Flag-of-Truce Mail from
Federal-Occupied New Orleans. Yellow cover addressed to "Mr. John S.
Mitchell, Care Wolfe & Co., Mobile, Alaba(ma)", light pencil docketing
"Contained letters from Wife & Will dated June 24th", ms.
endorsement "Allowed to Pass the lines" and signed "G.
F. Shepley, Military Governor of Louisiana", posted as a drop
letter in Mobile with 2c Green (3), tied by "Mobile Ala. Jul. 18,
1863" double-circle datestamp, vertical crease (probably from being folded
and carried in the courier's pocket), stain and erosion at lower right,
stamp creased and torn from placement over top edge of coverTHE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF FLAG-OF-TRUCE MAIL SIGNED BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. F. SHEPLEY, MILITARY GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA. ALSO BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY KNOWN 2-CENT GREEN ON A COVER FROM FEDERAL-OCCUPIED NEW ORLEANS.
During the Federal occupation of New Orleans, mail between residents in the city and correspondents in the Confederacy was either smuggled or carried by flag-of-truce, usually under the auspices of the Louisiana Relief Committee. This cover is the only one known with the endorsement "Allowed to Pass the lines", and it is also the only flag-of-truce cover signed by George F. Shepley (1819-1878). Shepley was appointed Military Governor of Louisiana in June 1862 and served in that capacity until 1864. On July 18, 1862, Shepley was made brigadier-general of volunteers. Although General Benjamin "Beast" Butler is historically charged with excessively harsh actions against the resident public in New Orleans, Brigadier-General Shepley shares some of that responsibility.
Ex Walcott (Image)