CSA 1, 5¢ green, dry printing, used with TUSCALOOSA STAR cancel, type AC-15a, and March 14 [1862] town cancel on small cover to Col. Innis (sic) Thornton, Forkland, Greene Co., Ala. Stamp declared Stone 1 by prior owner but not plated nor verified by me, cover slightly reduced at left and light staining across top edge including lower right of stamp. Ex Walcott and Boschung. $850.

James Innes Thornton (1800-1877) was the first Alabama Secretary of State from 1824-1834. He was born at “Fall Hill” in Spotsylvania County, VA – a distant relative of President George Washington - and educated at what is now Washington and Lee University. He emigrated to Huntsville, AL where he entered the practice of law in 1820. He was elected Secretary of State of Alabama in 1824, and was kept in that position by successive re-elections until 1834, when he resigned. During his incumbency of office as Secretary of State, General LaFayette, guest of the nation, visited Alabama and Mr. Thornton was appointed by the governor to meet him as an escort. Abandoning the profession of law at the same time, he retired to private life and devoted himself to planting in Greene County. Developed as a cotton plantation in the early 1830s by Thornton, “Thornhill”, near Forkland, extended over 2,600 acres and by 1860 employed 156 slaves. During the War, he was philosophically opposed to the doctrine of secession and argued against the glory in the sacrifice of the South's young men. Nevertheless, he supported "The Cause" financially.