| TN420 |
CSA #56x2 5c Red Memphis Provisional (4-Margin which is most unusual for this stamp) tied by the Memphis, Ten
CDS partially struck off the cover (date not apparent). Addressed to
Miss Sallie Mitchell, Macon, Tenn. Military endorsement at top left "From (?) Mitchell, Lieut in QM Department, Genl G. J. Pillow's Brigade." (The first name of Lieut Mitchell in the endorsement is not clear.)
A military endorsement with a Memphis Provisional stamp is not commonly
seen. Professionally cleaned and minor edge improvements to a Very Fine
appearance reduced a bit at the left where opened not affectig
anything. Ex-Gallagher.
Unable
to identify Lieut Mitchell in the
endorsement as he is not on the official list of Gen Pillow's
staff officers. Lieut Mitchell may have held Tennessee state rank
instead. Gideon Johnson Pillow (1806-1878), a lawyer by profession with
high connections with the USA government, was appointed a pre-war USA
Maj-Gen of Volunteers but ran afoul of Gen Winfield Scott and was
suspended. When Tennessee seceded, he went with his native state and
received an appointment as Maj-Gen of Tennessee volunteers and an
appointment as Brig-Gen in the PACS in July 1861. In February 1862, he
was second in command at Fort Donelson to Gen Floyd who turned the
command over to Pillow. Pillow then turned the command over to Gen
Buckner, and both Floyd and Pillow escaped from Fort Donelson prior to
the surrender. He was not a very good general and was subsequently
relieved of duty and held no further important command for the rest of
the war. He holds the distinction of being the only general to have
been suspended from duty in both the USA and CSA armies. He instead
worked in the Volunteer and Conscript
Bureau and took over as the Commissary General of Prisoners in
1865 on the death of Gen Winder. After the war, he practiced law in
Memphis. |
$1,500.00 |
JLKCSA@aol.com
-- Confederate Order
Form --