MS524 CSA #7 Vert Pair affixed sideways (4-Margin) tied by a full strike of the Canton, Mi(ss) CDS 30 OCT (1863). Coarse brown paper cover addressed to Mr. Edward Brown, Sunny Side PO, Cumberland Co., Virg(inia). The orginal letter, written on an unused ledger sheet, remains with the cover which is datelined "San Augustine (Texas) Oct 5th 1863." This is well after the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson giving the Union the complete control of the Mississippi River. This is also before the 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Mail was put into service in late October 1863. The cover was privately carried covertly across the Mississippi River from Texas to Canton, Miss where it was put into the CSA postal system for ultimate delivery to Virginia. The opening of the letter makes that clear "About getting letters across the Mississippi. I have deferred writing until I could send one across by private conveyance." The letter goes on to state "Persons can cross the river at night below the mouth of the Red River." More information in the letter about a land purchase and the recent fight at Sabine Pass (Texas) 9/8/1863 which was a Confederate victory blocking the attempted invasion of Texas. A typed transcript of the letter is included. Cover shows some edge and corner wear with an interior fold reinforced with archival tape and a missing back flap. Cover still has a clean appearance and is ready to exhibit as proven covert mail across the Mississippi River at this time is quite scarce. The letter is very fine.

Samuel Wilson (1811-1886), the sender of the letter, is listed on the 1860 Federal Census as a wealthy farmer is San Augustine, Texas. He was born in Virginia and came to Texas in 1836 and served as a private in the Red River Guards in 1836 during the Texas War for Independence. Edward S. Brown (1818-1908), the addressee, was a prominent planter and lawyer in Cumberland County, Virginia. The two may have been related (possibly through marriage) as there are also some apparent family notes included in the letter.		 $1,250.00
SOLD

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
CSA Third National March 1865 -- Confederate Order Form -- CSA Third National March 1865