Fort Delaware Prisioner's Letter - Richmond Howitzers - 3rd Co, 1st VA Artillery

Description

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Absolutely an original item, not a reproduction.  This item is a "Soldier's Due" in philatelic terms--to denote an envelope without stamps but with the postage unpaid, sent from the front where soldiers did not have the ability to find stamps or money to purchase stamps.  The addressee paid the postage.
You are purchasing both the postal envelope and the original letter.
An original envelope with the original letter present, both are in excellent condition.  Content as follows:
Fort Delaware March 1
st
1865
Mr. Dan’l K. Stewart
Dear Sir:
You must excuse me for not answering your letter of the 23
rd
sooner, but I decided to wait the arrival of the Tea before writing.  Allow me to thank you for your prompt attention to my request.
I regret that I cannot as yet inform you when I will leave here.  If the many rumors that are afloat are true, it will be some time before I have that pleasure.
I have not heard from home since the last I informed you of.  Will you please mail me a paper occasionally, the News for instance.  With many thanks for the Tea, I remain Very Respectfully Yours,
R. C. Chamberlayne
3
rd
Co. Howitzers, 1
st
Va. Artillery
4
th
Div: Care Capt. G. W. Abe.
Fort Delaware
Here is my initial research to give you some history and context:
Richard C. Chamberlayne was drafted March 17, 1864 in Richmond as a Private into B. H. Smith’s Company of Light Artillery, also known as the 3
rd
Company Richmond Howitzers.  His first service to the Confederacy was when he enlisted at Richmond on April 21, 1861 as a private in Company A of the 46
th
Virginia Infantry.  He was mustered-out on November 8, 1862.  When he enlisted in April 1861 he listed his occupation as “Clerk” and his residence as on Leigh Street in Richmond, betwwn 5
th
and 6
th
.
On May 10, 1864 he was captured at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse [Virginia] and sent to Fort Delaware.
I believe that Private Chamberlayne (of the Chamberlaynes who lived at Brook Hill, Azalea on the northern outskirts of Richmond just into Henrico County and for whom Chamberlayne Avenue in Richmond are named) was one of the clerks for Scottish Tobacco Merchant Brothers John Stewart and Daniel Kerr Steward (1809-1889).  During the War Between the States, Daniel fled Richmond to New York to manage the brothers’ business affairs while John stayed in Richmond to also manage the brothers’ business affairs.
I believe that Private Chamberlayne wrote Daniel in New York because it was easier to write and easier for Daniel to facilitate advocating for his (Chamberlayne’s) parole.
Virginia's Richmond Howitzers
3rd Company
Formed at the Baptist Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, in June 1861.
It was attached to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery, then became an independent company.
The battery was assigned to J. T. Brown's and R. A. Hardaway's Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia.
It served in the Richmond area, saw action from the Maryland Campaign to Cold Harbor, and participated in the siege operations against Richmond and the Appomattox Campaign.
At Gettysburg the unit had 62 men engaged, but many were captured at Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865.
It was included in the surrender of the army.
Captains Edgar F. Moseley, Benjamin H. Smith, Jr., and Robert C. Stanard were in command.
B.H. Smith's Company, Virginia Light Artillery
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