5c Light Blue, De La Rue (6). Tied by Wilmington N.C. circular datestamp on cover addressed to Dr. Leroy Chappell in Kinston N.C., manuscript "Ft. Fisher N.C. W Lamb Col." at top and censored "Exd HS" at top, some slight gum toning along edges of stamp, Very Fine, this was described in the sale of the Galen Harrison collection as a prisoner-of-war cover from James Chappell (23rd N.C. Infantry) at DeCamp Hospital New York, sent to Kinston as a blockade-run cover, the POW designation is possible but we do not believe this was a blockade-run cover, offered on its own merits

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5c Blue, Local (7). Margins all around, small fault top right corner, tied by "Richmond Va. Dec. 4" circular datestamp on unsealed envelope with blue lining, addressed locally to a sergeant in Perry's Brigade, Anderson's Division, A.P. Hill's Corps, manuscript "Flag of Truce", top with pencil "Miss Annie Gaines. Dear Miss. No excuse or apology can I offer for my boldness in addressing you especially on such a subject.", Very Fine flag-of-truce use, possibly carried by a civilian passing through Union lines, illustrated in the Monroe book (p. 93)

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10c Blue, Die A (11). Large margins, tied by "Richmond, Va., Sep. 16" circular datestamp on turned cover front with one flap to military address for Polk's Brigade, Army of Tennessee, manuscript "Per flag of Truce" endorsement at top left, other side franked with U.S. 3c Rose (65) tied by segmented cork with "Old Point Comfort, Va., Oct. 20" double-circle datestamp and also manuscript "Per Flag of Truce" endorsement, addressed to Murfreesboro, Tenn., Very Fine and unusual turned use with both sides indicating flag of truce

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10c Blue, Die B (12). Tied by "Griffin Ga Jul. 23" circular datestamp on blue cover addressed to Sergeant T.J. Smith, "Care Capt. Wirz Andersonville Ga.", manuscript notation at top appears to be "Done", stamp with some gum toning and cover with tear at right and missing backflap, otherwise Fine, Henry Wirz was the commandant at the notorious Andersonville prison and was the only Confederate officer executed for his actions during the Civil War

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Columbia S.C. Prison. Prisoner cover endorsed "From Lt. Col. A. H. Sanders, Prisoner of War, Columbia, S.C." and "By flag of truce", franked with uncancelled 10c Blue, Die B (12), full margins to in at right with small nick, addressed to his brother Alfred Sanders in Davenport Iowa, no indication of U.S. postage or postmarks, some slight toning, still Very Fine, Lt. Col. (later General) Addison H. Sanders served with the 16th Iowa Volunteers, he was wounded and captured on July 22, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign and taken to prisons in Macon Ga., Charleston and Columbia S.C. before being exchanged, after the war he became Secretary of the Montana Territory, signed Brian Green

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Libby Prison, Richmond Va., Covers from the Capt. Leonard B. Blinn Correspondence. 26 covers sent by Captain Blinn of the 100th Ohio Infantry to his wife in Ohio, most originate as a prisoner-of-war from Libby Prison in Richmond Va. from Sep. 1863, a few in late 1864 are from prison in Charleston S.C. after Blinn was transferred, most with Old Point Comfort Va. double-circle datestamps and due handstamps, all but five are accompanied by a photocopy of the original letter, with lots of good war content, typical faults to be expected but the vast majority are Very Fine and collectible condition, only about five are defective

A FASCINATING GROUP OF COVERS FROM A UNION PRISONER AT LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND VA.

Leonard Blinn was a captain in the 100th Ohio Infantry when he was captured at Telford Station in September, 1863. He was sent to Libby Prison and the covers to his wife offered here begin the same month. In May 1864 he was transferred to Macon and then to Charleston and Columbia S.C. During his captivity he escaped three times, being recaptured twice and finally making it to Union lines after the third escape. This lot includes a photocopy of a letter written by Blinn in 1922 at age 82, two years before his death, describing his capture and captivity and stating that his first two escapes resulted in his being "recaptured by the dogs and men". After his successful third escape, Blinn made it to Washington D.C. and witnessed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater.

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Libby Prison, Richmond Va. Cover endorsed "Soldier's Letter C.W. Tilden Col. 16th Me Vols" at top of 1864 inner cover from Libby Prison Va. to military address in Washington D.C., outer cover with Confederate postage discarded at exchange point, entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. Jan. 21" double-circle datestamp and "Due 3" handstamp, answer docketing at left, missing backflap, Very Fine, Col. Tilden's leadership of the 16th Maine at the Battle of Gettysburg, in an impossible tactical situation, is not as well known as that of his his fellow Maine Col. Joshua Chamberlain and his 20th Maine, but it is just as gallant and dramatic, Tilden was captured during the battle and sent to Libby Prison, from which he escaped in 1864, only to be re-recaptured and escape again before the war's end, see https://maineroadstogettysburg.com/tag/charles-tilden/

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Libby Prison, Richmond Va. Cover endorsed at top "Per Flag of Truce" and addressed to an individual at Libby Prison, with "Care Major Turner, Comdg. Libby Prison", fresh and Very Fine, Major Thomas P. Turner was commandant at Libby and fled to Cuba after the war

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Libby Prison, Richmond Va. Cover addressed to Brig. Gen. W. W. Averell, Department West Virginia at Martinsburg, manuscript "By flag of truce Boat from Prisoner of War Libby Prison Richmond Va.", "Old Point Comfort Va. Apr 19" double-circle datestamp and twice struck "Due 3" handstamp, unsealed flap, probably originally sent in an outer envelope which was discarded at the exchange point, fresh and Very Fine Libby Prison cover, ex Felton

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Richland Jail, Columbia S.C. Manuscript officer's endorsement "From Col. M. Corcoran prisoner of War Columbia S.C." on mixed-franking U.S. 3c Pink on White entire (U34) addressed to New York, 5c Green, Stone 1-2 (1) tied by faint strike of blue circular datestamp which also cancels the indicia, faults including soiling, small tear at top right, slightly reduced at top, 5c stamp light crease, Fine appearance and of great historical interest, Col. (later General) Corcoran was a celebrated Irish American Union officer and confidant of President Lincoln who was captured at 1st Bull Run, he was one of the Union prisoners selected for execution in the "Enchantress Affair" before he was eventually exchanged, he died in 1863 when his horse fell on him, his name figured prominently in many Irish Union ballads, accompanied by two illustrated unused Union Patriotic covers depicting Corcoran, one as part of the "Sons of Erin" with Cols. Mulligan and Meacher, ex Dr. Brandon

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Camp Chase, Columbus O. "New-York Jun. 6" (1862) circular datestamp and target duplex cancel 3c + 1c Red & Blue on White Star Die entire (U28), addressed to "General Alfred Beckley of Virginia -- Prisoner of War at Camp Chase Columbus Ohio", small sealed tear at top and light file fold

VERY FINE. A RARE PRISONER-OF-WAR USE OF THE 3-CENT + ONE-CENT STAR DIE ENTIRE, ADDRESED TO CONFEDERATE GENERAL ALFRED BECKLEY, IMPRISONED AT CAMP CHASE.

General Alfred Beckley was a West Point graduate and according to Wikipedia, in 1862 he returned to Union-occupied West Virginia, where he surrendered to the Union officer in charge, Rutherford B. Hayes (future president), on March 16, 1862. He was then arrested by the Union army on April 3, 1862, and sent first to the Athenaeum prison camp near Wheeling, West Virginia, and then to Camp Chase. He claimed that he was really pro-Union, but had simply been loyal to Virginia, and had severed all ties with the Confederacy. He was released on June 18, 1862.

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Point Lookout, Md. Buff cover from a prisoner-of-war in Crenshaw's Va. Battery to Richmond Va., “Prisoner’s Letter Examined” octagonal censor’s handstamp (Ty. IIa), 3c Rose (65) tied by target, “Point Lookout Md. Sep. ?, 1864" double-circle datestamp, “Richmond Va. Oct. 9” circular datestamp and “10” due handstamp for C.S.A. postage, endorsed "Via Fortress Monroe & flag truce boat", some edge faults including eroded corner at top left, still Very Fine and attractive

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Northern Prisons Group. Four covers from Union prisons, including Camp Douglas, Johnson's Island and Camp Chase (two), each franked with No. 65 and with appropriate censor handstamps or markings, what is most interesting about this group is that each cover is accompanied by a multi-page detailed history of the prisoner, battles where captured and other research, in a voluminous group of typed pages, a few minor and typical stamp or cover flaws, Fine and most interesting with all the background and research

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10c Blue, Die A (11). Tied by "Shreveport La. May 9, 1865" double-circle datestamp (one month after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House), addressed to "John Gum, Co. D, Chisms Regiment, Forneys Division" (Texas Partisan Rangers), endorsed at left "Soldiers letter from, T.E. Peyton Co D, 16 Regiment 2 Brigade, Parsons Division, M C V" (Missouri Confederate Volunteers), soiling and overall wear, some edge repairs and reinforced tears, Fine appearance and rare use from a member of the Missouri Confederate Volunteers, Missouri never actually became a Confederate state

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