CSA 12c, 10¢ greenish blue tied by bold blue FANCY HILL VA. SEP 8 circular datestamp which was used to FORWARD the cover to Mrs. M. L. Lacky in Lexington, Virginia, care of Mrs. E.J. Lackey, Bolivar Mills (Rockbridge County, Va. – wife of Dr. Theophilus Saunders Lackey in the same company as W.A. Lacky). Original use was Fairfield, Va., Sept 7 circular datestamp on soldier's cover addressed to Fancy Hill Va. with manuscript "Due 10cts” used under the CSA 12c. Officer's endorsement at top “W.A. Lacky, Capt. Co. C. 14 Va. Cav.,” Very Fine. While forwarding of mail to military personnel was free of charge, that did not extend to mail to civilians and thus the stamp was required to send to Mrs. Lacky.  $550.

Capt. William A. Lacky (also seen as Lackey, but he signed as Lacky) commanded Company C of the 14th Virginia Cavalry. The 14th Cavalry Regiment consisted of 2209 members over the 4 years, Company's A-N, with only 34 members actually surrendering at Appomattox!  Most did not surrender with Lee, but went home to surrender later. The 14th Virginia Cavalry was organized on September 5, 1862. Its origins began with the formation of four independent companies of cavalry in various parts of the Old Dominion before West Virginia seceded from Virginia.  They were: Churchville Cavalry: from Augusta County, Captain Frank Sterrett commanding. Second Rockbridge Dragoons: mustered into service April 1861, Captain John R. McNutt commanding. Charlotte Cavalry: Charlotte Court House: mustered into service April 1861, Captain John G. Smith commanding. The Valley Cavalry: mustered into service at Churchville May 15, 1862, Captain William A. Lacky commanding. The regiment was very active throughout the war.  There were many skirmishes, but two engagements stand out from the rest, and they were the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3 1863, and what was to be known as "The Final Cavalry Charge at Appomattox," April 9, 1865, prior to Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Captain Edwin E. Bouldin of Co. B is quoted with the following epitaph to the 14th Virginia Cavalry: "It gives me the greatest pleasure to testify to the gallantry of the men and officers of our old company [and regiment] in many hard-fought battles. Even when hope was gone, and all looked dark, they were willing to do their duty as soldiers, and led one of the most desperate charges ever made, with such spirit as to overcome every obstacle." It was among the best mounted regiments in the service; the discipline and soldierly bearing was noticeable. Skirmishes took place in West Virginia and the Valley Campaigns of 1864. Lacky was from Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of Virginia. A regimental history at http://www.14thvirginiacavalry.org/regiment_history.htm