Lot
37 
(Forts - Colorado Territory) (Fort Collins) Camp Collins Col. Terty, Aug 31st, 1864, dateline on enclosure sent to Fort Laramie, I.T. requesting several men to sent to Camp Collins, with original legal size cover with Official Business endorsement at top right; some cover edge flaws, otherwise Very Fine, a rare "pre-Fort Collins" military usage from Camp Collins just after the camps relocation. Estimate $150 - 200.
Camp Collins was first established near La Porte in the fall of 1863. Following a flood on June 9, 1864, the camp was moved to a location within what is now the city of Fort Collins. The Camp was upgraded to the status of Fort Collins in October 1864 and a post office of that name was first opened on June 27, 1865.
Realized: $95
Lot
38
(Forts - Colorado Territory) Fort Collins, C.T., June 14, 1869, manuscript postmark on cover to Angola, Ohio, franked with manuscript canceled 1863, 5¢ brown (2¢ overpayment), with original enclosure mentioning the approaching railroads including the "railroad from Denver to Cheyenne"; cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, an attractive usage during the second period of this post office. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $800
Lot
39
(Forts - Dakota Territory) Fort Laramie, N.T., Jul 1, neat strike on missent cover from Lebanon O. to Fort Sumner N.M., bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, short perf, tied by "Lebanon O. May 11" duplex cds, endorsed "Via Ft. Union", manuscript "Missent", Aug. 5th 1864 docketing, Very Fine, ex-Rosenthal. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $400
Lot
40
(Forts - Dakota Territory) Fort Laramie, Daka., Nov 8, cds on orange cover to Belfast O., bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, s.e. at bottom, cancelled by matching target cancel, Goshen O. transit cds, original enclosed letter datelined "Ft. Laramie, D. Tery., Oct. the 30th 1865" and mentions numerous fights with the Indians, Spencer's Rifles, and desire to see a white woman, soldier hopes to make it home next summer, Very Fine and rare, ex-Rosenthal. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
41
(Forts - Dakota Territory) "Ft. Rice D.T., Nov 6", manuscript postmark on patriotic cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose cancelled by manuscript "X" and additional indistinct cds, addressed to New Denmark, Wis.; some soiling and reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F., a scarce Dakota Territory use. Scott No. 65 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $350
Lot
42
(Forts - Idaho Territory) Fort Halleck and Camp/Fort Collins Correspondence, 1863-65, group of six covers from Samuel M. with enclosed datelined letters comprising three from Fort Halleck, Idaho Terr. (1863-64) posted with Fort Halleck Neb. Terr. cds and three from Camp/Fort Collins (1864-65), two of later posted at Latham and Laporte Col. Terr., some interesting content concerning soldiering in the West during the Civil War, the "Fort Halleck I.T. Jan 29th 1864" letter says "…we had a general inspection of all the troops at this post (there being 200 troops here) by General Downing from denver city colorado territory…report…that we are a going back to the states in the sping…"; the "Camp Collins Col. July 22nd 1864" letter includes content concerning Indians: "When your letter came to hand I was scouting after the red faces (Indians) and was gone from camp 14 days…and there are about thirty-five (35) men out of our company out after the indians the have been five (5) days and it is hard to tell when they will get back.", the datelined "Fort Collins Col. Terr., April 11th 1865" letter reads "…hearing it is the glad tidings that this war woud soon be to an end may god speed the time for that time to come…The news in camp are that richmond is taken also that Lees army is captured with several of other Generals (bully for brigadeer General U.S. Grant)…Tomorrow morning I will start for the mountains to cut timbers to build a stockade correlle around the fort…yet we are not soldiering. we are working for uncle Sam by the month building forts and stockades and to eat some of uncles condemed pork and beans and other rotten food such as the quartermaster may issue…I suppose we will move farther east to blew river this spring to build a new fort (for that is our tract since I come in to the army)…we will then be in about two hundred miles of leavenworth city…"; covers with some stamp faults, etc., Fine and interesting Civil War correspondence from the western frontier, Letters from these two short-lived military installations are rare. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
Fort Halleck was a military outpost that existed in the 1860s along the Overland Trail and stage route in what was then the Territory of Idaho, now the U.S state of Wyoming. The fort was established in 1862 to protect emigrant travelers and stages transporting mail between Kansas and Salt Lake City, Utah and named for Major General Henry Wager Halleck, commander of the Department of the Missouri and later General-in-chief of the Union armies.
Fort Collins was founded as a military outpost of the United States Army in 1864. It succeeded a previous encampment, known as Camp Collins, on the Cache La Poudre River, near what is known today as Laporte. Camp Collins was erected during the Indian wars of the mid-1860s to protect the Overland mail route that had been recently relocated through the region. Travelers crossing the county on the Overland Trail would camp there, but a flood destroyed the camp in June 1864. Afterward, the commander of the fort wrote to the commandant of Fort Laramie in southeast Wyoming, Colonel William O. Collins, suggesting that a site several miles farther down the river would make a good location for the fort. The post was manned originally by two companies of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and never had walls. Settlers began arriving in the vicinity of the fort nearly immediately. The fort was decommissioned in 1867.
Lot
43
(Forts - Mississippi Territory) "Fort Adams, 20th October 1802", dateline on folded letter to Philadelphia Pa., entered mails with manuscript "Natchez Octr. 21 1802" postmark and "25" rating, letter from Jona: Davis states "I expect soon to obtain the exclusive privilege of selling goods to this garrison", Very Fine and choice use. Estimate $400 - 600.
U.S. General James Wilkinson selected Loftus Heights for a military post in 1798 on the advice of Captain Isaac Guion. The site, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River about six miles upriver from the new international boundary, was judged to be a good position for observing and thwarting military movements on the river and was described by Wilkinson as the "most southerly tenable position within our limits." The new fort was named for the sitting U.S. President, John Adams. In December 1801, Fort Adams was the site of the negotiation and signing of a treaty between the Choctaw and the United States government.
Realized: $675
Lot
44
(Forts - Missouri) "Fort Osage Mo, Augt: 12", manuscript postmark and matching "10" rating on folded letter datelined "Blue Mills Augt 12, 1845" to Warrenton Va.; small edge tear and slight wear, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
45
(Forts - Missouri) "Fort Scott Mo., March 30 -", manuscript postmark ties 1852, 3¢ dull red, pre-use tear, on 1853 folded letter to New York City, the letter is from a sergeant at the fort and he is asking that newspapers be sent to him there, he is obviously unaware that the garrison will be moved within a month; fold mends, Fine, ex-Beals. Scott No. 11A Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED STAMPED USE FROM FORT SCOTT DURING THE UNORGANIZED TERRITORY TIME PERIOD.
Fort Scott was established on May 30, 1842, four miles west of the Missouri state line in what is now Kansas. It served as an intermediate post on the military road that connected the frontier forts from Fort Snelling in the North to Fort Jessup (Louisiana) in the South. The post was abandoned on April 22, 1853, but was re-occupied by troops in March 1862.
As was the case with Fort Leavenworth that was also in unorganized territory west of the Missouri state line, Fort Scott used a townmark (manuscript) incorporating the term "Mo." The Post Office Department attached these forts to Missouri on their records for administrative purposes.
Realized: $6,250
Lot
46
(Forts - Nebraska Territory) Fort Laramie, N.T., Jul 20, remarkable bold strike ties 1857, 3¢ dull red, horizontal straddle-line pair, on orange buff cover to Washington D.C., original three-page letter datelined "Crossing of Green River in Camp, Rocky Mountains, July 6 '59"; no backflap and tiny edge nick, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Rosenthal. Scott No. 26 Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $425