"IMMORTAL 600" MORRIS ISLAND, S.C.: US 65, 3¢ rose (tiny corner perf crease at UR) tied by ALLENVILLE / KY. // OCT / 2 (1864) CDS with date in manuscript, addressed to Lieut. Stephen P. Allensworth, Prisoner of War on Morris Island, Port Royal, South Carolina. Magenta pen docketing "Contains $111 Greenback," Desirable Morris Island-addressed "Immortal 600" cover, signed Stanley B. Ashbrook. $1,500.

Stephen Philip Allensworth (1839-1902) was one of Morgan's Raiders (1st Kentucky Cavalry). He was captured at Salineville, Ohio, in July 1863 during Morgan's Ohio raid, he was held in various Union prisons before being transferred to Morris Island and then Fort Pulsaski. Complete prisoner bio included with the lot.

IMMORTAL 600: In August 1864 approximately 600 Confederate prisoners were moved on the Crescent City to Morris Island near Charleston by Federal forces, arriving on the island on September 7, they were held in open barracks as "human shields" under direct shelling from Confederate forces in retaliation for Union prisoners being held in Charleston under shelling from U.S. forces, a continuation and escalation of the prior "50" prisoner incident. See my article for full explanation of this sad chapter in the Civil War at ASDAPR09.pdf Handling of this was a black eye for both the U.S. and the Confederate States.