Lot
4499 
Confederacy (Virginia Central Railroad) Va. C. R.R., Cobham, 9 Aug, railroad station agent cds on cover to Warren P.O., Va. bearing Confederate States of America, 5¢ blue (7) horizontal pair, four margins, canceled by manuscript; accompanied by excellent soldier's letter that does not belong from same correspondence of Samuel A. Johnson datelined "Camp of the 23d Va Regt, April 29th 1863"; some cover staining and flap torn, Fine, CSA catalog $750. Towle No. 303-S-2 Estimate $300 - 400.
Samuel A. Johnson rose in the ranks of Company D of the 23rd Virginia Infantry (Louisa Grays) from Private to 2nd Lieut. He was captured at Spotsylvania and taken to Fort Delaware Prison. From there he was taken to Morris Island S.C. where he became one of the Immortal 600 kept under the fire of his own guns. He was transferred to Hilton Head, Fort Pulaskia and then back to Hilton Head and Fort Delaware where he took the Oath of Allegiance in June 1865.
War content includes "…I think the Army of Northern Virginia is as near perfection as a volunteer army will be…Heavy cannonading was heard yesterday in the direction of Kellys Fort…we daily expect Hooker (as the boys call him) to pay us a visit & all preparations are made to give him a warm reception…I think if we can whip them two or three times that by this time next year that an armistice will be in existence & after that I think we will have not more fighting…"
Realized: $325