Lot
4451 
Confederacy, Castle Morgan, Cahaba Ala., cover addressed to Helam, Pa. and endorsed "Prisoners Letter" at top left, "Vicksburg, Miss, Feb 2, 1865" cds and matching "Due 6" rate handstamp, flap with "Examined and Approved, Capt. and Commissioner of Exchange C.S.A." examiner's marking, included is the original enclosure datelined "Federal Prison, Cahaba Dallas Co. Ala., January 15th 1865" from Adam Bahn to his Aunt writing "Since you last heard from me I have had the misfortunate of becoming a 'Prisoner of War'. I was captured on the 24th Sept. at the battle near Athens, Ala. by Genl. Forrest…", Very Fine, a very rare Southern Prison cover. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY 10 COVERS RECORDED FROM CAHABA.
Adam Bahn was from Company B of the 102nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Private Bahn was exchanged three months after writing this letter, but he along with many other members of the 102nd were killed when the Steamboat Sultana blew up on the Mississippi River just above Memphis on April 27th, 1865…the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.
Realized: $2,700
Lot
4452
Confederacy, Castle Morgan, Cahaba Ala., oatmeal paper Prisoner cover bearing U.S. 1861 3¢ rose tied by grid cancels, addressed to Lieut Wilkins, 17th Ill. Vol. Inf. at Vicksburg Miss., matching "Old Point Comfort Va. Apr 18" dcds, endorsed "By flag of truce", original one-page letter datelined "Cahaba Military Prison, Cahaba, Ala. March 12 64" from Lieut. E.E. Ryan of same unit as addressee, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY TEN RECORDED COVERS FROM THIS PRISON.
This cover shows no Confederate postal markings and was either handcarried to the Old Point Comfort, Va. transfer point, perhaps by another POW being exchanged or released, or sent inside another envelope franked with Confederate postage, the outer envelope being discarded at the transfer point. The Confederate Military Prison at Cahaba was also known as Castle Morgan. This is a little known prison, but was actually more crowded and congested than Andersonville.
Lt. Ryan was captured as a POW while leading a foraging party near Meridian, Miss. on Feb. 15, 1864. He was first confined at Cahaba Military Prison and was later transferred to Camp Oglethorpe with a brief stop through Andersonville. He was subsequently transferred to Savannah and then Charleston where he was under the fire of the Union bombardment of the city as a POW. He survived and was exchanged in September 1864. During his time as POW, Lt. Ryan kept a detailed diary that was later published. Accompanying this letter is a lengthy article entitled "Cahaba to Charleston: The Prison Odyssey of Lt. Edmund Ryan.".
Realized: $1,050
Lot
4453
Confederacy, Castle Morgan, Cahaba Ala., yellow prisoner's cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose, faulty, "Vicksburg Miss. Feb 2, 1865" cds, addressed to Capt. O. C. Harvey, Provost Marshal 2nd Brigade, 2d Division 4th Corps at Nashville Tenn., prisoner's endorsement in pencil "From Capt. Coleman" at left, manuscript "Approved, H.A.M. Henderson, Capt. & Ast. Comr of Exchange, C.S.A." on flap; small edge faults, F.-V.F. Scott No. 65 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONE OF ONLY 10 COVERS RECORDED FROM CAHABA, THIS BEING ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH AMERICA'S WORST MARITIME DISASTER - THE SINKING OF THE PADDLE WHEELER SULTANA.
Capt. W. L. Coleman was in Company A of the 40th Indiana Infantry, rising from private to Captain. He was wounded at Stones River (Murfreesboro), again at Marietta and a third time at Kenesaw Mountain. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Franklin and briefly incarcerate at Andersonville before being transferred to Castle Morgan at Cahaba, which was more crowed for it size than Andersonville. Coleman perished when the Steamboat Sultana blew up on the Mississippi River just above Memphis on April 27th, 1865…the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history. He is mentioned in the records as having been one of two soldiers who helped an injured soldier get overboard at the cost of his own life.
Realized: $2,300
Lot
4454
Confederacy, Andersonville, Ga., dateless postmark on guard's letter from James Wells addressed to his brother "Lieut. G.R. Wells, Stone Mountain Ga.", endorsed with sender's company designation (Company K 2nd Regt. Georgia Reserves) and manuscript "Due 10" rate, included is original enclosure datelined "Camp Sumter June the 26, 1864", cover with some foxing on reverse only, Extremely Fine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A REMARKABLE AND RARE COVER FROM THE MOST INFAMOUS CONFEDERATE PRISON DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
Earl Antrim, in his handbook "Civil War Prisons and Their Covers" gives an excellent description of Andersonville, "The Official Records say that Andersonville had its first prisoners on March 1, 1864, but there is a record of prisoners there on February I, 1864. It was the site of Camp Sumter, the most dreaded prison in the South. Prisoners' diaries damned it bitterly, and on arriving and seeing the filth and sickness would ask "Is this hell?" It consisted of twenty-six acres, partly swampy, and its inadequate huts and semi-shelters held as many as thirty-three thousand one hundred and fourteen at one time, so crowded there was hardly room to lie down to sleep. Of the approximately forty-five thousand six hundred and thirteen who were sent there, twelve thousand six hundred and forty-four died. Post war agitation by ex-prisoners succeeded in having Capt. Wirz, the prison commander, hanged for his treatment of them. The camp was surrounded by a wall 20 feet high, near the top of which was a small platform for the guards. It was guarded by sixty-four guards, eight on each end and twenty-four on each side. There were fortifications on high ground surrounding the camp.".
Realized: $7,000
Lot
4455
Confederacy, Camp Oglethorpe, Macon Ga., orange Prisoner of War cover with "Old Point Comfort, Jul 18" cds and matching "Due 6" circled handstamp to Wyocena Wis., endorsed "From Prisoner of War. Macon Ga.", manuscript censor mark "Examined T.H.H." for Capt. T. H. Hackett of 15th Ga. Infantry; small tear at top, Very Fine, a rare Southern prison usage, with only 28 recorded by Harrison. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This cover was sent by Augustus E. Patchin, a resident of Wyocena Wis., and a member of Company D of the 10th Wis. Infantry. He enlisted as a Sergeant on Sep. 18, 1861 and was listed as a wounded P.O.W. on Sep. 9, 1863 at Chickamauga Ga. (confined at Macon Ga.).
Realized: $1,000
Lot
4456
Confederacy, Camp Oglethorpe, Macon Ga., brown prisoner-of-war cover to Union-held Cleveland, East Tennessee, bearing C.S.A. 1862, 5¢ blue, stone 2, full margins except slightly in at left, tied by "Macon Ga (Jun) 26" 1862 cds, manuscript "Passed L.H. Carter Adjt. Prisoner's Guard" examiner's marking, very light water staining, Very Fine, Illustrated in Antrim page 140., ex-Walske. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EARLY AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE PRISONER-OF-WAR COVER FROM THE FIRST CAMP OGLETHORPE, ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED.
The first Camp Oglethorpe was open for prisoners as early as May 1862. Approximately 900 Federal troops captured at the Battle of Shiloh were processed through the prison. As a result of the formal exchange cartel agreed to by the U.S. and C.S.A. governments in July 1862, the camp was discontinued, to be replaced by a stockade for Union officers in 1864.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
4457
Confederacy, Salisbury Prison, Salisbury N.C., homemade prisoner's cover to "Mrs. Mary Locke, North Somerville, Mass.", with original letter datelined "Salisbury N.C. Dec 1st 1864", cover endorsed "Prisoner of War's Letter", censored with pencil "Examined", partial "Salisbury N.C. 5 Dec" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp, entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. Jan 18" cds and matching "Due 6" circular handstamp; some edge wear and some stain spots, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
The Dec. 1 letter is signed "John F. Locke, Co E 39th Mass, Salisbury N.C., A prisoner of War in the Confederate Lines" and he says that he is assisting in Hospital Ward No. 5. John F. Locke was an 18 year old clerk from Somerville Mass. (born in Boston) when he enlisted as a private on August 12, 1862. He was taken prisoner at Weldon Railroad Va. on August 19, 1864 and exchange April 15, 1865.
Realized: $750
Lot
4458
Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., prisoner's cover endorsed "Prisoners Letter, Charleston S.C.", manuscript "Exd. H H R" (Capt. Hugh Hamilton Rogers, Provost Marshal) examiner's marking, entered mails with "Port Royal S.C. Aug 20 1864" cds and matching "Due 3" rating handstamp; some wear, Very Fine; with 2008 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
L. Paris Horney was an officer in Company C of the 110th Ohio Infantry. He was taken POW at Winchester on Jun 14, 1863 and confined at Macon Ga. and Columbia S.C. He died of dysentery in Charleston, exact prison unknown. One source says he died as a prisoner of war Nov. 7, 1864 at Columbia, where he is in fact buried, but Columbia records show him as having died in Charleston.
Lot
4459
Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., orange buff prisoner's cover to Wm. B. Remey at Burlington Iowa, entered mails with "Port Royal S.C. Nov 3 1864" cds and matching "Due 3" rating handstamp, manuscript "Examined appd JMA aag" examiner's marking (known used Nov. 1864, Harrison p. 45), Very Fine, A scarce flag-of-truce cover sent via Pocotaligo and Port Royal, Ex-Walske. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $500
Lot
4460
Confederacy, City Jail, Charleston S.C., orange buff Prisoner's cover with "Port Royal Va. Sep 27" dcds and two strikes of "Due 3" rating handstamps, addressed to Hamilton Ohio, endorsed at left "Prisoner letter for Flag of Truce, B.F. Blair Lt. 123rd Regt. O. V. I.", manuscript "Exd" marking at top right, includes original letter, left backflap signed "Soldiers Letter, Stewart L. Woodford, Lt. Col., Agent of Exchange", reduced slightly at right and bottom, left flap reattached, Very Fine, only eight covers are recorded from this prison.; with 2008 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Interesting letter datelined "Charleston Jail, Charleston, S.C. Sept. 14" saying "Came here from Savannah yesterday…(my health…is considerably impaired…I am not dangerously sick" and hope to be transferred soon (he went to Columbia).