Civil War: Archive of Fifty-Six 1864 Dated Railroad Passes Issued to E. Benjamin, General Machinist, U.S. Military Railroads....
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Consign your material to be auctioned alongside these items on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Dallas, TX. Consignment Deadline for this auction is Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
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Description
Civil War: Archive of Fifty-Six 1864 Dated Railroad Passes Issued to E. Benjamin, General Machinist, U.S. Military Railroads.An amazing archive of 56 railroad passes issued to "E. Benjamin", a general machinist in the Machinery Department of the U.S. Military Railroads in the year 1864. Cursory research has yet to yield Benjamin's first name, which would be helpful in unlocking a more complete history of his railroad service in the Civil War. Each pass lithographed on stiff cardstock measuring approximately 3 ½ x 2 ¼-inches. All examples are hand-endorsed to Benjamin and are issued by the following railroad companies: Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, Logansport, Peoria and Burlington, North Missouri Railroad, Cincinnati & Chicago Air Line, Catawissa Rail Road Company, Cincinnati Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad, Toledo & Wabash Rail Way Company, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, Northern Railway of Canada, Toledo Logansport & Burington Railway, Rome Watertown & Ogdensburgh Rail Road, Vermont Central and VT. & Canada Railroads, Buffalo & State Line Rail Road, Cleveland & Toledo Rail Road, Burlington & Missouri River Rail Road, Pittsburgh & Connellsville Rail Road, Jeffersonville Railroad, Lackawanna & Bloomsbury Rail Road, Bellefontaine Rail Road Line, Louisville New Albany & Chicago Railroad, Peru & Indianapolis Rail Road Company, Milwaukee and Prairie Du Chien Railway, Louisville & Lexington Rail Road, Boston Concord & Montreal Railroad, Cleveland & Toledo Rail Road, Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail Road, Pennsylvania Central Rail Road, Kentucky Central Railroad, Toledo and Wabash Rail Way Company, Lafayette & Indianapolis Rail Road, Morris & Essex Railroad Company, Central Ohio Railroad, Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Lehigh & Mahanoy Rail Road, Blossburgh & Corning & Tioga Rail Road, Little Miami & Columbus & Xenia Railroad, Evansville & Crawfordsville Rail Road, Atlantic & Great Western Railway, Kenosha, Rockford & Rock Island Rail Road, Pittsburgh Colombus & Cincinnati Rail Road, Pacific Railroad of Missouri, Racine & Mississippi and Northern Illinois Railroads, Toledo & Wabash Rail Way Company, Boston & Worcester Railroad, Belvidere Delaware Railroad Company, Eastern Rail Road, Camden & Atlantic Rail Road, Saratoga and Whitehall Rail Road, Cleveland Zanesville & Cincinnati Rail Road, Galena & Chicago Union Rail Road, North Pennsylvania Rail Road Company, Indianapolis and Madison Railroad, Northern Central Railway, Ogdensburgh Railroad, Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Rail Road. The passes are housed in a modern album. Included is Benjamin's personal transmittal envelope with a note in ink reading "Yearly Tickets over sixty six Railroad 1864." Laid in the front of the album is a transcript of a letter from Benjamin to Adna Anderson, dated February 20, 1864 which reads in part: "Dear Sir, We are in need of pocket passes for colored employees – to save them from impressment."
When the U.S. Civil War began in 1861, the Union recognized the crucial role railroads would play in moving troops, supplies, and equipment quickly over long distances. To manage this effectively, the War Department created the United States Military Railroad (USMRR) in 1862, which came under the direct authority of the Quartermaster General. Within the USMRR, a Machinery Department was organized to oversee the operation, maintenance, and repair of locomotives and rolling stock. This group of railroad passes associated with the USMRR is perfect for the railroad enthusiast and Civil War collector alike.
Condition: All examples are in excellent condition.
Auction Info
2025 December 8 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6325 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
November
13th
Thursday
Auction Dates
December
8th
Monday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
31 Days
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 29
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Signature® Floor Sessions
Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
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