10c Blue, Die A (11). Horizontal strip of four, small faults along edges, tied by faint circular datestamp which appears to be Dalton Ga. and also by "Meridian Miss." dateless circle terminus handstamp on east-to-west Trans-Mississippi express cover to Mrs. E.P. Holt, Matagorda Tex., soldier's endorsement "From J.F. Holt, Mills Regt, Cleburne's Div, Bragg's Army", and "Via Meridian Miss.", minor soiling

VERY FINE APPEARING EAST-TO-WEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI COVER WITH THE SCARCE DATELESS MERIDIAN TERMINUS HANDSTAMP.

This cover comes from the same correspondence as the iconic captured Union Patriotic from the Morris Everett collection (Sale 754, lot 450), mailed by Lt. Holt after the battle of Chickamauga, and is from the same sender as another Trans-Mississippi captured Union Patriotic (ex Middendorf and Dr. Brandon, Sale 1225, lot 303). This must originate from early 1864 as Gen. Bragg's Army of the Tennessee was in the Dalton area at that time.

"Mills Regiment" refers to the 10th Texas Infantry which was commanded by Col. Roger Q. Mills. The sender of this cover, Lt. John F. Holt, was a member of Company D of the 6th Texas Infantry. The 6th Texas Infantry, known as the "Matagorda Coast Guards," was mustered into service in 1861 and served throughout the entire war. In January 1863 the 6th Texas fought in the battle of Arkansas Post (or Fort Hindman), where a large number of its members were captured, including Lt. Holt (he was exchanged six months later). The 6th Texas was reorganized in July 1863 and transferred to the Army of Tennessee (consolidated into the 10th).

Unlisted in Krieger census as this cover emerged in recent years.

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