Lot
3101 
Confederacy, Camp Asylum, Columbia S.C., legal size printed "Official Business" envelope with imprint "Headquarters Department of the South", franked by "W.L.M. Burger" Asst Adj. Gen., manuscript examined markings at top and right side of cover addressed to "Capt. C.H. Call, 29th Ill. Infty, Prisoner of War, Columbia" who was a prisoner at Camp Asylum, no postal markings as Official Business franking, minor edge soiling and small chips around edges, Fine, one of only 8 recorded.Estimate $200 - 300.
Camp Asylum was situated on the grounds of the former State Lunatic Asylum, near the Charlotte Railroad Depot. Surrounded by a high brick wall, it offered much better security than Camp Sorghum. General John H. Winder, the Commissary General of Prisoners, personally appealed to the Governor of South Carolina to repurpose the asylum grounds, citing the dire conditions at Camp Sorghum. Lt. John W. Austin, a prisoner there, noted in his diary that at least 500 officers had already escaped, with more fleeing each night.
Realized: $250
Lot
3102
Confederacy, Camp Lewis, City Point, Va., prisoner of war cover from Camp Lewis to Albion, N.Y., manuscript endorsement "By Flag of Truce from City Point Prisoners Letter" across top, franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65) tied by bold large segmented cork cancel with "Old Point Comfort, Va. Mar 16" double circle postmark at right, Very Fine and choice.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A STUNNING PRISONER OF WAR COVER - ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES.
Realized: $575
Lot
3103
Confederacy, Camp Lewis, City Point, Va., prisoner of war cover from Camp Lewis to Albion, N.Y., manuscript endorsement "By Flag of Truce from City-Point Va." across top, franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, couple trivial perf flaws)) tied by target cancel with "Old Point Comfort, Va. Nov 4" double circle postmark alongside, manuscript "Approved J.M. Higgins" (CSA censor), Very Fine and choice.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A LOVELY AND RARE PRISONER OF WAR PRISON COVER WITH ONLY FOUR PIECES RECORDED.
City Point, situated on the James River, quickly took over from Aiken's Landing as an important exchange site. Officially named Camp Lewis, the prison comprised three large barracks, each enclosed by a tall wooden fence. Security was tight, with guards on constant patrol and sentries positioned to oversee the entire area. Inmates referred to Camp Lewis as the "Bull Pen." The sanitary conditions were inadequate, and prisoners claimed that spending a month there was worse than six months at Libby Prison. While it mainly served as a temporary stop for those awaiting parole or exchange, some provost marshal prisoners were held there for extended periods.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
3104
Confederacy, "Camp Manchester (Dec.) 31 64", Richmond, Va., dateline on letter written by CSA Pvt, Bosserman with cover franked with CSA 10¢ dark blue (11) tied by Army field cancel (grid) on homemade cover sent to family at Moffetts Creak Va., cover with some water staining, Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
AN OUTSTANDING PRISONER OF WAR ITEM DETAILING THE MISERY WHICH PRISONERS EXPERIENCED DAILY. THE PRISONERS WERE BEING TRANSPORTED TO BELLE ISLE, ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER IN RICHMOND.
Letter with contents which include "We have a right hard time of it down here guarding the Yankee's, it is the (hardest) thing I ever did in my life to take a parcel of men half starved through a crowded city to please the eye or satisfy the appetites offered for sale and not allow them to buy one thing. We took back two thousand through the city the other day and some of them just begged me to let them buy something to eat but the officer in command told us if we let them buy anything they would put us in Castle Thunder and Court Martial us." .
Realized: $1,050
Lot
3105
Confederacy, Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, Ga., prisoner of war with light pencil "Prisoner Letter A.P. Day" (15th Conn. Vols.) to his brother in New Haven, Conn., pencil endorsed "via Flag of Truce" at bottom left, postmarked "Old Point Comfort, Va. Jul 18" double circle with "Due 6" in circle, manuscript "Examined C.H.B." (unknown CSA Censor), reverse of cover with notation "50 Letters Examined to be sent to United States", Very Fine, Illustrated on page 29, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $500 - 750.
A UNIQUE ITEM SHOWING THAT IN RARE OCCASIONS PRISONER OF WAR COVERS WERE HANDLED IN BATCHES.
Realized: $375
Lot
3106
Confederacy, Camp Sorghum, Columbia, S.C., prisoner of war cover from Maj. C.K. Fleming (See Lot 3107) interned at Camp Sorghum to New York City, franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose (65, faulty) tied by circle of wedges with "Washington, D.C. Dec. 18, '64" double circle postmark alongside, included is original enclosure datelined "C.S. Military Prison Camp, Near Columbia, S.C., Dec. 9/64", letter is a poignant love letter with a proposal of marriage, "I hope My own dear Mary that you will consent to our being married when I return. I hope you will say yes", flap missing & couple small cover tears at top, Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $260
Lot
3107
Confederacy, Camp Sorghum, Columbia, S.C., pencil Confederate examiner's marking "Exd J. C. Martin, Capt. Comd." and "Maj. C.K. Fleming, Prisoner of War, Columbia S.C." endorsement on buff cover to New York City, handstamped illustrated Vermont & Boston Telegraph Company corner card, franked with U.S. 1861 3¢ rose (65, trimmed perfs) tied by circle of wedges with "Old Point Comfort, Va. Jan. 17" double circle date postmark alongside, Confederate stamp cut out and removed but part of tying blue "Columbia S.C." cds remains (unused 10¢ added for aesthetic purpose), included is prisoner's original letter datelined "C.S. Military Prison Near Columbia S.C. Nov. 19th 1864", lovely Very Fine appearance, Rare use of elaborate corner card used from CSA prison, only 20 known covers.Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $500
Lot
3108
Confederacy, Camp Sorghum, Columbia, S.C., two incoming covers to prisoners in Charleston, both were later transferred to Camp Sorghum, Columbia, S.C. due to the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Charleston, first is 3¢ entire to "Capt. Saml. H. Pilsbury 5th Maine Vols Prisoner of War Charleston S.C.", endorsed at upper left "Care Genl Foster Port Royal S.C.", postmarked light "Lewiston, Me Oct 20 1864" double circle postmark, 2nd cover is franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose (65) tied by grid on cover to (barely legible) "Capt. D.W. Mullin 101st Pa Inf. Prisoner of War, Charleston, S.C.", additional "Via Hilton Head" at lower right, postmarked "Poland, O. Nov 1" cds, both covers with Confederate manuscript censor, "Exd HHR" (Capt. Hugh Hamilton Rogers, Provost Marshal's Office in Charleston), some light wear, F.-V.F.Estimate $400 - 600.
Unlike many Southern prisons, Camp Sorghum was not enclosed by a stockade. The move was so abrupt that there was no time to prepare the camp properly. Lacking a fence and guarded by a force of young boys and older men, security was insufficient, allowing hundreds of prisoners to escape.
On October 7th, approximately 1,200 prisoners were marched two miles along Augusta Road, across the Saluda River, to their new camp. The outbreak of yellow fever in Charleston achieved what Union General Foster had attempted but failed to do by placing 600 hostages on Morris Island: it led to the removal of Federal prisoners from the city.
Realized: $725
Lot
3109
Confederacy, Castle Thunder, Richmond, Va., folded letter datelined "Room No. 10 Castle Thunder, Richmond March 4th 1864" to Washington, D.C., postmarked "Old Point Comfort, Va. Mar 4" double circle with "Due 6" handstamp in circle, Very Fine.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A VERY RARE USAGE FROM CASTLE THUNDER WITH ONLY 11 COVERS RECORDED FROM THIS CAMP, ESPECIALLY CONTAINING THE FULL LETTER.
Letter from Thaddeus A. Jones, a northern sympathizer, to his wife sending a long list of needs, including clothing, writing materials and soap. Directing her to send them "plainly to Room No. 10." Also included is an 1867 letter of recommendation for Thaddeus Jones from the Late President of the White Sulphur Springs Co. giving high praise and includes, "He was arrested during the war while attempting to remove to the North & was imprisoned a long time."
Castle Thunder opened in August 1862. Generally thought of as one building, Castle Thunder was actually a three-building complex. Greaner's Tobacco Warehouse and attached to either side were Palmer's Factory and Whitlock's Warehouse.
Captain George W. Alexander was in charge. When the war ended in 1865, there was public outcry at the treatment of Union prisoners held at Castle Thunder. In order to escape potential imprisonment, Alexander fled to Canada and then later returned in the 1870s.
In the beginning prisoners were segregated by type. Greaner's held Confederate deserters and disloyal citizens. Whitlock's held blacks and women. Federal deserters were placed in Palmer's Factory. As the war wore on and prison congestion became even more acute, these lines would blur.
Realized: $800
Lot
3110
Confederacy, Castle Thunder, Richmond, Va., cover with letter dated "Richmond, Va., Castle Thunder, June 2nd 1864", addressed to his wife in Maryland, postmarked "Old Point Comfort, Va. Jun 2" double circle with "Due 6" in circle (penalty for civilian unpaid mail), manuscript "Prisoners letter per flag of truce" and faint censor's "approved J.L. Barrow" (a clerk in Gen. Winder's office), some light edge wear, Very Fine, Similar cover from same correspondence pictured in the Antrim book.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Cover and letter from William Carr, a civilian hostage, who was captured as Confederate troops retreated from Gettysburg. Lengthy letter with religious content, "This I do know, that I am by far a better man since a prisoner that I was before God has shown me that the ways of the world are wicked." and signed "William Carr, Room No. 10".
Realized: $725