FL240

CSA #1 Horz Pair Stone 2 Positions 14-15 (4-Margin) Pen-Canceled with the matching manuscript postal marking "Welaka Fla Aug 4 (1862)" to the left. The cover is from the Bryant-Stephens Correspondence with Military Address to Capt Winston Stephens, "St Johns Rangers," Camp Hately, Fla. Camp Hately was in Duval County near Jacksonville. The cover is from Capt Stephens' wife, Octavia. "St Johns Rangers" was a forerunner name for Co B 2nd Florida Cavalry. One of only 2 listed covers of this type with a CSA #1 pair and "Welaka Fla" in manuscript with the name of the state in the Briggs Welaka Census. Unknown why  a manuscript "Welaka" was used at this time instead of the postmark. Cover used as an illustration on Page 262 in the Briggs book on Florida Civil War Postal History. Included with the cover is a typed transcipt of the original letter. The original letter is archived and no longer with the cover but unusual to have a transcript of the original letter with this correspondence. The letter simply contains family news. From the transcript, we know that Capt Stephens' wife was known to her husband as "Tivie." Very clean cover and a nice pair of stamps. Winston J. T. Stephens (1829-1864) was commissioned 1st Lieut 10/19/1861 in Co B 2nd Fla Cav and promoted Capt 4/19/1862. He is listed as Killed-in-Action at the Skirmish at Cedar Creek (Jacksonville, Fla) 3/1/1864 not long after the Battle of Olustee 2/20/1864. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Welaka. Octavia L. (Bryant) Stephens (1841-1908) married Winston Stephens in 1859. She apparently did not remarry and is also buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Welaka.

$1,500.00

If you wish to order this cover, send me an E-mail or use my secure Confederate Order Form. Clicking on my Confederate Order Form link below will open the order form in a new window or tab which can be kept open while you browse the remainder of the listings. JLKCSA@aol.com -- Confederate Order Form --