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THB6 TN Confederate Civil War Related Letters Incl. POW
About Seller
4310 Papermill Dr. NW
Knoxville, TN 37909
United States
Case Auctions is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, where our gallery is located, with satellite offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Kingsport, TN – but our reach is worldwide. Established in 2005, we conduct cataloged auctions of investment-quality art and antiques under the stewardship of knowledgeabl...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJul 12, 2025
Live Auction at our Knoxville Gallery featuring 1,175 lots from fine Southern estates and private and museum collections. Sale begins Sat. July 12 at 9 AM with lots #1-753 and continues Sun. July 13 at 1 PM with lots #754-1175 (scroll down for separate catalog). Estates represented include Ervin and Jane Entrekin, Nashville; Walter and Dr. Mary Schatz, Nashville; Dr. Lawrence Wolfe, Nashville; John Z. C. Thomas, Knoxville; Florence F. Johnston, Knoxville; plus deaccessioned objects from the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the Arkansas Museum of Art, and the Hunter Museum of Art. Case Auctions bid@caseantiques.com
View Full Catalog (751)
- Lot Description
Group of six (6) Civil War-era letters written by or addressed to Confederate Private James Polk Blakemore (called Polk), 18th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. Includes four written by Polk as Prisoner of War at Camp Butler, Illinois, plus Nashville and Middle Tennessee content.
Letters discuss details of POW life ("...it is the same thing over and over every day get up [to roll?] call and eat breakfast then dinners and last supper and then go to bed, we sometimes get a paper," "We are all getting along very well doing nothing but eat and sleep. We sometimes go to the hospital and stay a day and night and nurse the sick," "...[W]e have an old deck and we sometimes have a game of 'Old Sledge,'" "...I hear some guns on the guard line some fellow trying to get away," "We are treated pretty well by the Federals...needn't be uneasy about me if you can just send me a little money. I guess and am in hopes we will be released some time before long. I believe most of the boys are well. As our letters have to be looked over it won't do to write too long anyway,"
"...I wouldn't live here two weeks for 500 dollars if I wasn't obliged to. I would like to be at home to go fishing with Pa and am in hopes it won't be long before we will be released") and enlisted life and the war ("They have been working us like five-hundered for the last two weeks. We [commenced?] two more forts today. I chopped wood yesterday..."; "There is no chance for a fight here before next spring if then. If the yankees do come in here we will give them the worst whipping they ever have had yet. General [William J.] Hardee is in command here now instead of [Jospeh E.?] Johnston," "You spoke of the close of the war I don't think it will close soon unless the south is reckognized [sic] I am in hopes it won't at least. It is a horrid thing I admit [there has?] as many a Tennessean been killed in the last 4 months."
Letters include January 9, 1861 letter from Polk's sister Sallie Blakemore at Goodlettsville, TN, to Polk at Green Hill, near Nashville, TN, with original envelope stamped Goodlettsville; December 10, 1861 letter from Polk at Bowling Green, Kentucky to Sallie at Goodlettsville, with original envelope; March 11, 1862 letter from Polk at Camp Butler to his father, Andrew J. Blakemore at Nashville (signed "Polk Blakemore / Prisoner of War," with original embossed envelope; and three letters from Polk to Sallie at Nashville and dated April 1, April 23, and June 5, 1862, all written while Polk was interred at Camp Butler and two with original envelopes. Folded dimensions range from 2 1/2 in x 4 1/4 in to 3 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in.
Condition
Letters in overall very good condition, with fold lines and creasing plus handling wear and minor losses and tears especially to edges. Envelopes with handling wear, tears, creasing, soiling, and losses.
- Shipping Info
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The UPS Store of Bearden
Contact – Joe 865-584-0081 (press 5)
fax 865-584-0094
store2630@theupsstore.com
The UPS Store of Northshore Knoxville
Contact – Eve 865-951-2499
store6461@theupsstore.com
John & Max Express LLC
NOTE: large items & white glove delivery services only (driving range limitations may apply)
Contact – Yev 865-230-1567
johnmaxexpress@gmail.com
Package Manager
(FedEx, USPS, DHL) Offers crate & large freight services
Contact – Burak 865-584-3000
Email: info@PackageManager.net
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- Payment & Auction Policies
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Available payment options
Payment must be received no later than five (5) days after the sale.
If paying with a credit card, a 3.5% credit card processing fee will be applied to the final sales price (i.e. hammer price + buyer's premium + applicable taxes). If you have a credit card on file with Case, any winning bids will be automatically charged (up to $3000) along with applicable fees 72 hours after you receive your invoice unless other arrangements have been made.
If paying with wire transfer, please use the following information:
Bank: Pinnacle Bank
150 Third Avenue South, Suite 900
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone # (865) 766-3000
Swift Code: PNFPUS44
Routing, Transit, ABA: 064008637
Beneficiary: Case Antiques, Inc.
4310 Papermill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Account #: NOT DISCLOSED (please refer to your invoice email for the Deposit Account Number or contact us )
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