The sale of a long term collector's Civil War prison material resulted in the exposure of a number of Provost Marshals handstamps on covers that have not been illustrated in the literature. These markings are very rare. Many markings are known from only two or three examples. The most interesting cover is a second example of the new Horace T. Sanders handstamp described in Confederate Philatelist May-June, 2003. Shown in Figure 1 is a "Via Flag of Truce" with address to Gordonsville, Va. There are no stamps now, but there were two stamps, one that was tied by the partial postmark (Savannah Ga Paid) and one which was under this postmark. The interesting feature of the cover is that the stamp used with the Savannah postmark was imperforate (Confederate), but the stamp to the left had perforations (thus United States. The U.S. stamps were often removed at the Confederate point of exchange, and in this case this is proved by the Savannah postmark falling over where the United States stamp once was applied. The reason for the absence of the Confederate stamp is less clear. It is interesting that the address is to Virginia, so it is possible that this was a reused envelope because a Savannah postmark makes no sense in reference to the flag of truce Provost Marshal usage.

Figure 1 --Type VI octognal Provsot Marshals handstamp for Horace T, Sanders. There is evidence of an examined marking and stamps which have been removed. It is possible that the envelope was used twice, but there should be traces of a Richmond postmark for this usage going south.

The pencil "E" to the left of these appears to be a portion of "Ex." The handstamped Sanders marking is dated October 22, 1864. This second example confirms the first reported example of the marking as genuine.

A second cover in Figure 2 shows the small rectangular Type I handstamp on a cover with "RICHMOND VA. MAY 10" and a "DUE 10" rating mark. There appears to have been a perforated stamp in the upper right corner of the envelope where the "10" handstamp falls. Actually there is nothing on the cover to justify sending it due. It is not marked as a soldiers letter, and it must have been a flag of truce usage from the North. Again the usage is into the Confederacy.

Figure 2 --Type I rectangular marking for Chas. M. Whelden Lt. Col. and Provost Marshall District of Va to Columbus, Ga.

However, it is the third cover (Figure 3) which is most interesting because it consists of a folded letter datelined at Havana. The marking is the Type I March 11, 1864 John Cassels handstamp, but there is no evidence for a U.S. stamp. A Confederate 10c Blue is tied by a Richmond cancel of undetermined date with address to Anderson CH SC.

Figure 3 --Type IV octagonal Mar 11, 1864 handstamp for John Cassels, Capt and Provost Marshall. 10c Blue tied indistinct "RICHMOND VA" to Anderson CH SC. Letter from Havanna, Cuba

The letter is worth transcribing:

Havana 19 Febr. 1864

My dear wife,
The last letter I received from you was dated the 5 Dec., since which time you without doubt have sent another, but I received none. I do hope you received my letters of the 22 Dec. & 12 Jan. Still I hope that your letters are only delayed by some hindrance in conveying the letters by Flag of truce, which may every day be removed. By the papers here I get all the news usually 5 or 6 days later. Ocasionally I even see extracts from the daily "South Carolinian." Also the telegraphic dispatches from Charleston to Richmond are most always given verbally in our Spanish papers. Three days ago I recd a letter from my dear mother and brothers. They are all well. My two eldest brothers have stood a splendid examination and are now Doctors. The elder expects to stay in Germany, the younger will probably emigrate to Valparaiso. How glad I was to receive these news, you can well imagine. As for my health and so forth you need not be uneasy. I never felt better than I do here and my services are on the increase and welI paid. Mother & my brothers send their warmest wishes for your and our childs well being. The health of the city is excellent, I do not know of other patients, except Northerners with their consumptive diseases. Poor piteable creatures! Very few of them come in time to restore their health. My best love and kindest wishes give to your dear parents and our little daughter. God bless her & you my dear, dear wife. May the days of our separation flee with you, as they did with Jacob. Ore et labora. Pray and work! as does Your true husband
Oskar Aichel

This may be the "out of the mails" usage cited in Dietz. There is a manuscript 'Exd" to the left of the address. The contents of the letter appear to support the possiility that this letter was written from Havana, Cuba. This makes it a most unusual item for a letter originating out of the country being sent south as a civilian flag of truce letter.

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