TX411

CSA #12 (AD) (margin just in at the bottom) tied by a very weak indecipherable postmark. Small but complete Adversity Cover made from used blue line notebook paper which had been used to write a previous letter. The previous letter from which the cover was constructed can be seen both inside and outside. Addressed to Mr. J. E. Wallis, Chappell Hill, Texas. The original two page letter remains with the cover datelined "Fort Bankhead Sunday Dec 25th 1864" (Christmas Day). Very clean cover with some period arithmetic on the back. Excellent letter which would benefit from a transcript. Fort Bankhead was constructed at the beginning of the war as part of the defenses of Galveston. This would indicate that the cover originated from the Galveston area, but the remnants of the postmark appear to be more consistent with Houston rather than Galveston. The letter is qute interesting and talks about celebrating Christmas as well as the current conditions at Galveston. The letter is signed by Henry A. Landes Co B 20th Tex Inf. The 20th Tex Inf (Elmore's Regiment) essentially spent the war guarding the Texas coast at Galveston. Henry A. Landes (1844-1919) entered service as a 17 year old private in Co B 20th Tex Inf in 1861 and served throughout the war rising to the rank of Orderly Sergeant. The only action that he saw was the Battle of Galveston 1/1/1863. The addressee, Joseph Edmund Wallis (1835-1902) was Pvt Landes' brother-in-law, and they served together in the same Company. John Crockett Wallis (1829-1872) was the Captain of Company B. After the war, Landes and the Wallis brothers formed a very successful wholesale grocery company, Wallis, Landes & Company, in Galveston which operated until 1902 when the company was dissolved. Landes was also active in Galveston city government serving as mayor beginning in 1905. Excerps from the Letter -- It would take Barrels to hold the Whiskey that has been swallowed down on Galveston Island during the past two days...Co B paid the Yanks another Call on lst Monday...We went out the farthest vessels and had a good look at home. The sea was very ruff otherwise we would have had an opportunity of goin abourd of the Yanks vessels and getting apples, oranges, and newspapers, etc. Steamer Termigant ean into this port Thursday night. She reports that the Triton was lost at sea, on her outward trip from Galveston all on board are suppoe to be lost...J. R. Crockett (another soldier in Co B and a relative) leaves us tomorrow he has been detailed --- Soldiers Express Line, and will run on the Allytown Road...

$500.00

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 -- Confederate Order Form --