RR81

Stampless Soldiers DUE cover with quite a good strike of the Wartrace N & C RR (Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad) and handstamp DUE (no rate) 31 MAY 1863. Addressed to Mrs J. A. Hill, Albany, Geo. Endorsed at top right "J A Hill Crews Cav Brigade." Minor sealed back flap opening tear, otherwise Very Fine.  Ex-Hannen CSA Railroad Collection. Charles Constantine Crews (1829-1887), an attorney, physician, and railroad executive from Georgia, served in the Georgia State Militia and entered Confederate Service in February as Capt of Co A 2nd Ga Cav. He was quckly promoted and in January 1863 was appointed to brigade command with the rank of Colonel. His brigade consisted of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Ga Cav and the 7th Ala Cav. The brigade was part of CSA Maj-Gen Wheeler's Cavalry Corps and fought with distinction in the Western Theater. Col Crews was wounded in the hip at the Battle of Dover (Tennessee) in February 1863 but recovered and continued in command of his brigade through to the end of the war.  He was wounded a second time near the end of the war. He was recommended for promotion to Big-Gen, but that was never confirmed. He did receive a brevet promotion instead. After the war, he was a pharmacist, a railroad executive, and ended his life practicing medicine in New Mexico, J. A. Hill who endorsed the cover is a mystery. The simple endorsement indicates that he most likely held a position on Col Crews brigade staff. But as deep a search as I could do yielded no results. His name appears on no listing of staff officers nor does he appear on the Federal Census of 1860 in Georgia or on the roster of any of the three Georgia regiments in Col Crews' brigade. Since Col Crews came from the Georgia Militia, J. A. Hill may have also been with the Georgia Miltia which could explain why there is no official record. Also, there is no staff of any kind listed for Col Crews even though he was a brigade commander but did not hold General's rank. There is a Capt James A. Hill listed as a CS Army staff officer, but no details of any kind are available. Hill is a fairly common name. Having only the intials make it very difficult to research.

$750.00

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