[Desert Dispatch to Fort Yuma, 1855] cover originally addressed to Lieut. Barry at Benicia, California, prepaid 10c rate with three 3c dull red (#11) and single 1c blue (#9) tied by Philadelphia Jun 19 postmarks, sent to the care of the quartermaster in Benicia, remailed from Benicia with "Fort Yuma via San Diego, Cala" directive, as well as Lt. Hardie charge box paid note, Benicia Jul 31 postmark and "Paid 3" handstamp

Early mail reached Fort Yuma, California overland from San Diego via the “Desert Dispatch,” a military courier service across the Colorado Desert. This route was a necessary precursor to portions of later southern overland contract routes.
 

ex Jessup, Haas, Beals, Kramer and Walske

[Desert Dispatch "via San Diego" to Fort Yuma, 1855] cover addressed directly to Lieut. Barry at Fort Yuma, California, with "Via San Diego" directive applied by sender, prepaid 10c rate with three 3c dull red (#11) and single 1c blue (#9), West point, New York Sep 14 postmark

Early mail reached Fort Yuma, California overland from San Diego via the “Desert Dispatch,” a military courier service across the Colorado Desert. This route was a necessary precursor to portions of later southern overland contract routes.
 

(MWE Figure 9-3) ex Jessup, Haas, Beals, Kramer and Walske

[The "Jackass" Route Defined by Postmarks] cover with albino embossed seal of San Diego used to Massachusetts prepaid with 10c green (#33), San Diego, the western terminus, September 9 (1857) origin postmark,  apparently the stamp was left uncanceled and was subsequently tied at eastern terminus with an Antonio, Texas October 8 postmark, the only reported cover carried over the entire route before it was deconstructed


A twice-monthly contract service for Route 8076 between San Diego, California and San Antonio, Texas began on July 9, 1857. Mules were used on the San-Diego-Yuma segment, giving rise to the “Jackass” nickname. The start-up of the Butterfield route over much of the same route led to a curtailment of this route, effective April 1, 1860.
 

ex Milgram and Walske

[The Deconstructed "Jackass" Route] cover with Sacramento City Cal Feb 16 1859 postmark tying 10c green (#33) to cover addressed to San Antonio, cover was carried on the Butterfield route to El Paso and then on the segment of "Jackass" route to San Antonio, very fine

The El Paso-Fort Yuma portion of the route was discontinued on October 27, 1858, and then the San Diego-Fort Yuma segment was discontinued on April 1, 1860, effectively ending the “Jackass” route.
 

ex Kramer and Walske

[The Deconstructed "Jackass" Route] cover to Neuces Town, Texas with "Via San Antonio and El Paso" directive, red Jackson Cal Feb 5 1860 origin postmark, franked with two copies 3c dull red (#26) with pen cancels, cover was carried on the Butterfield route to El Paso and then on the segment of "Jackass" route to San Antonio, a late use on this segment
 

ex Risvold, Kramer and Walske