January Internet Auction

Brig. General Uriah Galusha Pennypacker, preprinted "Soldier's Letter, 97th Reg't, Pa. Vols." orange envelope endorsed " G. Pennypacker, Major " entering mails with "Port Royal S.C. May 15" cds with "Due" oval and "6" due handstamp to Oak Hill Pa.; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Uriah Galusha Pennypacker (1841/44-1916) was a Union general during the American Civil War. At age 20, he was the youngest person to hold the rank of Brigadier general in the U.S. Army and remains the only general too young to vote for the president who appointed him.vHe was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War.

Office of Supervisory Committee for Recruiting Colored Regiments, Philadelphia, imprint on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) , corner crease, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Jan 22" cds duplex addressed to Elijah Fitch, Hopkinton Mass.; reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine and scarce Recruiting Colored Regiment imprint.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1210 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia was originally the headquarters and recruiting station of The Supervisory Committee for the Enlistment of Colored Troops and later for The Free Military School for Applicants for the Command of Colored Troops. The temporary Union League clubhouse was three doors to the right at 1216 Chestnut Street.

Head-Quarters Great Western Sanitary Fair, Cincinnati, Ohio, text advertising listing officers and committe members on orange buff cover missing stamp mailed from Cincinnati, Ohio to Butternuts N.Y., Fine and scarce sanitary fair.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $50 - 75.

"Berdan's U.S.S.S." (1st U.S. Sharpshooters), imprint with "Official Business" crossed out endorsed " Soldiers Letter, H Berdan, Col. Comd'g. U.S.S.S. " at left addressed to Abraham Paynter, Long Island City, Long Island N.Y., entered mails with " Due 3 " handstamp; repaired opening tears at top left, F.-V.F. and rare Col. Berdan Sharpshooters use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

The 1st United States Sharpshooters were an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During battle, the mission of the sharpshooter was to kill enemy targets of importance (i.e., officers, NCOs, and artillery crews) from long range. The first regiment of volunteers began service in late November 1860. During their service, they fought in every Eastern battle up until autumn of 1864. During their tour, the Sharpshooters were noted for efficient service in the battles of Yorktown, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania and Petersburg. The 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters were consolidated on December 31, 1864.

Hiram C. Berdan was the founder of the Sharpshooters. Berdan was born in the town of Phelps, New York, on September 6, 1824. Not only was Berdan a military officer in the Civil War and creator of the Sharpshooters regiment, he was also an American mechanical engineer and creative inventor. Some of Berdan's inventions included the Berdan rifle (a repeating rifle) and the Berdan center fire primer, a range finder torpedo boat for evading torpedo nets during and after the Civil War.

Head Quarters 2d Regiment, U.S. Sharp Shooters "Washington, D.C.", imprint with ms. endorsement on yellow cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Washington D.C. Feb 25" cds to John G. James, North Weare N.H.; reduced slightly at left, small bottom nick, Very Fine and rare U.S. Sharp Shooters imprint use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Signal Corps, Department of the Tennessee, imprint on cover endorsed "Confidential" addressed to Capt. J.M. McClustrich, Signal Office, Care Gen. Dodge, Athens Ala., red ms. "Capt O.H. Harman" docketed at left; reduced at right; couple small edge tears, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

While serving as a medical officer in Texas in 1856, Albert James Myer proposed that the Army use his visual communications system, called aerial telegraphy (or "wig-wag"). When the Army adopted his system on 21 June 1860, the Signal Corps was born with Myer as the first and only Signal Officer. Wigwag was tested in Civil War combat in June 1861 to direct the fire of a harbor battery at Fort Wool against the Confederate positions opposite Fort Monroe. Myer's vision came true on 3 March 1863, when Congress authorized a regular Signal Corps for the duration of the war. Some 2,900 officers and enlisted men served, although not at any single time, in the Civil War Signal Corps.

Memphis Ten. Jan 25, 186, double-circle cds with matching "Due 3" rating on orange cover endorsed "Sol Letter, B., Col 46 Ills." addressed to Baleyville Ills.; reduced sligthtly at right, F.-V.F. Tennessee Soldier's Letter, ex-Gallagher .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $50 - 75.

"Maj. E.B. Wight" of the 24th Michigan Vols., 1st Army Corps, sender docketing on yellow cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Detroit, Mich. Aug 7" cds duplex with military address to Capt. A.M. Edwards, 24th Mich Vols, 1st Army Corps, Washington D.C. ; reduced at right, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $50 - 75.

Major E.B. Wight of the 24th Michigan Volunteers was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863. The 24th sustained heavy casualties. This letter was written from home while he recovered from his injuries.

United States Military Telegraph, imprint on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by blue "Louisville Ky., May 16 '64" cds target duplex to Canton, Ohio; edge tears, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.