 MISSOURI. William Russell, 'Due by David Boaz', Army of the West. Twenty-Five Cents. 'Jan. 1863'. Printed in black on frail white rag paper. 140mm by 57mm. Ornate end panels using six ornaments with dual line frame top and bottom. Across the top 'ARMY OF THE WEST' below an engine pulling three cars east, to the far sides '25' counters. Text below 'Due by DAVID BOAZ, to Bearer,/TWENTY-FIVE CENTS, [slanting back, shaded gray]/In Goods or Confederate Treasury Notes, when presented in sums/of Ten Dollars or its multiple.' Date to right. At the base, tiny cavalryman rears on horse. Serial 'No.' bottom left. No imprint. Identical in style to the Bishop note listed as Keller MS-SD025.
Signed by ''Wm. Russell'' as issuer. No.289. Notes such as this were listed in the 1977 Criswell Sale catalogue as ''Texas/Oklahoma'' under the ''Indian-Creek Nation'' header. The regiment was formed in Missouri, so we have listed it here. In that Criswell Sale catalogue, these notes were considered his finest ''treasures'' and worthy of ''selling for $5,000 to $8,000''. That, in that time period, certainly seems a little far flung in retrospect. However, this is a superb title and again possesses great character.
Obviously, Unlisted in Keller and not published in any reference to our knowledge. This has a ''Barrows'' pencil mark on the back corner, so it almost certainly came with the Hogg note. The note is complete for paper, but there is a long tear from the bottom center where Barrows did not strengthen it enough. Some tears at the upper right are sealed. Wide side margins with a pencil notation at the left. The look of higher grade, but Very Good to Fine with the aforementioned diagnostic. Perhaps unique, or nearly so.
The Army of the West was named after March 4, 1862 and was comprised of members of the Missouri State Guard. They fought in Arkansas and Mississippi. They had three divisions with approximately 20,000 men. By September, 1862, the unit was united with Major General Van Dorn's command to form the Army of West Tennessee.
| |
|
