Terms of SaleBid IncrementsGradingLinksContact

Sale 55: United States Postal History

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter

Prisoner of War Covers - Northern Prisons (Fort Delaware to Old Capitol)

Lots 2486-2495 Lots 2496-2504

Lot 2496    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, Oh., prisoner cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by target cancel duplexed with "Sandusky O. Aug 27 '64" cds, manuscript "Ex GSB" examiner's mark of Corp. George S. Brown 128th O. V. I. who examined mail 16 May 1864 - 28 Sep. 1864, endorsed at left "J. B. Mitchell 34th Ala Inft." and at top left "For Flag of Truce Via Fortress Monroe, Va.", entered CSA mails with "Richmond Va. Sep 15" cds and matching "10" due rating handstamp, Very Fine.
Scott No. US #65    Estimate $400 - 600.

Johnson's Island housed mostly CSA officers. J. B. Mitchell was the Lieut of Co B 34th Ala Regiment. The 34th Ala Inf was an Army of Tennessee unit. Lieut Mitchell was most likely captured during the Chattanooga or Atlanta Campaign.

Realized: $350

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2497    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, Oh., buff Prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Sandusky O, Aug 6 '64" duplex to Mrs. Lou. L. Clark at Atlataville Miss., endorsed "T. A. Pope, Capt. 29th Miss. Inf, and Prisoner of War" and "Per Flag of Truce via Fortress Monroe", manuscript "Ex G.A." examiner's marking, entered Southern mails with "Richmond Va. Aug 24" cds and matching "Due 10" rating h.s.; light stain, Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $200

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2498    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, Oh., Prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, nat. s.e. and oxidized, tied by "Sandusky O, Feb 3 '65" duplex to Miss Mary Wallace at St. Louis Mo., clear strike of "Prisoner's Letter, Johnsons Island O., Examined, J. C." oval examiner's handstamp, part of flap missing, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $95

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2499    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, Oh., patriotic cover with "Trip Lightly" poem to Chagrin Falls Oh., bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue "Sandusky O. May 1 '65" duplex, original patriotic "Aphorism" poem enclosure from union soldier to his brother and sister datelined "Johnson s Island, Sunday April 30th /65" and has some interesting news including "since the surrender there has been 9 or 10 hundred reb prisoners sent here the pen is most ful again there is lots of them a going to take the oath and more of them say they will take it if it is true that Johnstons has surrendered. So they say we will be musterd out between this and the first of June…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $150

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2500    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, Oh., buff Prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue "Sandusky O, May 5 '65" duplex to Mrs. Martha F. Sitton at Thebes Ill., "Prisoner's Letter, Johnsons Island O., Examined" oval examiner's handstamp; cover faults, Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2501    

Confederacy, McLean's Barracks, Cincinnati, Oh., dateline on June 26, 1864 prisoner of war letter from James K. P. Hamblen of Company C, 2nd Tenn. Infantry, in the letter he mentions two of his brothers that served in the 2nd Tenn., one was wounded and captured at the same place, while the other's whereabouts is unknown, James was captured at Mt. Sterling Ky. on June 9th, 1864., Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

A VERY RARE LETTER FROM MCLEAN BARRACKS, ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED.

Realized: $220

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2502    

Confederacy, Northern Prisoner of War Balance, group of 10 covers comprising four to Elmira, three to Camp Parole in Annapolis, one from a prisoner in unknown prison to the South, one from prisoner at Camp Point Lookout to Mrs. Caroline S. Alagood at Refugee Barracks in New Berne N.C. in care of Provost Marshal and includes one page datelined letter, and a Washington D.C. censored cover, Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $850

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2503    

Confederacy, Ohio State Penitentiary, Columbus, Oh. (Morgan's Raider), orange buff Prisoner of War cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Columbus O. Feb 6" duplex, sent from Major Robert Bullock who was a member of the infamous Morgan's Raiders of the 9th Kentucky Cavalry to his wife Mrs. Mary F. Bullock at Lexington Ky., red manuscript "Ex N.M." examiner's marking for Captain Nathaniel Merion, the warden at the penitentiary, reduced a bit at left, Very Fine.
Scott No. 65    Estimate $300 - 400.

Following the capture of General John Morgan and his men on July 26, 1863, after one of their raids through Kentucky and Ohio, it was deemed that they should be confined separately at the Ohio State Penitentiary rather than on Johnson's Island as normal prisoners of war. Nevertheless, Morgan and a few of his men managed to escape four months later, further adding to the notoriety and legend of the feared Morgan's Raiders. During their imprisonment the Governor of Ohio had been forced to apologize for Warden Merion's cruel treatment of the prisoners.

Realized: $725

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2504    

Confederacy, Old Capital Prison, Washington, D.C., orange prisoner cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose cancelled by target with matching "Washington D.C. Apr 12 '64" cds to Warrenton Va., endorsed "Care of Provost Marshall", excellent strike of the circular censor's handstamp "Passed W. P. Wood Supt., Military Prison" (type I), additional manuscript "Exd - & Appd at (PMGC) (AP) J.H.W." examiner's endorsement, no Confederate postage as Warrenton was held by Union forces at this time; edge wear and faults, F.-V.F., a lovely strike of this censor marking, which is normally weak or incomplete; with 2013 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Old Capitol Prison was the building that served as a temporary Capitol after Washington, D.C. had been burned during the War of 1812. W. P. Wood was the Superintendent and was also a special agent of the government. Much intelligence information was gathered by him from the prisoners for the Union.

Old Capitol Prison was used mostly for disloyal citizens and spies, such as Belle Boyd and Rose O'Neel Greenhow, as well as captured sailors who had been running the blockade. It was the first Federal prison to hold Confederate prisoners. About a score of prisoners captured at First Bull Run (Manassas) were sent there in July 1861. The largest number of prisoners there at one time was 1,414. By war's end, 397 Confederate prisoners were buried in Washington, D.C.

Realized: $550

email this lot to a friend

Lots 2486-2495 Lots 2496-2504

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter