Confederate blockade-run cover

Hincks · March 1865

This envelope is addressed to their father and is postmarked in New Orleans, probably in March 1865, but the date is indistinct. It was most likely entrusted to Col. Hatch, C.S.A. Agent for Exchange, and given to a blockade runner to be taken to Cuba. From there, it was placed aboard a regular steamer headed for occupied New Orleans. (However, it is also possible that Hatch handed the letter over to his Federal counterpart at Hilton Head, who, as a favor, could have sent it on to Port Royal to be put aboard a New Orleans-bound supply ship.) Upon arrival in New Orleans, it was placed into the regular incoming U.S. mail and marked “collect” ten cents as incoming ship mail.