Sale 58: The Winter Sale

Lot 1698

1862 (Jul. 16) Senate Report of Civil War Claims, four-page published report of the Civil War claims presented to the War Department, the basis is Executive Document No. 69 of the 37th Congress with July 16, 1862 letter report from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton with the office of Quartermaster Gen. Meigs tallying the info, the report lists 159 claims to date received by the War Dept., this gives the student a sampling of the variety of claims and sources, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

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Lot 1699    

1863 (Oct. 1) Syracuse N.Y. to Comdr. Towsend, Steamer Essex, Miss. Squadron, yellow cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Syracuse N.Y. Oct 1 '63"duplex, reverse with "Received at Cairo Ill., Oct 6 1863" backstamp; minor corner flaws, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

In October 1863, U.S.S. "Essex", commanded by Cdr. Robert Townsend, was lying off Donaldsonville La., where it had been since before Vicksburg. She was a heavily armed ironclad, had inadequate engines so that it moved very slowly against the Mississippi River current. Once below Vicksburg and Port Hudson, it had to stay there.

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Lot 1700    

1863 (Sep. 23) St. Johns, Canada to Baton Rouge La. via Cairo, orange buff cover with "St. Johns C.E. SP 23 63" origin backstamp and red "Paid 10" rating handstamp, St. Athanase (9.28) transit cds and "Canada" framed arc handstamp, addressed to Joseph Dufrene of the 2nd Vermont Battery, reverse with "Received at Cairo Ill., Oct 3 1863" transit backstamp.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

This cross-border cover was sent during the final days of the "Received at Cairo" backstamps. The 2nd Vermont Lt. Artillery Battery was at Port Hudson Aug. 1863 to 1865, but had been at Baton Rouge in May 1863. It was at the siege and surrender of Port Hudson July 9th (after Vicksburg fell July 4th). This cover from Canada was probably to a Canadian who had joined the Vermont battery to fight slavery.

Realized: $525

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Lot 1701    

Pvt. Israel Sheffer, 174th Ohio Infantry Correspondence, 1864-65, approximately 30 "Dear Family" letters (most with matching cover) assembled in archival pockets in binder with slipcase, contains a running transcript of each letter, Sheffer's Civil War service history, maps of his assignments and battles, relevant military correspondence and some related family correspondence, Sheffer was in one of the last regiments formed during the war with his enlistment lasting for one year, with correspondence starting at Camp Chase (Columbus, O.) to Murfreesboro, giving detailed account of daily life, sickness in the field, the Battle of Decatur, Siege of Murfeesboro, Camp Stoneman in Washington D.C. (Christian Commission cover and letterhead), 1865 Carolinas Campaign, The Kinston Campaign and Israel's death from typhoid fever in March of 1865 (letter from commanding captain in regiment); some covers somewhat rough, missing stamps, etc., F.-V.F., a fascinating intact correspondence.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 1702    

Siegel of Island No. Ten (Miss. River, Tenn.), orange buff cover endorsed "Soldier's Letter, 8th Wis. Vol., J.W. Jefferson, Major" at top and left, addressed to Burnett Wis., letter datelined "Point Pleasant March 30th 1862" and remarks of there being but little activity in three days in the rifle pits, Very Fine, ex-Graham.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Island No. 10, then located in the Mississippi River in Tenn. just below the Kentucky line, surrendered to an army under Union Gen. John Pope and the Mississippi or Western Flotilla of gunboats under Commodore Andrew H. Foote, on Apr. 8, 1862 after a siege of over a month. The Civil War Island No. 10, lying just below the Kentucky state line in Tenn., was washed away by the river in the 1880s. Today's Island No. 10 is on the opposite shore and no relationship to the position of the CSA Island fortification. Mail from both Pope's Army and Foote's gunboats was sent north by steamer to be mailed at Cairo.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1703

Southern Cross of Honor Medal Application, J.N. Chapman of the 1st Georgia Militia, 1911 application from claimant for the Southern Cross of Honor Medal, which was designed to be awarded to Confederate soldiers for their outstanding valor, authorized by the Confederate Congress on Oct. 13, 1862 and was intended to be the equivalent of the Union Army's Medal of Honor; accompanied by detailed Southern Cross info and images plus bio of claimant; some fold separations, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

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Lot 1704    

[Through the Lines] J.B. Dutton., straightline handstamp and manuscript "25" private carriage rating on buff cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, s.e. at bottom and pulled perf., tied by "Moorestown N.J. Jan 12" cds to Susan & Mary Walker at Point of Rocks, Md., docketed "Ans Jan. 14th 1864" at left, Extremely Fine and rare.
Scott No. 65    Estimate $400 - 600.

J. B. Dutton was the Postmaster at Point of Rocks having left his home of Waterford Va. at the start of the war. He carried mail across the river, through the lines, to Waterford. The addressees of this cover are likely the daughters of Nathan Walker who lived in Waterford.

Realized: $2,900

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