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.
Realized: $600