How Great Britain Assisted the Formation of the Confederate Post Office [1861-1863]! (8.1.2025)

I was recently reading the post-apocalyptic book entitled “The Postman” (authored by “David Brin”) – within which it is stated that the “United States Post Office”(USPO) delivered to both side during the American Civil War (1861-1865). As a historian – often debunking US anti-intellectualism – I found this statement curious for a number of reasons, least of all “security” for both sides. Although David Brin is a sci-fi writer, he possesses the habit of inserting material “facts” into his fictional narratives. Another related fact stated that all USPO Postman are taught to drive specially-made Post-delivery trucks that possess right-hand drive (as Americans drive on the right side of the road – all normal cars are designed to be left-hand drive – so as to give the driver the maximum field of vision when traversing corners). US Postmen can then continuously get in and out of their trucks safely on the right-hand pavement – delivering and collecting the mail and so avoiding the traffic on the open road. It transpires that both these facts are correct.

The USPO did continue to deliver the Post on both sides of the “Dixie” divide during the first seven-weeks of the American Civil War – with both sides agreeing not to fire on Postmen riding single horses or driving horse and carriage, etc. However, this agreement did not stop both sides – the Confederates and the Federals – from continuously apprehending the Postal Service and confiscating the load of Post being carried. Postmen entering and leaving the North and the South were viewed with suspicion by both sides – assuming they were “spying”. Just prior to the Southern Secession, there were just under 30,000 functioning Post Offices spread throughout the entirety of the United States. The early Confederate States of America (CSA) – comprising of South Carolina (seceded 20^th December 1860), Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas (seceded 6^th March 1861) – was formed by a number of “Independent” States (that had previously withdrawn from the “Union”) on the 4^th of February 1861 (the USPO would continue operations until 31^stMay 1861 – before withdrawing altogether from the South).

When the USPO ceased operating in the ever-expanding territory of the Confederacy – it surrendered the operation of just under 9,000 functioning Post Offices. These Post Offices formed the “Post Office Department (POD)” of the Confederate States of America (CSA) on the 28^th February 1861 – under the administrative guidance of John H. Reagan. However, as very few people in the Confederacy possessed the ability to create and operate a fully functioning Post Office from scratch – the POD did not attempt to function independently until the 1^st June 1861. The politically vital direct postal route between Washington DC and Richmond was closed following the Union military occupation of Alexandria, Virgina on 21^st May 1861. This incident led directly to the USPO being expelled from all Confederate territory on the 31^st May 1861. The first Confederate stamps were printed by the Richmond, Virginia Lithography firm, Hoyer & Ludwig, which had no background in stamp printing. The first official issue was a 5 cent green stamp bearing the portrait of CSA President Jefferson Davis, making him the first living President to appear on a postage stamp.

To solve the problem of poor-quality stamp-printing and letter-writing paper and envelopes, etc, the POD turned to Great Britain for assistance. The Confederacy had to be purged of all US stamps and stationary, and develop its own distinctive high-quality letter-heads and stamps. The internationally-known London, England printing firm of “Thomas De La Rue & Co.”, prepared plates and stamps for the CSA until a Southern firm was found to take over the work. That firm, Archer & Daly, began producing stamps in 1863. The US blockade of as many Confederate ports as possible often meant that British ships carrying supplies from London, the UK, or the British Empire to the Confederacy – were often intercepted via acts of piracy on the high seas by the US Navy – with the goods confiscated and/or destroyed. The US government was continuously irritated by the continuous (undeclared) British support for the Confederacy – which for at least two-years extended into the realms of Post Office support! Of course, many of the best weapons the Confederate Army possessed were supplied by the UK. The Postmaster General of the Confederate Post Office Department (POD) – John Reagan (whilst traveling with President Jefferson Davis) – was arrested on the 8^th May 1865, and imprisoned at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Reagan was pardoned and released from prison almost two years later. Jefferson Davis “refused” a Pardon (on the grounds that he had done nothing wrong) – and was subsequently released anyway.

English Language References:

Click to access Knowles1.pdf

https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/a-nation-divided/the-confederate-postal-system#:~:text=The%20first%20Confederate%20stamps%20were%20printed%20by%20the%20Richmond%2C%20Virginia,500%20routes%20had%20been%20restored

https://www.jaysmith.com/Specials/United-States/United-States-Stamps-Confederate-Facsimiles.html