USPS 150th Anniversary (1862-2012) of the American Civil War

USPS on 24 April 2012 continued to issue the Civil War Series of stamps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the War between the States. Two stamps were released: The Battle on Antietam and The Battle of New Orleans. These multicoloured, offset stamps were printed by Ashton Potter, with a die cut of 11 perforations.

As the war entered its second year, the Federal government launched its first massive campaign to defeat the Confederacy. The North and South each had one million men facing off along a battlefront stretching from Virginia to Missouri. The loss of lives was enormous – five of the war’s bloodiest battles occurred in 1862, resulting in over 119,000 casualties.

The Battle of Antietam (17 September 1862)
The Confederacy fought back hard. Most of the battles had occurred on its territory. General Robert E. Lee decided it was time to take the war to the Union. His invasion ended in defeat with the Battle of Antietam, which was the single bloodiest battle on American soil at that time.
 
McClellan continued to overestimate the strength and size of his opponent. Lincoln had grown frustrated with his top general, but was heartened by the victories of Ulysses S. Grant in the West. His hopes were further buoyed by the victory of the ironclad Monitor in the Battle of Hampton Roads.

The Battle of New Orleans
Although neither side prevailed, two events eventually changed the war’s course. Union forces captured New Orleans and took control of the Mississippi River in April. This was followed on 1 January 1863, by the Emancipation Proclamation, which barred slavery throughout the Confederacy.