Items for Sale - Miscellaneous - Section One

Item# 18450A

Price: $800

DOBBINS CORRESPONDENCE, FIVE SOLDIERS’ COVERS, all from Phillips Legion Georgia Volunteers, Army of Northern Virginia. William H. Dobbins (1841-1862) was mustered into Phillips’ Legion, Company C, Rifle Battalion, Georgia Volunteers at age 20 on June 11, 1861. He was wounded near Boonsboro, Maryland, September 14, 1862, during the Maryland Campaign and died of his wounds on or about September 15. A death claim was filed in August 1863 by his father, John S. Dobbins, who was a moderately wealthy merchant, planter and statesman from Calhoun, Ga. According to published military history, Phillips’ Legion wasn’t even in the Maryland Campaign yet suffered 113 casualties at Fox’s Gap on September 14, 1862. This appears to be because neither General Drayton nor any of the regimental commanders ever filed a battle report. William was originally reported MIA, which was later corrected to KIA. Casualties suffered at Fox’s Gap by Phillips’ Legion are in the compiled service records and 1906 Georgia Roster Commission records at the Georgia State Archives. There is far more to the story, which you’ll find out when I write up this fascinating story in one of my columns. Five covers as a unit, individual descriptions follow with links to images. $800.   

18449 WINCHESTER / Va. // SEP / 13 light cds with matching DUE 10 (CSA Catalog type G) on soldier’s cover endorsed by Wm. H. Dobbins, Comp. C, Phillips Legion, Geo. Vols. to Mr. John S. Dobbins, Calhoun, Ga. with manuscript directive at lower left “Politeness of Capt. Wamberly.” Tear across lower left.

18450 WINCHESTER / Va. // NOV cds with matching DUE 10 on cover (part of top flap missing) to Mr. Joe Oscar Dobbins, Calhoun, Geo., with endorsement of Lt. [Alex] Erwin, Phillips’ Legion. The Dobbins papers at Emory University mention Erwin as the correspondent who described the loss of William H. Dobbins at the Battle of South Mountain (AKA Boonsboro) and that he had not been seen or heard from since. He was likely either buried in a shallow grave by a Federal burial detail on September 15, 1862 or possibly one of 58 dead Confederates dumped into a well at Daniel Wise’s farm at Fox’s Gap. Joe Oscar Dobbins was William’s brother.

18451 [CALHOUN, GA] UNLISTED manuscript “Due 2”, on narrow commercially-made cover to Mrs. Sarah L. Dobbins, Calhoun, Geo. with manuscript directive “Politeness Mr. Barrett” who doubtless carried it to Calhoun and dropped it in the mail. Back missing. Address is in the hand of her step-son, William H. Dobbins of Phillips’ Legion, who was killed in action on or about September 15, 1861. UNIQUE UNLISTED DROP USE - highlighted cover

18455 / 18456 - DUBLIN / VA - TWO SOLDIERS COVERS, same correspondence - one ms. Due 5, the other Due 10 (listed with asterisks meaning unconfirmed listing--this confirms it). Both covers are endorsed by Wm. H. Dobbins, 3rd Comp. Rifles, Capt. Barclay, Phillips Legion. One is to Joseph O[scar] Dobbins, the other to John S. Dobbins (his father) - both in Calhoun, Georgia. Both with cover faults, still nice pair matching covers.

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