Lot
4391 
Confederacy, [End / Post War] "Head Quarters 54th Regiment, Mass. Volunteers. Charleston March 4th '65", dateline on enclosed letter of cover to Roxbury Mass. bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65) vertical pair, couple pulled perfs, cancelled by partial "Philada Mar 16" duplex, matching "U.S. Ship" straightline handstamp, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
After Charleston's evacuation the night of February 17-18, 1865, Union forces, including soldiers from the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Colored Infantry, occupied the city. Since the war still raged in Virginia, land transportation north was not yet possible. This letter from an officer in the 54th entered the mails by U.S. Naval Ship at Philadelphia and reads, "…such heaps of letters! All the ones that were lost too…".
Realized: $525
Lot
4392
Confederacy, [End / Post War] Edgefield S.C. Apr 20, cds on 1865 buff cover endorsed "via Flag of Truce via Savannah Geo" to Charleston S.C. bearing 10¢ blue, Keatinge & Ball (12), margins to just touched, manuscript "Appd, M. J. O'Brien, Agt Exchg" examiner's marking, U.S. postage paid by U.S. 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Savannah Ga. Jun 12" duplex, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Occasionally, through-the-lines letters were forwarded by circuitous routes, mainly in areas far from Fortress Monroe or, in this case, at war's end when procedures were unsettled as Federal authority was being re-established in newly occupied areas. This letter was mailed at C.S.A. controlled Edgefield S.C. and sent to Federally controlled Charleston via Savannah Ga. per routing instructions. After examination and approval, it was finally permitted to enter U.S. mails at Savannah on Jun. 12th, long after the War's end with U.S. post offices opened.
Realized: $1,900
Lot
4393
Confederacy, [End / Post War] 1865 (May 13, Jun. 3) Charleston, S.C. to Taunton Mass. via New York, correspondence pair showing different treatment, both endorsed "No Stamps in Charleston" at left, first endorsed "Soldier's Letter" and censored by "E.W. Jones, Chaplain, 21 U.S. C Y" at left, pencil "3" cents due rating, entered mails with "New York May 13" cds and matching circled "Due 3" rating handstamp; second cover is uncensored, carried via U.S. Navy ship to New York City, pencil "3" cent due rating, entered mails with "New York Jun 3" duplex and "U.S. Ship, 3cts" in circle due rating handstamp, F.-V.F., an interesting pair. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $250
Lot
4394
Confederacy, [End / Post War] 1865 (Jun. 2) Charleston S.C. to P.O.W. at Point Lookout, adversity cover front made from lined paper bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65) tied by cross-roads cancel duplexed with "Charleston S.C. Jun 5" cds to Prisoner of War G.W. Avinger at Point Lookout Md., blue crayon "A" and red manuscript "June 2, 1865 - J. F. Avinger, Charleston S.C." at right, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF U.S. POSTAGE STAMPS FROM CHARLESTON AFTER RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICES IN THE CITY.
The red ink notation at right was made by a federal official at Point Lookout listing date, name and city of the sender. The blue "A" indicates the first letter of the prisoner's last name (in this case Avinger) that was done for filing purposes. By the time the letter reached Point Lookout, the addressee had been freed and allowed to return home. The letters were destroyed by Federal authorities, and only the cover fronts were retained.
Realized: $280
Lot
4395
Confederacy, [End / Post War] 1865 (Jul. 21) United States Military Telegraph, imprint on cover with original matching enclosure datelined from Columbia S.C. July 21st 1865 to Charleston S.C. street address; some cover flaws, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
In the weeks after final Confederate collapse, the best means of communication within the South was via military telegraph in areas where service had been restored. The American Telegraph Co. (South) facilities were under the control and supervision of the U.S. Military Telegraph as imprinted on this envelope. The message was hand delivered to the street address.
Realized: $200
Lot
4396
Confederacy, [End / Post War] 1865 (Aug. 26) Abbeville, S.C. to Charleston S.C., blue cover with original datelined letter, received in Charleston and oval "Held For Postage" handstamp applied, recipient notified of arrival, apparently 3¢ postage paid and docketed as received "Sept 25th/ 65", the writer complains "There is no mail agent… the letters never leave the post office"; some bleach aging, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $130
Lot
4397
Confederacy, [End / Post War] "Saddles Creek, Sept 19 So Ca", manuscript postmark ties U.S. 3¢ rose (65) placed over invalid 10¢ dark blue, Keatinge & Ball (12), margins, on homemade cover to Miss Fields, Colored, Charleston S.C., upon arrival "Advertised Sep 25" cds applied and so put into Charleston Courier under "List of Letters Remaining in Postoffice" on Sept. 29th, the 29th woman out of 103 ladies was "M.S. Field", letter was not called for and "Charleston S.C. Oct 25" backstamp and "Unclaimed" straightline struck, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $600
Lot
4398
Confederacy, [End / Post War] 1865 Federal Occupation and Resumption of the Mails, group of 11 usages including earliest uses of cancels and markings, June 16th 1865 cover lacking lacking stamp but mentions "Unless the Civil Government was restored your visit here might be profitless", July 15th 1865 use of #65 tied by earliest known use of double cross-roads cancel, forwarded use Aug. 17th with earliest use of "Due 3" in circle rating handstamp; two oval "Held For Postage" handstamps on covers lacking stamps; Aug. 12th 1865 New York City Charleston bearing #65 pair with additional "Due 4" in circle handstamp; 1865 Sep. 14 unpaid to France, Sept. 20th 1865 use of three #63 singles to New York City; faults, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Charleston was evacuated by its defenders the night of February 17-18, 1865, and the first Union soldiers arrived on the 18th. Among its occupiers was Colonel A. H. Markland, Special Agent of the Post Office Department and Superintendent of mails, U.S. Army. The reopened newspaper "Courier" announced on February 22nd that contacts had been reestablished "with the whole world", and that the Charleston Post Office would "be in complete working order in a short time".
Realized: $270