FORT DELAWARE/IMMORTAL 600: US 65, 3¢ rose (perf creases) tied with blue duplex of BALTIMORE M.D. APR 5 1865 on cover to Lt. G.W. Finley Prisoner of War 36th Division Fort Delaware Del. The commercially-made envelope is from Cora Williams, a known correspondent. See my article on this unpleasant chapter of the war at ASDAPR09.pdf Finley was a tent-mate of James Cobb in Charleston on Morris Island (item 21099), Ex Harrison. $250.

George Williamson Finley, as a lieutenant of the 56th Virginia Infantry, led his company across the Gettysburg wheat field in Pickett's charge and reached the stone wall (one of the few to survive),, where his Company of the 56th actually held a portion of the wall and fought three regiments of the 76th Pennsylvania at the wall for more than just a brief time, taking their Confederate flag to within 15 paces of the Union line.  Lt. Finley stated he saw Union reserves in "Countless thousands" and were "throwing everyone they had at our little group of Confederates."  Mr. Finley witnessed the death of General Garnett and the fall of General Armistead. Lt. Finley was kept in many different prisons until May 14, 1865.  At one point, he was transferred to Hilton Head, SC (August 20, 1864) where he became one of the "IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED." While a POW, he decided to become a minister and entered Union Theological Seminary in 1866, but only took a partial course load due to his poor health from prison. He became a minister in Springfield, West Virginia where he served for many years. Much more biographical information online. Long detailed military and personal bio include