Collection of Civil War related envelopes and covers including 11 addressed to Major H.C. Bate (4), Mrs. H.C. or Henry C. Bate (5), and Mrs. Rosa(belle) Bate (2), plus 1 Confederate Envelope, unused, with Flag design reading “We are in the field and the bars are up!”, published by Allen & Boyer, Poydras St., New Orleans, and 1 post-Confederate envelope with lithographed image of Nathan Bedford Forrest, addressed to Sam P. Claybrook, Ogilvie Tenn. dated 1894. Note: Major Henry Clay Bate of Tennessee (1839-1917) was a commander of the 1st Confederate Cavalry Regiment (also called the 12th regiment). It was organized in the summer of 1862 with men from Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee and was the successor to Thomas Claiborne’s 6th Confederate Cavalry Regt. which included H. Clay King’s Kentucky Cavalry Battalion. It fought at Murfreesboro, Thompson’s Station, Franklin, Chickamauga, Blue Springs and in the Atlanta Campaign and aided in the defense of Savannah. The regiment disbanded prior to the surrender in May, 1865. Bate was taken prisoner at some point and held at Johnson’s Island; his sister, Eugenia P. Bass, petitioned Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 15, 1864 to obtain his release. It is not clear if Lincoln intervened, but Bate survived the war and returned home to his wife Rosa(belle) in Tennessee, where he later wrote the history of the First Confederate Cavalry for the Military Annals of Tennessee.

PROVENANCE: By descent from the estate of Stanley Horn, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: Forrest envelope has 2″ tear across Forrest’s face and two 1″ to 2″ tears extending from upper and lower edges; lacking back side. Other CSA envelope is in very good condition, unused. Envelopes with expected toning and chipping.