. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
POSTAL HISTORY

First National Flag and the Great Seal of
the Confederate States of America

Map of the Confederate States of America
The CSA for formally proclaimed in February 1862 by the seven
States that had seceded from the United States following the election of
Lincoln. The capital was moved to Richmond Virginia in May 1861. Meanwhile four
other states joined the Confederacy and two other States had both Confederate
and Union government factions (Kentucky and Missouri). Maryland had
pro-secession feelings but Lincoln arrested or barred the strongest pro-Southern
State legislators from their constitutional duties to prevent enactment of a
secession declaration. Maryland did provide many units that fought with the
Confederacy against the Federals. In addition there was the Territory of Arizona
encompassing much of today's States of New Mexico and Arizona.
After secession, the seceding States called for the US to
abandon their military bases in their territories. In April 1861, Lincoln sent a
replenishment ship to Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston South Carolina.
This caused the bombardment of Fort Sumter and launched the War for Southern
Independence. These bonds were issued to support the Confederate Government and
for defense of their territories from Northern aggression.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
\
Scott no. 1c picturing Pres. Jefferson Davis
- 5 cents - issued October 1861 printed by Hoyer & Ludwig

Scott no. 2a featuring Thomas Jefferson - 10 cents
- issued November 1861. Printed by J. T. Patterson & Co.

Scott no. 4 picturing Pres. Jefferson Davis
- 5 cents - issued March 1862.

Scott no. 5 featuring Thomas Jefferson - 10 cents
- issued around March 1863. Printed by Hoyer & Ludwig.

Scott no. 6 picturing Pres. Jefferson Davis
- 5 cents - issued April 1862. Printed by De La Rue & Co.,
London England


Scott no. 7 picturing Pres. Jefferson Davisn
- 5 cents - issued August 1862. Printed by Archer & Daly.

Scott no. 8 featuring Andrew Jackson - 2 cents -
issued May 1863. Printed by Archer & Daly.

Scott no. 11b picturing Pres. Jefferson
Davis - 10 cents - issued April 1863..


Scott no. 12 picturing Pres. Jefferson Davis
- 10 cents - issued May 1863

Scott no. 13 featuring George Washington - 20
cents - issued June 1863. Printed by Archer & Daly.

Scott no. 14 featuring John C. Calhoun - 1 cent -
never issued. Printed by De La Rue and Co., London England
The Confederate Post Office Department was
authorized in February 1861 and became functionally operational on
June 1, 1861. In the interim USA postage stamps were valid to a
point. After they were invalidated a system of local "postmaster
provisionals" were used, some in the form of stamps and some as
stamped envelopes until CSA stamps became available. Many cities and
towns issued these but most are quite rare today. Here is an
example of a stamp issued by J. L. Riddell postmaster of New
Orleans.

Here is an example of a provisional stamped envelope
issued by the postmaster in Marietta, Ga.

Official CSA postage stamps became available as
early as October 1861. Postmaster provisionals were still used when
postage stamps were unavailacle. Here is a collection of covers
(envelopes) postally used in the Confederacy, one from each State.
Confederate Territories such as Arizona and Indian Territories were
also utilized but these covers are extremely rare.
ALABAMA

Posted from GAINSVILLE, ALA., on February 8 probably 1863. Has a
pair of Scott no. 7 (5 cents) to meet the 10 cents rate then in effect. These
stamps were printed by Archer and Daly of Richmond from plates provided by De La
Rue & Company in London, England. The cover was addressed to Dr/ Preston Morris,
Cool Well, Amherst County, Virginia.
ARKANSAS

Adversity Cover posted from LITTLE ROCK, ARK on May 5, 1863 (?).
Has a pair of Scott 7. Addressed to Mrs. Mary E. Sloan, Georgetown, Williamson
County, Texas. An adversity cover is when there was a shortage of paper, folks
resorted to using forms, wallpaper, etc. This is on an old printed form.
FLORIDA

Posted from QUINCY, FLOR on July 13. Has a single of Scott 12.
Addressed to Mrs. Lamar Cobb, Athens, Georgia.
GEORGIA

Posted from MARIETTA, GEO., on May 2. Has a single of Scott no. 1.
Addressed to Dr. Thomas W. Grimes, Columbus, Geo.
LOUISIANA

Mailed from NATCHITOCHES, LA. Has a pair of Scott no. 7, though
two different printings, one dark blue and the other blue. Addressed to Capt.
Joseph L. S. Kirby, Care of Genl. E. Kirby Smith, Tans-Mississippi Department,
Shreveport, La. Capt. Kirby enlisted on July 18, 1861 at Richmond where he
mustered into the4th Co. Virginia Infantry Howitzers Light Artillery as a
private. On November 2, 1862 he was promoted to3nd. Lieutenant and commissioned
into the 4th Company CS Engineers Corps. He took the oath at Galveston on June
20, 1865. Gen Smith's father was Joseph L. Smith so it is likely that they were
related.
MISSISSIPPI

Posted from VICKSBURG, MISS. docketed Feb. 1st with a pair of
Scott no. 7. Addressed to Mrs. Jane C. Jones, Port Gibson, mss.
NORTH CAROLINA

Posted from RALEIGH, N.C. June 28 probably 1864 with a single of
Scott no.12a. Addressed to Judge Thos. Ruffin, Graham, Allamance Co., N. C.
SOUTH CAROLINA
t
South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860. She joined the
Confederacy on February 4, 1861. US stamps were valid until May 31, 1861. This
cover was posted on April 8, 1861, four days before the Federal replenishment
and the subsequent shelling of Fort Sumter and is franked by US Scott no. 26.
The cover is addressed to John Gordon Esq., Johnsonville, So. Ca.

This was posted from CHARLESTOB, S.C., on March 31 1864 and
bears a single Scotty no. 11. It is addressed to Mrs. Josiah Beders, Chester, So.
Ca.
TENNESSEE

Mailed from KNOXVILLE, TENN on Oct. 2, 1862. Has a pair of Scott
no. 6. Addressed to Mrs. John C. Douglas, Str. Plains, Tenn.
TEXAS

Posted from HOUSTON, TEX.and bears a single Scott no. 12. It
is addressed to Capt. J. W. Hubbard, Boston, Bowie Co, Texas.
VIRGINIA

Posted from PORTSMOUTH, VA., on January 2, 1852 and bears a
single Scott no. 1. Addressed to Gen. A. S. Griffin Esq, Petersburg,
Virginia.
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Army Field Post parallel bar cancellation on Scott no. 11.
Addressed to Mrs. M. N. Stokes, Hogansville, Georgia.

Army Field Post concentric circle cancellation on Scott no. 12d.
Addressed to Miss Mary E. Blakemore, Sangerville, Augusts Co. Va.
SOLDIER'S LETTER

Soldier's letters could be sent postage due. This is an
example. Note the soldier's information at the top right "Capt. U. C. Allen 21st
Ga. Vols." The cover was addressed to Mrs. Susie Allen, Antioch, Georgia. The
cover has the DUE 10 marking and is postmarked RICHMOND VA MAY 1.
PRISONER'S LETTER

This interesti g cover was sent by a POW held at Point Comfort
MD on October 17, 1864 franked with a US Scott no. 65 three cent stamp. It was
sent through the lines "by flag of truce" to Richmond where a CSA Scott no.
11was added and postmarked RICHMOND VA NOV 1?. It was addressed to Miss Emma J.
Lavinder, Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia. The scan does not show it
clearly but the arrow points to a n octagonal PRISONER'S LETTER - EXAMINED
handstamp.
FLAG OF TRUCE LETTER

This leeter was sent from RICHMOND VA AUG 13 bearing a single
Scott no. 12 addressed to Mrs. Wm Palmer, Lumpkin, Stewart Co., Georgia. It is
annotated By Flag of Truce indicating that it passed through Federal lines.
TURNED COVER

Paper became scarce due to the Federal blockade. Many covers
were homemade. Some were made from wallpaper, others from various forms. Many
would open a used cover and remake it into a new envelope and reuse it. This is
an example, the first usage had a Scott no. 12 sent from Jones, Ga., dated Feb.
26 addressed to G. W. Boatright, Pocataligo, SC Co c 12 Ga . Thee last usage had
a pair of Scott no. 7 with a Savannah, Ga, postmark of May 2 (likely 1864). The
reused cover was addressed to Miss Mattie Kemp, Stephansville, Georgia.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Confederate Government bureaus and departments had free franking
privileges for official business mail. Here is an example from the WAR
DEPARTMENT. It is annotated as the return address "Secy of War / about the
discharge of/Surgeon Dinplop (?) - 1863." It is addressed to His Excellancy Jos.
E. Brown, Governr5 of Georgia, Milledgeville, Ga.
PATRIOTIC COVER

Both sides issued patriotic envelopes. This is an example
of a Southern with a true patriotic motif. Note the flag has 10 stars so this
was probably printed in late May or early June 1861 after North Carolina
was admitted and before Tennessee was admitted to the Confederacy. The Northern
ones were mainly very crude in demonizing the South for daring to declare
independence from their Union. Rather than appeal to one's patriotism, they were
designed instill hate. An example follows.

I have included a few covers issued in Southern cities while
under Federal occupation.
NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA

New Bern N. C. postmarked Mar 10 1865. New Bern was
captured by the invaders under Gen. Burnside on March 14, 1862. The Confederate
forces tried to retake the city from February 1 to 3 `864 but were unsuccessful.
The city remained under Federal occupation for the remainder of the War. This
cover was postmarked Mar 10 1865.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Nashville TN was captured by the vandals in March 1863.
Confederate forces tried to retake the city in December 1864 but failed. This
cover was postmarked Nov 30 63.
NORFOLK VIRGINIA

Norfolk VA was seized by the yankees on May 10 1862 and was held
under Martial Law for the entirety of the War. This cover is postmarked Sep 8
63.
KANAWHA COURT HOUSE (West) VIRGINIA

Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17 1861 after Lincoln
imposed conscription on the non-seceding States. She joined the Confederacy on
May 7, 1861. The 39 northwestern counties of Virginia then voted to secede from
the State of Virginia on August 20, 1861. Parts were recovered by Confederate
forces in May and June 1862 but they were forced back in July. She was finally
admitted to the Union on June 20 1863. Confederate force recaptured the city on
September 12, 1862 but were forced to abandon it on October 28, 1862. This cover
is postmarked KANAWHA C.H. VA DEC 27 1862.
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