CHATTANOOGA / Ten. // DEC / 21 postmark with matching DUE 10 (CSA Catalog Type D, CCV $250) on commercially-made cover endorsed “From Capt. H. L. P. King, P.A.C.S.” to his brother, Lieut. R. Cuyler King Care Hon. T. Butler King, Waresboro, Ware Co, Ga.” Part of top flap missing with edge wear and soiling at bottom. Posted after Capt. King’s death in the field on December 13, 1862. See the story of “Lordy and Neptune…a tale of friendship and loyalty” on this website at https://www.trishkaufmann.com/files/ASDSEP09.pdf , ex Doug Baker. $160.

Hon. Thomas Butler KING (1800-1864) was a congressional representative from Georgia; born in Massachusetts; admitted to the bar in Philadelphia in 1822 and commenced practice in Waynesville, Ga. in 1823; settled on St. Simons Island, Ga. to Retreat Plantation in 1826 and engaged in agricultural pursuits; member of the State senate in 1832, 1834, 1835, and 1837; with a long and significant political career; chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs; appointed by President Fillmore as collector of the port of San Francisco, Ca., again a member of the State senate in 1859; delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1860; appointed a commissioner of Georgia in 1861 to visit Europe in the interest of trade, and was a commissioner of the Confederacy in Europe 1861-1863. Capt. Henry Lord Page King (1831-1862) was one of the ten children of T. Butler King. He was the aide-de-camp of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws. He died during the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862 when he accepted a dangerous assignment carrying orders Chattanooga to Gen. T.R.R. Cobb. The story of “Lordy,” as he was known, and his faithful servant Neptune are well known. Richard Cuyler “Tip” King was one of his brothers.