Extremely fascinating Civil War-related covers. The postmarks are listed at $30 each, but the real story is the fact that these covers were sent from Washington to a former West Point graduate who, like General Lee, fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Highly unusual. The contents is missing from both envelopes so we can only speculate what they contained. One envelope was originally sent to Berry at Fort Kearney (see below) and forwarded to Newnan, Georgia. Since it was a Treasury Department envelope, it may have contained his paycheck. The other envelope is from the Adjutant General's Office and is addressed to Berry as Late of US Army. It went directly to Newnan. Perhaps it contained his discharge papers. It is signed (part missing) in the upper right by E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General. Townsend is noteworthy as the author of the letter regarding the release of Dr. Mudd from prison after the assassination of President Lincoln. The letter is addressed to the Commanding Officer, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, and reads: Sir: the Secretary of War directs that immediately upon receipt of the official pardon just issued by the President of the United States in favor of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, a prisoner now confined at Dry Tortugas, you release the said prisoner from confinement and permit him to go at large where he will. You will please report the execution of this order and the date of departure of Dr. Mudd from the Dry Tortugas. I am, Sir, etc., E. D. Townsent, Asst. Adjutant General. Townsend, therefore, was among the key people in the events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln. A highly desirable Civil War autograph!

From West Point records: Thomas James Berry was born Oct. 28, 1835. He was a cadet at the West Point Military Academy, July 1, 1853 to July 1, 1857 when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to Act. Second Lieutenant of Dragoons, July 1, 1857. He served on frontier duty on Utah Expedition 1858-59 (2nd Lieut., 2d Dragoons, June 4, 1858) and at Ft. Kearney Nebraska, 1859-60. He took a leave of absence 1860-61 and resigned January 28, 1861 and "joined in the Rebellion of 1861-66 against the United States. He died Oct. 16, 1865 at Newnan Georgia, age 30...no cause of death recorded.

From Confederate records: Part of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade, the 61st Georgia Volunteer Infantry was mustered in South Carolina in May 1862. Its service included the Battle of Gaines' Mill (27 June 1862), Second Manassas (29-30 August 1862). Major Thomas J Berry is listed as taking part in this battle as officer of the 60^th Regiment Georgia Infantry. the Battle of Chancellorsville (29 April – 5 May 1863) and the Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) among many other battles. Along with the rest of Gordon's brigade, the 61st was among the first Confederate troops to reach the Susquehanna River during the Gettysburg Campaign.

From the North Carolina Historical Society: October 16, Colonel Thomas J. Berry, son of Andrew J. Berry and his wife, Emily A. Parks Berry, died. He was a native of Newnan, graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1857, served against the Indians in the Utah campaign, in Oregon and California, till 1861 when he resigned his commission, and enlisting in the army of the Confederacy, served two years as colonel of the 60^th Georgia regiment in many engagements; in Second Manassas, in the Valley, in front of Richmond, and as a brigadier of cavalry, under General Early, for a short while; he was wounded five times causing his retirement before the surrender. The surviving members of the Newnan Guards held a Memorial service for their fallen comrade.