Several Civil War Covers Of Interest

By Michael Downs · Originally published August 2016 · p. 23

As an avid reader of the Civil War News and a long-time stamp collector, I found Jeff Hayward’s article on collecting Civil War stamps very interesting. My article is a follow-up that examines a few Civil War covers that are available to the collector. A cover gives the collector numerous options; one can collect for the stamp that is on the cover, a first day of issue with a cancel from the United States Postal Service or its predecessors, who it is addressed to and from, the type of cancel, any ancillary markings, or for a cachet that has been placed on the envelope. To illustrate what I mean this article will examine seven types of covers that I have collected over the years all related to the Civil War.

Figure 1 As a leading “fire eater” Howell Cobb of Georgia was certainly one of the most important pro-slavery secessionists of his time but before and after the Civil War he left behind some interesting postal material. A brief history of the man must include an examination of his years as a Representative from and Governor of the state of Georgia, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President James Buchanan. Figure #1 is a cover from Howell addressed to his wife in Athens, Georgia. The date on the cancel is December 25th, 1859 and has a “free frank,” meaning he sent it while a member of the House of Representatives and thus did not have to buy a stamp to mail the letter. It also provides a great autograph of the diehard Confederate. During the war, Cobb administrated the oath of office to Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy and served as a Major General in the rebel army. However, because he was a former Secretary of the Treasury, his likeness has appeared on numerous Revenue stamps. Figure two is Scott number R708 from the Revenue series of 1957 and has a face value of $60.00.

Figure 2. The next cover for discussion is one that uses a stamp from the “Army Issue” of 1936 and 1937. The three figures that appear on the stamp are Generals William T. Sherman, U.S. Grant, Phil Sheridan and Scott #787. This item is a “First Day of Issue” cover which makes it worth collecting by itself but additionally it has

a very intricate “Cachet” on the left side, which I believe was done by Arthur I. Abelson from Utica, New York. The cachet depicts Lady Liberty standing with two cannons and General Grant to her left and on her right is “Cump” Sherman while she is holding a plaque stating “Heroes of America U.S. Army.” It is a great cover directly related to the three individuals some historians have identified as the most successful generals of the war. My only problem with this issue is they failed to picture the general that I feel was the best combat officer of the war, General George Thomas.

Figure 3.

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was the largest fraternal organization of Union Civil War veterans. Dr. Benjamin Stephenson is given credit for founding the organization while General John Logan was probably the most dynamic leader and is widely credited with establishing Memorial Day as a holiday that honors the soldiers that gave their lives for our country. Figure number four is a cover with the GAR stamp, Scott’s #985, and is a first day of issue. The cachet was created by Herman Fluegel, who is recognized as one of the best, working during the 1930’s, 40’s, and into the 50’s. His cachet honors the 85th and last encampment of this group of Civil War veterans which was held in Indianapolis, Indiana. I can almost hear the old bugler sounding taps when I look at it!

Figure 4. Famous battles were also honored, and the next cover was issued on the 74th Anniversary of the bloodiest single day in terms of killed and wounded in our military history. The conflict that took place at Antietam Creek today is recognized not only for the terrible fighting on September 17th, 1862 but also for Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Union victory. The stamp, Scott #720, is a 1932 issue, so we do not see a first-day cover cancel, but it is a beautiful postal cancel from Sharpsburg, Maryland, the home of the Antietam Battlefield with a date of September 17, 1936. The cachet presents a very brief history of the battle between George McClellan and Robert E. Lee with the date of the clash between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. I believe the cachet was made by E. F. Mezwin, of Maspeth, Queens, New York.

Figure 5. It was not unusual for political candidates to add a cachet to an envelope so that the sender could be recognized as a party supporter. This “Political Cover” is rather rare in that it depicts not only U.S. Grant but also his running mate Schuyler Colfax. Schuyler was a Representative from Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, which included South Bend, and was serving as Speaker of the House where he put his strong support for the 13th Amendment into building the necessary majority to successfully pass the measure through the House. A great postal history cover overall and here a disclaimer is needed, I grew up and spent most of my life in South Bend as a result this cover merely adds to my collecting interest.

Figure 6. The final cover is very interesting as it was sent from a city located in the mountains of western North Carolina that claims to have been the site of the last shot fired in the Civil War. Waynesville is a beautiful little town to visit with great restaurants and numerous shops selling artistic works that illustrate the natural beauty of the Smoky’s. In one of my visits there I came across a monument, in a very small city park, that made the claim that the war had actually ended on that spot. At a stamp show a few weeks later I came across this cover with a cachet dating from 1937 which gave a brief history supporting their claim. There are numerous sites that make the statement that the war ended in their geographical location but this was the first cachet, on any cover that I have observed, that supports a particular declaration. The stamp is from the Navy Issue of 1936 and 1937 and depicts Stephen Decatur and Thomas MacDonough both naval heroes of the War of 1816 and is Scott #791.

Figure 7. These are but a few covers that a philatelic related collector of the Civil War can obtain for their collection and usually at a very reasonable price. Next time you see a stamp show being held in your area, check it out and do not be afraid to ask a dealer if he has any Civil War covers. From there, narrow your request down to a specific area of your interest and I bet you will find all kinds of unusual items available. Happy Hunting!

Michael Downs is a retired history teacher who has been collecting philatelic items since the late 1950’s and is currently a member of the Knoxville (Tennessee) Philatelic Society where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the American Topical Association, the American Philatelic Society, the Indiana Postal History Society and is a life member of the Post Mark Collectors Club. Additionally, Mike is currently serving as the Department Commander of Tennessee with Alabama and Mississippi, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. In 2000 he transcribed, annotated and published the Civil War Diary of Colonel Alfred B. Wade of the 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry.