Two historic Civil War-related covers; POSSIBLY THE ONLY TWO OF THIS KIND IN EXISTENCE.  Benjamin Larned fought in both the war of 1812 and the Civil War...see detailed obituary below...he has signed both of these covers  They are addressed to Thomas J. Berry, a West Point graduate...see information at bottom below...who resigned to fight for the Confederacy.  Addresses on the covers include "late Lieut 2nd inf Dragoons" and "late Lieut U.S. Dragoons".  These covers, mailed to Milledgeville Georgia, quite possibly contained his final pay settlement as a Union officer. One cover postmark is Feb. 26, 1861, just one month after the South Seceded and CSA troops started to seize Federal forts.

One cover has a few wrinkles but is in typical condition for items of this era.  It has a small tear on the flap where it was opened. The other was opened at the right side and has a waterstain running down the right side. That cover has a Newnan Georgia backstamp, in itself a valuable mark. Two Larned signatures are valuable as well. Plus the added intrigue of covers that were sent by a Union officer to a Confederate officer.

See companion lot of two related Berry covers.

PAYMASTER GENERAL BENJAMIN F. LARNED 
  Daily National Intelligencer (Washington DC) 10 September 1862 (issue 15,622),
THE LATE COL. LARNED--The funeral services of Col. B. F. Larned, Paymaster General, took place at his late residence on F street, on Monday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. G. W. Samson after which the remains were escorted to the depot by the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment, Col. Gregory, headed by the Marine band, the pall-bearers being Gens Meigs, Thomas, and F. P. Blair, Jr., Cols Sibley and Long, and Major Fry, whence it was sent to Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
  B.F. (Frank) Larned was United States Paymaster-General from 1854 until his death in 1862. He served in the U.S. Military from the War of 1812 to the Civil War and was one of the oldest officers in the Army during the Civil War. Before his death pursuant to General Order No. 19 dated May 29, 1860, a post in Kansas was named "Fort Larned" in his honor. The city near the fort is also called "Larned Kansas."   At his death as an appropriate tribute of respect to his memory General Order No. 127 issued that "at every military post nine minute guns will be fired commencing at meridian, the national flag will be displayed at half-staff and for 30 days the prescribed badge of mourning will be worn by the officers of the Army."

•   In announcing his death to the Army, by order of the Secretary of War, Adjutant General, L. Thomas writes: "The Army will learn with as much regret as the Secretary of War feels in announcing it, the death of the late Paymaster General, Colonel B. F. Larned, who, after a long and painful illness, departed this life on the afternoon of the 6th instant, at his residence in this city. (Washington D.C.)
    One of the veterans of our last war with Great Britain, Colonel Larned entered the army as Ensign of the 21st Infantry, on the 1st of October, 1813— served with distinction through the War, and was Brevetted Captain for gallant conduct in the defence of Fort Erie, where he commanded a company. Retained as Paymaster of the 5th Infantry at the reduction of the Army in 1815, he was made Deputy Paymaster General during the Mexican war, and, on the demise of the lamented Towson, succeeded him as Paymaster General of the Army.
    From that date, until overtaken by his last illness—a period of eight years— he continued to discharge the onerous and responsible duties of his office, with intelligence, ability, and rare integrity.
    Already an old man, when the rebellion broke out, had he simply consulted his own feelings, he would have gladly retired; but well knowing that his services were now become more indispensable than ever, and unapalled by the gigantic labor before him, for eighteen months he resolutely persevered at his post, in spite of failing strength and the entreaties of friends that would spare himself, until, having thoroughly reorganized his vast department, and just as he was beginning to see things working in it to his satisfaction, his overtasked powers gave way, and sacrificed to his sense of duty, the life which he had vowed to the service of his country, ebbed lingeringly and prematurely away.
    A man of the most genial disposition, attractive society, and unsullied life- a sincere Christian above all- Col. Larned was deservedly respected and beloved by all who had the happiness of knowing him. May the Army, which has the reason to be proud of such a son, never cease to imitate the virtues of which he was so worthy an example."
    Colonel Larned's military record is as follows: B.F. Larned was made an Ensign for the 21st Infantry on Oct. 1,1813; He was promoted to 3rd Lieutenant on March 7, 1814; Made 2nd Lieutenant on March 8, 1814; Made 1st Lieutenant of 5th Infantry on August 4, 1814; Brevetted Captain on August 15, 1814 for gallant conduct in the defense of Fort Erie, UC. He was promoted to Regimental Paymaster on Nov. 24, 1815 to June 1, 1821. Major Paymaster on June 1, 1821 to rank from Nov. 24, 1815; Deputy Paymaster General with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Department of the Paymaster General on March 3, 1847; U.S. Paymaster General with the rank of Colonel on July 20, 1854; Died Sept. 6, 1862 while serving as Paymaster General.
    On Aug. 13th, 14th, and 15th, of 1814 Lieutenant Larned commanded his company under Major-General Gaines and aided in the defeat of General Drummond of the British Army in the defense of Fort Erie.
  
  Letter from General Gaines to the Secretary of War.
  To the Honourable Headquarters, Fort Erie, Upper Canada,
  John Armstrong, August 26th, 1814.
  Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
  
  Sir: In my report of the battle of the 15th instant, I inadvertently omitted the names of Captain Chunn of the 19th, Lieutenants Bowman and Larned, of the 21st, and Jewett of the nth infantry, as also my brigade major, Lieutenant Gleason, each of whom bore a conspicuous part in the action, and whom I beg leave to recommend to your notice. Lieutenants Bowman and Larned commanded companies in the 21st, which so gallantly beat the enemy's right column. Captain Chunn, with his company was doing duty with the same regiment. I also omitted mentioning that a part of this regiment pursued the enemy's right upwards of a mile, and took 100 prisoners; his left was also pursued, and more than a hundred prisoners were taken beyond our works. These facts prove that the affair was not merely a defence of our position, or a mere repulse of the enemy, as I find it called by some. As regards myself, I am satisfied with the result, and am not disposed to make any difficulty about the name by which the affair may be called; but it is due to the brave men I have the honour to command, that I should say, that the affair was to the enemy a sore beating and a defeat, and it was to us a handsome victory.

     Family links:
Parents:
Darius Larned (1760 - 1829) Eunice Marsh Larned (1767 - 1843), Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Spouses:
Lucy Fearing Willis Larned (1799 - 1847) Elizabeth Rachel Newman Larned (1799 - 1856) Maria Hayward Wilson Larned (1825 - 1893)
Children:
Frederick Sylvester Larned (1823 - 1914)* Charles Trowbridge Larned (1834 - 1882)*

Burial: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA

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.  Also, 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.