Lot
888 
Fort Totten, Dak. May 3, cds with matching four-ring target cancel on 3¢ pink (U59) entire to Portsmouth, Ohio; reduced slightly at right, some edge wear, Very Fine and scarce early Dakota Territory fort use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $160
Lot
889
Fort Towson, Ark. Jul 19 (Choctaw Indian Nation), clear cds and manuscript "10" rating on 1847 blue folded letter to Alexandria La.; small edge tear at right, a Very Fine use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
890
"Fort Washita C.N, Jan 26th 1852", manuscript forwarding postmark with dating updated from "Dec 29th 1851" and crossed out, on orange buff cover bearing 3¢ orange brown (10A) cancelled by circular grid cancel and red "New Orleans La., Dec 9" origin cds, manuscript "Via Little Rock" and "Ford -5-" rating at bottom left, endorsed " If Lieut. Lear is not at Ft Washita, The PM will please forward", sent back to New Orleans where green "N.O.U.S. City Post, Feb 10" snowshovel carrier datestamp and matching "Car 2" oval handstamp struck; some erosion and no backflap; 3¢ small tear, Fine and attractive, a remarkable forwarded use. Estimate $400 - 600.
Fort Washita was in Chickasaw Nation and established in 1844 in what is now Bryan County, Oklahoma. It was built to protect the citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations from the Plains Indians. The Fort was later abandoned at the start of the Civil War by Federal troops.
Realized: $800
Lot
891
"Fort Yuma, July 24th 1862", dateline on blue folded letter endorsed "Soldier's Letter C.O.D., Lt Zabriskie Adgt 5th Inf C.V." at left, entered mails with "Los Angeles Cal., Aug 1" cds and manuscript "Due 3" rating to Sacramento City Cal., some excellent content starting off "…I have seen two letters from you written to Ed, they came in by the last Pony as we call it in other words by the Express…", talks of commanding officer resigning and other officer changes as a result, "…The report is current that we will soon move ahead Capt Whitlock with … the 5th and Capt Green with G. of the first have both left within a short time - they are moving Eastward…Should our Army in the East continue to meet with success we may be back before three years have expired nothing would please me better than to hear of Peace but if that cannot be then I want to go on and be in the contest where others more dear to me than life itself are engaged for the good of our Land…There are a few prisoners of war at the post and several political ones who have been sent down from Tucson and that section - I have had some fine sails on the Colorado in a small boat a few days ago… I would like you to have you send us some three cent postage as there is none to be had at this Post…", Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A REMARKABLE CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEER CIVIL WAR SOLDIER'S LETTER FROM FORT YUMA VIA LOS ANGELES.
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Realized: $2,400
Lot
892
Fort Yuma, Arizona Territory, 1866 forwarded cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by fancy "H" in circle cancel duplexed with partial "Hartford Conn., Jun 11" cds to soldier of the 14th Infantry at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, forwarded with "Vancouver, W.T., Jul 14" cds to the Presidio at San Francisco, and forwarded with "San Francisco Cal., Jul 23" cds to Fort Yuma, Arizona, addressee pencil notation "Rec at Pilot knob on the desert the day before we arrived at this place Aug 10th 1866"; some toning and wear; reduced slightly at left, Fine and remarkable 60-day journey in search of soldier. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $350
Lot
893
"Fort Zarah Ks, Nov 25 1865", manuscript postmark ties 3¢ rose (65), corner flaw, on orange cover to Cincinnati, Ohio, docketed "Recd Dec 9"; edge wear, Very Fine and exceptionally rare Fort with only two recorded uses. Estimate $400 - 600.
Fort Zarah was a fort in Barton County, Kansas, northeast of present-day Great Bend, Kansas, that was used from 1864 to 1869. In July 1864, because of frequent attacks from indigenous tribes in the area, Camp Dunlap was established 2 miles east of present-day Great Bend, Kansas, where the Santa Fe Trail crossed Walnut Creek. At first the camp was a series of tents and dugouts on the riverbank close to the Rath Ranch (trading post). However work immediately started on a more permanent facility about 100 yards from the dugouts and renamed Fort Zarah. In 1866 it was replaced by a second Fort Zarah built about 1/2 mile up river. Ft. Zarah was abandoned in 1869. Even though Fort Zarah had a short life, it saw its share of skirmishes with local Native American tribes and colorful characters including George Armstrong Custer, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Mathewson, Buffalo Bill Cody, Kit Carson, and the Kiowa chief Satank aka Sitting Bear.
Realized: $625
Lot
894
Fort Sanders, Wyo. Jul 18, 1881, complete purple cds duplexed with circular grid cancel on 1¢ postal card (UX5) to Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory, Very Fine and rare Wyoming Territory Fort. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $325