The NAPEX Sale

Johnson's Island, Ohio, prisoner of war cover from General Frazer bearing 2¢ black (73) tied by target duplexed with "Sandusky O. Mar 23, 1865" double-circle datestamp on orange cover addressed in his hand locally to Mrs. L.S. Frazer, ms. " Ex J.C. " examiner's marking; slightly reduced at left, cover with few repaired tears, stamp with few scuffs, Fine and rare use of the Black Jack on a 2c drop letter from Johnson's Island prison, ex-Malz, Felton ; with 2004 C.S.A. certificate.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

Brig. Gen. John W. Frazer sent this letter to Mrs. Letitia S. Frazer who was in Sandusky, Ohio trying unsuccessfully trying to secure his release/exchange. This cover was the subject of Trish Kaufmann's article "The Confederate Post - Brig. Gen. John Wesley Frazer, POW" in the American Stamp Dealer & Collector (Feb. 2010) p. 46. Frazer was a delegate to the Montgomery convention that organized the Confederacy. In May of 1863, he was made a Brigadier General in command of the Fifth Brigade of the Army of East Tennessee. In September, reinforcements sent to him at Cumberland Gap failed to reach him and, considering the situation hopeless, he surrendered to U.S. Gen. Burnside -the subject of much controversy. There are numerous online references including one to Johnson's Island website citing him as one of a group of escape planners. Transferred to Fort Warren after escape attempt, where he spent the rest of the war.

Point Lookout, Md., buff cover to Richmond Va., endorsed " Via Fort. Monroe & Flag Truce Boat " at left and "R.W. Steger 1st Va. Cav" top left, examiner's large oval " Approved Point Lookout, Md. J. N. Patterson Capt & Provost Marshal " handstamp (CSA Catalog type PWH-16 A), entered U.S. mails with 3¢ rose (65) tied by target duplexed with "Point Lookout Md. Apr. 11 '64" double-circle datestamp, also tied by "Richmond Va. May 9" cds, matching " DUE 2 " drop letter rate handstamp; ink stain on stamp, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Walske .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE PRISONER OF WAR USE TO THE CONFEDERACY PROPERLY RATED "DUE 2" FOR THE 2¢ DROP LETTER RATE.

*Captain R.W. Steger was was named Assistant Quarter Master officer for General J.E.B. Stuart's first cavalry brigade in 1861. He was captured as a POW near Fredericksburg Virginia on October 1st 1863.

• References: Illustrated in Walske and Trepel's Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War on p. 90.

Point Lookout, Md., orange prisoner-of-war cover to Richmond Va. endorsed " Flag of Truce " and from " C.L. Richardson Co. A, 4th N.C. Cavalry ", clear strike of examiner's large oval handstamp " Approved Point Lookout, Md. J. N. Patterson Capt & Provost Marshal " (Ty. 1), bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by target cancel and "Point Lookout Md. Jan. 28" double-circle datestamp, also tied by "Richmond Va. Feb" cds with unclear date, matching " DUE 2 " drop letter rate handstamp; some minor edge tears, Very Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

"Union 600" - Marine Hospital, Charleston S.C., cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) , slight corner crease, tied by cork cancel duplexed with "Fair Haven Vt. Sep 26" cds on 1864 cover to " Capt. J. A. Penfield, Co. H. 5th N.Y. Cavalry, Prisoner of War, Charleston, S.C. ", endorsed "via Hilton Head S.C." at bottom left, docketed "Ansd Nov 7 /65", letter datelined "Fairhaven, Vt., Sept 25, 1864" from his sister, Carrie K. Spencer; some light cover soiling and light toning, Penfield was in Marine Hospital where prisoners were under fire from their own guns. The dates are known from Penfield's published war-time diary, Very Fine and rare "Union 600" use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

A SCARCE PRISONER-OF-WAR COVER TO A UNION OFFICER ON THE CONFEDERATE SIDE OF THE INFAMOUS "600" STALEMATE.

James. A. Penfield was an officer in the 5th New York Cavalry, Company H, holding ranks ranging from 2nd Lieut. to breveted Lt. Colonel. He was wounded in the head by the stroke of a sabre at Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6, 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign; was taken prisoner and variously confined in Libby Prison, Richmond, VA; Danville, VA; Macon, GA (Camp Oglethorpe); Charleston, SC (City Jail/ Marine Hospital/Workhouse); and Columbia, SC (Camp Asylum). He was one of the "UNION 600" in countermeasure to the Confederate "Immortal 600" - both sides held in Charleston under of their own guns -a blot on the war record of both sides. The details are the basis of a feature story in Kelleher's Collector Connection in May-June 2016 for World Stamp Show.

"Union 600" - Roper Hospital, Charleston S.C., cover bearing two uncanceled 3¢ rose (65) singles addressed to Lt. H. a. D. Merritt, Prisoner of War, Roper Hospital, Charleston, S.C . endorsed "per Flag of Truce Boat" at top, docketed " 10$ gold " and return address of "G. R. Merritt, Box 2491, New York" up the left side, original letter datelined "New York Sept 15th, 1864" to "My Dear Hen[ry]" from his brother saying " First we had heard of you since June 12th … glad to hear that you was sent to Charleston. The N.Y. Times had your name announced as one of the prisoners there on Tuesday & your letter reached us next day. I enclose ten gold dollars and sent this under cover to Maj. John F. Anderson as you requested. You mention having written for some things before, not having received the letter I cannot send them. Please write again stating what you want and send a duplicate letter by next conveyance. "; cover horizontal crease, opened three sides, top back flap missing and overall light soiling, Fine and rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,500 - 2,000.

A SCARCE PRISONER-OF-WAR COVER TO A UNION OFFICER ON THE CONFEDERATE SIDE OF THE INFAMOUS "600" STALEMATE.

Maj. Henry A. D. Merritt served in the 5th New York Cavalry, was taken prisoner and confined in some of the rarest Southern prisons. He successfully escaped from Camp Sorghum Prison in Columbia after moved there from Charleston. He was one of the "Union 600" in countermeasure to the Confederate "Immortal 600".

The story begins in June 1864 when the Confederates placed 50 high-ranking Union officer prisoners in Charleston where the Union believed they would be subject to Union artillery fire from Morris Island. The North promptly sent a similar number of Confederate officers to Morris Island to be exposed to Confederate artillery. On August 3, 1864, both sides exchanged these prisoners. Then the Confederates transferred 600 more prisoners to Charleston. On August 20, 1864, the Union retaliated by shipping 600 prisoners from Fort Delaware to Morris Island near Charleston, arriving on September 7. They were held in open barracks as "human shields" under direct shelling from Confederate forces in retaliation for Union prisoners being held in Charleston under shelling from U.S. forces. General Grant vetoed another prisoner exchange, however, the stalemate was broken when the Union prisoners were moved from Charleston because of an outbreak of yellow fever.