Head-Quarters Conscript Service, State of Georgia. / OFFICIAL BUSINESS. (second line crossed out) on UNLISTED STATE SEMI-OFFICIAL imprinted legal cover (9” x 4”) marked Private and addressed to Major Genl Howell Cobb, Commanding, Macon, Ga. Lightly struck blue SOUTHERN EXPRESS Co. / AUGUSTA, Ga. (CSA Catalog type E, CCV $2,500) double-circle handstamp at right and light penciled Per Express at lower left. Date undiscernible, red wax seal on back flaps, edge damage at upper left and light water staining. A historic cover. $950. 

Southern Express Company History: C.S. Plank Military Records consists of detail papers issued by the Enrolling Office and Conscript Service at Augusta, Georgia, 1864. The first item is a receipt, No. 11, for Plank's detail papers as an Employee of the Southern Express Co. for 91 days; it includes a physical description of Plank. The second item is an assignment of Plank as treasurer and cashier of the Southern Express Co., While initially a volunteer army, the Army of the Confederate States of America instituted three conscription acts during the Civil War, beginning in 1862. The CSA Bureau of Conscription enlisted both conscripted men and volunteers into service., C.S. Plank (b. ca. 1826) was from Augusta, Georgia. In 1864, at the age of 38, he was conscripted to work for the Southern Express Company for the Confederate States of America. The Southern Express Co. was established on May 1, 1861, by Alvin Adams and Henry Bradley Plant. Both Northerners, these men created the new company under the guise of it being a Southern company, as the CSA began confiscating all Northern-owned establishments in the South. The Southern Express Co., a railroad company, initially carried packages and letters between the North and South, until this practice was banned., Item 1: Receipt No. 11. Enrolling Office, Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia, 1864 November 5 (1.0 p.) Receipt for Plank's detail papers as an employee of the Southern Express Co. for 91 days; physical description. Printed form filled in.--Item 2: Detail paper No. 86. Headquarters Conscript Service, State of Georgia, Augusta, 1864 December 2 (1.0 p.) Assignment of Plank as treasurer and cashier of the Southern Express Co. Printed form filled in., America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia received support from a Digitizing Historical Records grant awarded to the Atlanta History Center, Georgia Historical Society, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the Digital Library of Georgia by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission., C.S. Plank military records, MS 621, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.

Howell Cobb (1815-1868) was a founder of the Confederacy who served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62), as well as a major general of the Confederate army. His personal history is well-known and illustrious.