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Item# 20245
New 8-5-22
Price: $1,400
1862 July-Vedette Mail from Tucson to Los Angeles via Fort Yuma. Cover endorsed “Soldier’s letter, 1st Lt. J. P. Hargrave, Act. Adjt.” (Lt. Joseph Priestly Hargrave, Co. F, 1st Regiment, California Volunteers), addressed to Mrs. Clara S. Nye, Memphis, Michigan, in the hand of De Witt Vestal, carried by Vedette Mail from Tucson to Fort Yuma, then by another Vedette rider to Los Angeles where it entered mails with “Los Angeles Cal. Aug. 1” circular datestamp and “10” in oval due handstamp, which replaced the earlier device requiring manuscript rate, slight edge wear, still Very Fine. RARE VEDETTE MAIL COVER FROM UNION-OCCUPIED TUCSON IN MILITARY DISTRICT OF ARIZONA. Fort Yuma was the staging area for Union troops preparing to invade the Confederate territory of Arizona. Ex Birkinbine. VEDETTE MAIL is military mail carried by vedettes (French military term), defined as cavalry sentries or outpost pickets whose function was to relay information, give signals, warnings of danger, etc., to the main body of troops. Article on same in 4Q 2022 Civil War Philatelist. $1,400.
Joseph Priestly Hargrave was born on April 12, 1830, in Union County, Illinois. He moved to California in 1949. Hargrave enlisted in the Army in San Francisco April 28th, 1862, and spent some time fighting Indians. He served in Co. F, 1st Regiment, California Volunteers. His rank out was captain from Los Pinos, New Mexico, August 31, 1864; he was promoted as captain of Company C August 24, 1862. He was one of three officers appointed to choose a site for Ft. Whipple where his company served in the initial garrison. After mustering out, he settled in Prescott, Arizona, where he practiced law and was considered one of the foremost attorneys of Arizona. After mustering out, Capt. Hargrave settled in Prescott, Arizona, where he practiced law and was considered one of the foremost attorneys of Arizona. He resided in El Dorado County, California, in 1860 and 1864, and from there resided in Arizona/New Mexico in 1870. He served on the councils of the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1873 and 1875 for the Yavapai District. His residence was listed as Prescott, Arizona, in 1880 and 1890. Hargrave married Jenny B. Wardner (born in Vermont about 1845) in 1878 in Arizona. He died circa 1890 in San Bernadino, California. Clara Sutherland Nye was a widow who operated a successful millinery business.