VA3387

CSA #12 (AD) (margin in at the right and the lower right corner) tied by a partial strike of the BLUE Petersburg, Va CDS 15 AUG (1864). "August 3rd" manuscript would be receiving docketing referring to the date of the letter which is no longer with the cover. Adversity cover made from an elaborate printed but unused form for the enlistment of riflemen in the South Carolina Militia. Opened for display. Addressed to Mrs. Julius A. Blake Care of Thomas S. Bee Esqr, Messers Jno Fraser & Co, Charleston, So. Ca. Very clean cover. Julius A. Blake (1830-1903), a Charleston merchant, entered service as Captain of Co I 27th SC Inf 2/7/1862. He was later promoted Major and then Lieut Col of the regiment 10/2/1863. He is listed as wounded 5/7/1864 near Petersburg and was hospitalized for a short time. The regiment was part of the Siege of Petersburg which dates this cover by Col Blake to his wife to 1864. Col Blake was captured as a POW at the Weldon Railroad 8/25/1864 and exchanged 10/31/1864. He was dropped from the rolls 1/27/1865 as General Hagood, his brigade commander, declared him to be an ineffective officer. After the war, he returned to Charleston and continued his business as a merchant. Thomas S. Bee (1837-1896) was a commission merchant in Charleston with no record of military service. He appears to have been associated with John Fraser & Co who were also Charleston commission merchants. The assumption is that Col Blake and the others mentioned on the cover were all in business together and were looking after his family while he was away on service as no documentation could be found that Thomas S. Bee was a relative.

$400.00

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