Lot
3091 
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover with original enclosure datelined "Belle Island, Va. Nov. 18th '63", cover addressed to Harrisville, Wisc., franked with 1861, 3¢ rose rose (65, trivial flaw) with segmented cork cancel and postmarked "Old Point Comfort Va. Nov 26" double circle alongside, Very Fine, Illustrated on page 84, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A POIGNANT ITEM FROM THIS VERY RARE CONFEDERATE PRISON.
Cover & letter sent by Cpl. Charles W. Fuller, 7th Wisconsin Cav., letter reads, "Dear Mother, I write these few lines to inform you that I am a prisoner and that my health is good. I am on Belle Island near Richmond. I hope you will not be curious about me. I expect we shall be paroled before long. I hope these few lines will find you well, as they have me. Write soon except my love, from your son Charles. P.S. Direct to C.W. Fuller, Co. E 7th Reg. W.V., Prisoner of War, Belle Island via Richmond, Va. Please send envelope and half sheet of paper."
Cpl. Charles W. Fuller, died at Andersonville Prison. Enclosed with the cover was a small scrap paper most probably written by his mother and preserved with his last letter home, "The past is the past is gone from us forever / Regrets and tears we find a like our vain / what fate decrees no mortal power can serve / the treasure lost can neer be ours again."
Belle Isle, a prison for enlisted men was established on this fifty-acre island located in the middle of the James River. The island was accessed by the old Richmond and Petersburg Railroad bridge from the Manchester side. Prisoners referred to the bridge as the "Bridge of Sighs". The prison was a six-acre enclosure surrounded by a four-foot high mound of dirt with a ditch on each side. The prison camp was situated on the lowest portion of the island. Cannon were placed on the high ground so as to overlook the enclosure. Tents were the only shelter, and at times as many as 10,000 were confined here.
Lot
3092
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover from "John F. Harding, 16th Maine Inf." who was imprisoned at Belle Isle, addressed to his father in Dover, N.H., manuscript "(Via Flag of Truce)" notation, postmarked "Old Point Comfort, Va. Nov 27" double circle with "Due 6" in circle (penalty rate as prisoner didn't notate his name and rank), Very Fine, a rare Southern prison.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
3093
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover addressed to "Andrew Black, Private 68 Regt. Pa. Vols, Prisoner of War at Belle Island, Richmond Va", franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, defective), tied by old style "Old Point Comfort, Va. Oct 26" (1863) cds, manuscript endorsement "Flag truce via F. Monroe" across the top, Very Fine a rare incoming usage, Illustrated on page 84, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Mail to prisoners in Richmond was frequently carried by the War Department rather than the Postal Department, making Confederate postage unnecessary.
Lot
3094
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover addressed to "Sergeant C.F. Barnard, Co. I, 20th Mass. Vols. Prisoner of War, Richmond, Va." who was held at Belle Island, cover without any postal markings, with original letter from Col. Palfrey, former Colonel of the Regiment, notation for draft of £8 1sh 10d to be used by him to "promote the comfort of yourself and companions", some light corner wear, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
3095
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover from Pvt. Charles Steiger, 5th Pa. Cav. to his mother in Philadelphia, struck only with Due 6 in circle handstamp with manuscript "Soldier Letter" diagonally at lower left, interesting German notation on backflap "For this letter was paid 6 cents-arrived 13 July", Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
Pvt. Steiger was captured on June 29, 1864 and imprisoned at Belle Isle, near Richmond, Va.
Lot
3096
Confederacy, Belle Isle Prison, Richmond, Va., cover from Sgt. Charles Harrison, 54th Pa Inf. to his father in Philadelphia, franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, corner crease) tied by segmented cork cancel with "Old Point Comfort, Va Feb 6" double circle postmark alongside, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
Sgt. Harrison was captured at Cedar Creek and imprisoned at Belle Isle, near Richmond, Va.
Lot
3097
Confederacy, Building No. 4, Danville, Va., adversity cover made from printed Baptist Minister Monthly pamphlet cover, folded into envelope and addressed to Colerain Forge, Penn., franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, defective) tied by segmented cork and "Old Point Comfort Va. Feb 28" (1864) double circle postmark, pencil "Ex" censor's marking at left, cover soiled with edges splits heavily hinge re-enforced on inside, Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A VERY RARE PRISONER OF WAR COVER WITH ONLY THREE COVERS RECORDED AND IS ENHANCED BY THIS ADVERSITY USAGE.
Sent by Pvt. William Barry, Co. C, 77th Pa. Inf. who was imprisoned at Danville, Va. Building #4.
Lot
3098
Confederacy, Building No. 4, Danville, Va., "Button Letter", actually two different letters written on small piece of scrap paper, folded and smuggled out of the prison inside a brass button, carefully folded so as to fit into button, letter written by Lt. Col. S.A. Moffett, 94th N.Y. Vols., obviously without postal markings, one to Col. A.R. Root, Commanding Post of Annapolis, other to his parents, Illustrated on page 73, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONLY 3 "BUTTON LETTERS" ARE KNOWN TO EXIST - AN EXTREMELY DESIRABLE PIECE OF HISTORY.
Transcriptions of letters included on Exhibition page. Also included is 1903 original transmittal cover sending the "Button Letter" to family in Ridgeland, Miss. and with notation "Father's Prison Letter".
Mail was smuggled into and out of prison by a variety of methods. One ingenious method was the "Button Letter". Union uniform buttons were of two piece metal construction. On occasion when an officer was being exchanged, a uniform button or buttons would be taken apart and a note written on a tiny scrap of paper which was then inserted into the button thus avoiding censorship.
Lot
3099
Confederacy, Building No. 5, Danville, Va., neat little folded letter to Tuscurawa, Ohio from prisoner Pvt Joseph Wood, 15th Ohio Inf., franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, defective) tied by segmented cork and "Old Point Comfort, Va. Mar. 9" double circle postmark, faint manuscript "Ex" censor's marking at upper left, letter datelined "Prison No. 5 Danville Va February 28th 64", some interesting content, fold separations strengthened with clear tape (most probably archival), Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A VERY RARE PRISONER OF WAR COVER WHICH IS ONE OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED.
Lot
3100
Confederacy, Building No. 6, Danville, Va., cover from Cpl. Orlando R. Chamberlin, a prisoner in Danville's Building #6 to family members at home in Pikeville, N.Y., pencil endorsed "O.R. Chamberlin, Prisoner of War" vertically at right on cover, franked with Confederate States of America uncancelled 1863-64 10¢ blue United States + United States 1861, 3¢ rose (65) tied by segmented cork & "Old Point Comfort, Va." double circle, bold manuscript "Exd" CSA censor's marking, small bit of toned scotch at top, included is photocopy of original letter datelined "Danville Prison No. 6, Dec. the 3rd", Very Fine, Illustrated on page 76, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A TOP RARITIES AS ONLY TWO COVERS ARE RECORDED FROM THIS PRISON.
The prison in Danville consisted of six tobacco warehouses plus a hospital. All were located in the center of town and as usual were most unpopular with local inhabitants. The Danville prisons were used from November 1863 through the end of the war.
Building #6 was a four-story brick tobacco factory at the southeast comer of Lynn and Loyal Streets. The first prisoners to occupy this building were those that had been moved from Building #2 so that building could be used to house the guards. Several prisoners from #6 took a parole to go out to work on fortifications. A number of these made an escape in this manner. Most were recaptured, while some few were able to make their way to Union lines.
Cpl. Chamberlin had been captured at the Mine explosion at Petersburg and was confined at Danville until February 20, 1865.