| LA413 |
CSA #7 Horz Pair (pen-canceled) (left stamp cut into at the left) with the Mansfield, La CDS at the left lower corner 16 MAY (1863). The cover is a USA 3c Red Star Die without patent lines used as an Adversity Cover as the Star Die pays no postage. Addressed to Miss Molley Freeman, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas. Military endorsement "Stones Regt Partisan Rangers Company C".
Period receiving docketing on the reverse dates the cover to 1863. With
the cover is a lengthy two page soldier's camp letter. Good camp letter
from a relatively obscure Texas Partisan Ranger unit. The cover is
reduced a bit at the left involving the left stamp but still has a
clean appearance.
The writer of the letter is identified as D.
A. Freeman writing to his cousin. According to the endorsement, he was
a member of Co C of Stones Texas Partisan Rangers. He was enlisted as
the spelling is somewhat creative and he keeps mentioning the boys in
his company. The unit was officially known as the 2nd Tex Cav Partisan Rangers organized
in late 1862 and early 1863 in Dallas County, Texas, and commanded by
Col B. Warren Stone. Personel records of this unit are incomplete. No
information found on the letter writer. The unit fought in engagements
in Louisiana in 1863 and 1864 including the Red River Campaign before
returning to Texas. In the letter, the writer talks about resting in
camp while on the way to Alexandria. The writer further states that
they are expecting a "heavy fight" as the feds have 35-40 thousand
infantry and 1 thousand cavalry. Seems to be a bit exagerated as all
the activity in the Western Theater at that time was in Mississippi
with the Battle of Champion's Hill which initiated the Siege of
Vicksburg occuring on the day the letter was posted (16 MAY 1863). The
first action the unit saw was the Second Battle of Donaldsonville (La)
6/28/1863 which was quite small as battles go. There is much more in
the letter which would certainly benefit from a transcript. |
$250.00 |
JLKCSA@aol.com
-- Confederate Order
Form --