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Sale 94: The Fall Sale

Table of Contents

State Postmarks - Arizona (as Part of New Mexico Territory)

Lot 598    

Fort Buchanan N.M. May 5, complete circa 1860 cds on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire addressed in the hand of Captain Richard S. Ewell (commander 1st Dragoons, U.S. Army, later a general in C.S.A. Army), to his niece Elizabeth in Williamsburg, Virginia, endorsed "Via Washington D.C.", carried by Military Express to Tubac, then by Lathrop's Buckboard Mail to Tucson, and from Tucson to St. Louis by Butterfield Overland Mail, docketing note on back "Relating to child captured from Indians", Very Fine and choice, ex-Birkinbine.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE RARE FORT BUCHANAN, NEW MEXICO CDS ON A COVER FROM CAPTAIN RICHARD "OLD BALDY" EWELL - LATER A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

According to the Siegel Auctions catalogue of the Birkinbine Collection, "The sender of this cover, Captain Richard S. Ewell, arrived in the area of southern Arizona in November 1856 with Major Enoch Steen and the 1st Dragoons. They established Camp Moore in mid-November 1856, which was relocated and renamed Fort Buchanan in mid-1857. This May 1860 cover from Capt. Ewell was carried by military express from Fort Buchanan to the post office at Tubac. It was carried from Tubac to Tucson by S. H. Lathrop, who was under contract to transport mail once a week between the two towns. At Tucson the cover was put on the eastbound Butterfield Overland Mail stage to St. Louis via Fort Smith.

In early 1860 Captain Ewell successfully negotiated the release of eleven-year old Mercedes Sias Quiroz, one of two young women abducted by Pinal Apaches (the other was seriously injured and returned to camp after Mercedes's release). In recognition of his efforts, one of four Arizona territorial counties was named Ewell. In May 1860, around the time this cover was postmarked, he inspected the site where Fort Breckinridge was eventually established to prevent Apache attacks. Before construction of the new fort was completed, Ewell returned east in January 1861 due to recurring malaria infections. The note on back indicates that Ewell's letter contained a report of the recovery of the young hostage.

S. H. Lathrop's Buckboard Contract Mail -- The Overland Mail route passed through Tucson, but not Tubac, which lies approximately 45 miles south on the Camino Real. The Tubac postmaster, D. F. Hulseman, contracted with S. H. Lathrop, treasurer of the Sonora Exploration and Mining Co., to carry mail on weekly buckboard trips between the two towns.".

Realized: $3,750

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