Auction Detail

attractive strike one 2c Red brown entire addressed to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, "Campbell Mass. Apr 9" datestamp alongside, original enclosure, small tear at top and missing backflap, still very fine and choice (Cole AN-18)

bold strike ties 3c Green Bank Note to small mourning cover to Alexandria, Virginia, matching "St. Louis Mo. Oct 29" datestamp alongside, docketing at left, very fine and attractive cover (Cole Bi-2)

beautiful strike of eagle with crossed arrows and ornaments fancy datestamp ties 1861 3c Rose (65) to cover to Wilmington, Pennsylvania, very fine example of this rare "linen marker" style postmark which is very similar to the one used at Mechanicsburg, Indiana, only a small handful of examples are known

tying 1861 3c Rose (65, scissor cut perforations at top) to cover to Piqua, Ohio, "Chattanooga Tenn Mar 23" datestamp alongside, cover small edge faults and reduced at left, fine strike (similar to Skinner-Eno PA-H 5 but without outer circle)

double circle datestamp with crossroads cancel tying 3c Rose (65) to cover to J. Graham Gardiner in New York City, original enclosure from Samuel Augustus Duncan datelined "Hd. Qrs. 2nd Brig. Hinks' Div., June 20th 1864" which is reproduced in large part below, envelope slightly reduced at left, which does not detract from this historically significant and remarkable letter, very fine and well-worth reading:

The day before we started for our attack on Petersburg, Lt. Col. Rogers, Amo 94th U.S.C.T. at my suggestion wrote to Dept. Hd.Qr's calling attention to the fact of your appointment and requesting a pass for you to join the regt. We find upon our return to this place—Point of Rocks—that the pass is here—Co. Rogers will forward it at once. You will see that it is a pass for you to proceed to Fort Monroe. There you will have to report to Genl. Butler's A.A.G. who will of course attune at once for you to join your regt. wherever it may be. You will find it on the way to Richmond—via Fort Darling—perhaps.

You need have no fear that we enter the Rebel Capital immediately. There will be a chance for you yet, I trust. There will needs be considerable delay in capturing Richmond; but Grand has finally struck the true base, and will push the thing with a will. The whole army is full of confidence. 

The negro troops did much to open the way for him on the 15th.

The question is now settled. The negro will fight.

They did nobly. You have learned the whole story from the papers ere this. And the papers will not overstate the case. 

Privately—I am glad to state that my Brigade of four regts. did the chief work. In the last assault there was but one colored regt. beside. I would pit my command against any equal command in the army. 

The Army of the Potomac, seeing the works we carried, have yielded al their prejudices against colored troops. This was our greatest triumph of the day.