POW223

Three covers from the same correspondence. Two are POW covers into the Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, Penitentiary. The covers are from Kentucky and are not through-the-lines. -- 3c Pink 1861 Postal Stationery -- The covers show faults and much edge wear but are still quite presentable and are certainly historically significant. Ex-Galen Harrison Collection. First Cover - Stanford KY CDS 1 OCT (1863) - POW Cover addressed to Adjt J. W. Alcorn, Prisoner of War, Allegheny, Pa., Care Capt Birmingham State Prison. Second Cover - Somerset KY CDS 16 DEC (1863) - POW Cover addressed to Adjt James W. Alcorn, Prisoner of War, Allegheny, Pa.,  Care Capt Birmingham State Prison. Third Cover - Somerset KY CDS 28 JUL addressed to Mr. James W. Alcorn, Stanford, Kentucky. Most likely post-war in 1865. Two covers are addressed to a POW in the obscure Union prison Allegheny City, Pa., Penitentiary. This prison, according to Galen Harrison's book, was used August 1863 to March 1864 to house prisoners captured from CSA General John Hunt Morgan's raid into Ohio in 1863. No more than 112 POWs were held at this prison during that time. These prisoners were treated as felons and not as regular POWs. In March 1864, the remaining prisoners were transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland. Galen Harrison recorded 22 covers from this prison in his book all from the same correspondence - Lieut Van J. Sellers of the 2nd KY Cav (CSA). These two covers here presented are from a different correspondence and only came to light after his book was published. The 22 recorded covers were all from the prison. These two covers are the only two covers now known going into the prison. Allegheny City, Pa., no longer exists as it has since been incorporated into the City of Pittsburgh. James Walker Alcorn (1838-1914), a lawyer by profession, entered service as a 1st Lieut and the Adjutant of the 6th KY Cav (CSA) 11/2/1862. In 1863, the regiment was part of Morgan's command. Lieut Alcorn was captured as a POW at Cheshire, Ohio 7/20/1863 (Morgan's raid into Ohio). His release date is not recorded. After the war, he returned to his home in Stanford KY where he practiced law and later became a judge. No information on Capt Birmingham who was very possibly the Union officer in charge of the military prison guard.

$500.00 Three Covers SOLD

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