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MSC188

Adams Express Cover within the Confederacy with no postal markings addressed to Mrs. Don P. Halsey Care Col  K. Otey, Adams Express, Lynchburg, Va. Notation at the top in the same hand as the address "Col Otey will please deliver immediately as it is important business." The cover is undated but most likely from 1864 by the names on the cover. Very clean cover. The addressee was the wife of  Major Don Peters Halsey (1835-1883) who most likely sent this cover to his wife. Don Peters Halsey entered service as 2nd Lieut of Co G 2nd Va Cav 5/28/1861 and was discharged 4/25/1862 when he failed reelection.  He was recomissioned into the Confederate States General Staff 5/15/1862 and served as a staff officer (AAG) to various CSA generals for the rest of the war. He took part in many battles including Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was wounded at Seven Pines (Va) 6/15/1862 losing the vision in his right eye, wounded again and captured as a POW at Stone Mountain (Ga) 9/14/1862 and exchanged a few weeks later, and captured again as a POW at Waynesboro (Va) 3/2/1865 and confined at Fort Delaware until exchanged. Promoted Captain in 1862 and Major in 1864. After the war, he practiced as a lawyer in Lynchburg. Kirkwood Otey (1829-1897), an 1849 graduate of VMI, entered service as Lieut of Co G 11th Va Inf 4/23/1861. He was promoted through the officer ranks becoming Lieut Col 9/24/1863 and Colonel of the regiment 12/20/1864. He is listed as wounded in the shoulder at Gettysburg 7/3/1863 (Pickett's Charge as the 11th Va Inf was part of Kemper's Brigade in Pickett's Division) and wounded a second time at Drewry's Bluff (Va) 5/16/1864. Very likely he was at home in Lynchburg recovering from his Drewry's Bluff wound at the time of this cover. He commanded the regiment from Gettysburg to the end of the war. Of note is that he underwent a court martial for being drunk on duty 4/15/1863. He apparently beat the charge as there is no further record and he continued in service. After the war, he served as the City Auditor for the City of Lynchburg and also served in the Virginia State Militia.

$225.00

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 --