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| POW218 | Two covers - Immortal 600 - Lieut George Williamson Finley 56th Va Inf and Lieut James Edward Cobb 5th Tex Inf. First Cover -- North-to-South Through-the-Lines POW Cover - Immortal 600 - Cover originated from Johnson's Island (Ohio) with USA #65 tied by a cork grid cancel paying the Union postage and the Sandusky, O CDS 13 NOV (1863). Addressed to Wm H. Morton Jr Esqr, Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Routing at lower left "Via Fortress Monroe & Flag of Truce Boat." Johnson's Island censor marking "Examined E. O. Mitchell" (Lieut E. O. Mitchell 128 OVI). Endorsed at upper right "G. W. Finley 1st Lt 56 Regt Va Infy." Cover taken to Richmond after transfer with the application of the Richmond, Va CDS Powell Type 6i 27 NOV (1863) and handstamp DUE 10 Type P to assess the CSA postage for delivery to Clarksville, Virginia. Very Fine cover from a soon-to-be Immortal 600 prisoner from his earlier imprisonment at Johnson's Island. Ex- Harrison Collection but not part of his exhibit. George Williamson Finley (1838-1909) had service in various Virginia units beginning in May 1861 before joining Co K 56th Va Inf as a 1st Lieut in April 1863. He was captured as a POW at Gettysburg 7/3/1863 (one of the few survivors who crossed the stone wall near where CSA General Armistead was mortally wounded). He was confined first at Fort Delaware and then transferred to Johnson's Island 7/18/1863. He soon began his odyssey of transfers to various prison locations until ending up in Charleston in late August 1864 as one of the Immortal 600 prisoners placed under CSA fire on Morris Island. He survived returning to Fort Delaware in March 1865. He was released after the Oath of Allegiance May 17, 1865. After the war, he became a Presbyterian Minister. A more detailed biography of Lieut Finley accompanies the cover. *********************************************************************************** Second Cover -- USA #65 tied by a blue target cancel and the blue double ring Baltimore MD CDS 27 APR (1865). Addressed to Lt J. E. Cobb, Prisoner of War, 36 Division, Fort Delaware, Del. This is very likely the inside envelope of a cross border cover to a CSA prisoner in a northern prison. But there are no other markings on this cover with no indication of where in the South the cover may have originated. That is not unusual in late April 1865 after the surrender of the ANV with the war coming to an end. But definite origin in the South cannot be proven. This is a cover addressed to a CSA "Immortal 600" prisoner at the end of the war when the prisoner had been returned to Fort Delaware after being under CSA fire on Morris Island in the Charleston area. Such covers addressed to an Immortal 600 POW at Fort Delware at this time near the end of the wae are incredibly scarce. This cover has not previously been identified as an Immortal 600 cover until it found its way into Galen Harrison's collection. Some apparent adhesive staining, otherwise a very presentable cover. Ex- Galen Harrison Collection but not part of his exhibit. James Edward Cobb (1835-1903), a lawyer by profession practicing law in Texas at the start of the war, entered service as 2nd Lieut Co F 5th Tex Inf in July 1861 and was promoted 1st Lieut in August 1862. The unit was part of the Texas Brigade in the ANV. Lieut Cobb was captured as a POW at Gettysburg 7/2/1863 and confined initially at Fort Delaware and then transferred to Johnson's Island 7/18/1863. In late August 1864, he began his Immortal 600 transfers to various prisons finally ending up in Charleston in August 1864 where the CSA officers were placed under CSA fire on Morris Island. He survived returning to Fort Delaware in March 1865. The history of this odyssey confirms 1865 as the year of this cover. The three times Lieut Cobb was at Fort Delaware were July 1863, June-February 1864, and March 1865 until his release after the Oath of Allegiance May 17, 1865. After the war, he re-located to Tuskegee, Ala, became a judge and was active in politics serving in the US Congress (1887-1897). A more detailed biography of Lieut Cobb accompanies the cover. ********************************************************************************** These two covers are offered as a pair and will only be sold as a pair. The reason is that they belong together because the Immortal 600 history of both Lieut Finley and Lieut Cobb is very much intertwined. Both were captured at Gettysburg, both were transferred initially to Johnson's Island together, and both were transferred together during the entire "Immortal 600" ordeal, and both were released together on the same day May 17, 1865. They were tent-mates during much of their prison life. (Ref: The relationship between Finley and Cobb is detailed in the book on the Immortal 600 by Mauriel Joslyn). |
$2,500.00 Two Covers |
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