficultly about exchanging us but I hope to be soon free and in New York to go with you & our friends to Christen Miss. Eugene at Maison Dorie … I consol myself here by thinking of you and that keeps my spirits up. This is the 3rd letter I wrote you since 36 days I am in captivity. When you write me address as follows, Col. Cesnola Prisoner of War Richmond Care Col. Ludlow Fortress Monroe…" and signed Luigi, there is an additional letter in pencil "If anything sent is not received by the prison it will be because it is kept by your own people and not by ours - any that we receive will be delivered with success and trust." and signed by John M. Higgins, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
John M. Higgins was a prominent Richmond citizen held in Castle Godwin. After his release, Higgins was hired as a clerk in the Confederate War Department, where his job included the examination of prison mail.
Luigi Palma di Cesnola (1832-1904), an Italian-American soldier, diplomat and amateur archaeologist. He was released from Libby Prison early in 1864 when the Union Agent for Prisoner Exchange offered a personal friend of Jefferson Davis as barter. He served in the Wilderness and Petersburg campaigns (1864-65) as a commander of a cavalry brigade but was not promoted to brigadier general. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. He was United States consul at Larnaca in Cyprus (1865-1877) and first Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1879-1904).
Realized: $375