"Via Confederate Goverment Mail, Shrevesport, La." Manuscript route designation and "paid 40 cts" rate on blue folded cover addressed in another hand to "Doug. J. Carter, 19th La. Regt., Gibson's Brigade, Stewarts Division" with "Richmond Va." added as a fifth line in the same hand as Trans-Mississippi routing and rate, crossed out and, in a third hand, redirected to "Army of Tenn.", which routed the cover to Jonesborough Ga., reinforced with document repair tape along top and bottom folds (slight staining)

VERY FINE AND THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH THIS "CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT MAIL" ROUTE DESIGNATION.

Douglas John Carter was enlisted with the 3rd Regiment Texas Cavalry in 1861 and transferred to the 19th Louisiana Infantry in June 1862. Carter served as its Chief Musician until the unit's surrender in May 1865. Carter's residence was in DeSoto Parish La., and this cover probably originated there in August 1864. Historical background is provided in "An Unusual Trans-Mississippi Express Mail Cover" by Brian and Patricia Green, Confederate Philatelist, May-June 1973.

Illustrated in Krieger book (No. W40) and Special Routes (p. 105). Signed Brian Green. Ex Murphy.

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