1995 32c Civil War: Ulysses Grant
# 2975d - 1995 32c Civil War: Ulysses Grant
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U.S. #2975d
1995 32¢ Ulysses S. Grant
Civil War
- Issued for the 130th anniversary of the Civil War
- From the second pane in the Classic Collections Series
- Declared the most popular stamps of 1995 by the USPS
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Civil War 130th Anniversary
Value: 32¢, rate for first-class mail
First Day of Issue: June 29, 1995
First Day City: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Quantity Issued: 15,000,000
Printed by: Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 20 in sheets of 120
Perforations: 10.1
Why the stamp was issued: To mark the 130th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.
About the stamp design: The Civil War stamps featured artwork by Mark Hess, who had previously produced the artwork for the Legends of the West sheet. The USPS explained that they liked his painting style because of its “folksy stiffness,” that “emulates people standing uncomfortably in front of daguerreotype cameras.”
Ulysses S. Grant’s portrait was based on a famous photo of the Union general taken at City Point during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864. As Hess described the image, “It’s just such a typical pose for him. He was a calm guy, laid back, not a big blustery person.” Hess replaced the tent from the original photo with a landscape and mountains in the distance.
First Day City: The official first day ceremony was held at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, the site of one of the war’s most famous battles. Because they received a large number of requests, the USPS made the stamps available for sale across the country the same day.
Unusual facts about the Civil War stamps: The Civil War sheet was available by mail order in uncut press sheets of six panes. Of these, 20,000 were signed by stamp artist Mark Hess. The USPS also produced a set of postcards featuring the same images as the stamps (US #UX200-19). Imperforate and partially imperforate error panes have also been found.
About the Civil War Stamps: The Civil War stamp sheet featured 16 individuals – eight from the Union and eight from the Confederacy. The four battles in the corners included one victory for each side and two that are considered draws.
This was the second sheet in the Classic Collections Series following the famed Legends of the West sheet. Stamps in this series follow a similar format – 20 stamps, a decorative header, and information about each stamp printed on its back under the gum.
Plans for the Civil War sheet began while the 1994 Legends of the West sheet was still in its planning stage. The USPS believed that the Civil War was a natural addition to the new series and would be informational for the public. Initially the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee rejected the idea, saying they should wait 20 years for the 50th anniversary of the war. But they were eventually swayed and the Civil War stamps were created. A group of historians were tasked with making a list of protentional subjects and Shelby Foote was hired to make the final selections. Foote was an expert in the Civil War, having written a three-volume history of the war and been featured in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series on the war.
The USPS wanted the Civil War stamps to have more action to them – so only the two presidents were depicted in traditional portraits. The rest of the individuals were placed in the field or amidst an activity. After the Legends of the West mix-up, in which the Bill Pickett stamp mistakenly pictured his brother Ben, the USPS completely revamped their research process. The release of the 20 Civil War stamps marked the most extensive effort in the history of the USPS to review and verify the historical accuracy of stamp subjects. As Hess completed each version of his paintings, they were sent to a panel of experts who commented on the historical accuracy of everything from the weather to belt buckles.
Some of the people and battles featured in the Civil War sheet had appeared on US stamps before. This was also the second time the Civil War was honored – a set of five stamps (US #1178-82) was issued for the centennial in the 1960s. And from 2011-15, the USPS issued a series of stamps for the war’s 150th anniversary (US #4522/4981).
History the stamp represents: Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He was a small, sensitive, and quiet child, which earned him ridicule in school by children who confused his silence for stupidity, nicknaming him “Useless.”
From an early age, Grant displayed a high level of skill in horsemanship, and he was known throughout town for his talent at handling unruly horses. In 1839, Grant’s father heard of a vacancy at West Point. He asked Congressman Thomas L. Hamer to appoint his son to fill the spot. Grant was hesitant at first, but grew excited at the chance to travel and receive a better education.
Having limited education beforehand, Grant struggled at West Point, although he did do well in math and drawing. Where he excelled was with horses. He amazed his classmates and teachers with his riding abilities, earning a reputation as a fearless and expert horseman. He also set an equestrian high jump record that was not broken for almost 25 years. Because of his skill with horses, many expected he would join the cavalry, but his poor grades placed him 21st in a class of 39 and he was made a regimental quartermaster in the infantry, managing equipment and supplies.
Upon graduating from West Point in 1843, Grant was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment south of St. Louis, Missouri. Grant received two citations for his bravery at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War. Spending much of his time at the front lines, Grant closely observed colonels and generals, and especially admired how Zachary Taylor led his campaign.
When the war was over, Grant married Julia Dent. Amidst a number of relocations, the Grants had one baby and another on the way. But when he couldn’t afford to support his family in the California frontier, he became depressed and left the Army suddenly to return home to them. He spent the next few years in a variety of jobs, but with little success.
With the breakout of Civil War in 1861, the North was in desperate need of experienced officers. The governor of Illinois asked Grant to take over a volunteer regiment that no one had been able to train. He enthusiastically accepted the task, instituting discipline and showing the men how to focus on their main goals. Over time, he won their respect and was soon appointed brigadier general.
Grant began recruiting and training volunteers. His effective and energetic style earned him a promotion to Colonel. His early engagements revolved around the area where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi River. Although some of these early battles were draws or losses, Grant was well respected. Unlike most Union leaders of the time, he had a willingness to fight.
In February of the following year, Grant led the successful captures of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. These were the Union’s first major victories of the war, and the success gained Grant national fame overnight. His surrender terms soon became famous as well – “no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender.” In light of these victories, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to major general of volunteers.
That April, the Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war. About 13,000 Union troops and nearly 11,000 Confederate troops died at the battle. Many Northerners were outraged by the loss of life and called for Grant’s replacement. But President Abraham Lincoln refused, stating, “I can’t spare this man – he fights.”
Despite the criticism he received in the press, Grant was the first Union leader to push the war into the South and force the Confederates to defend their territory. He was well respected in the field for his calmness in the heat of battle, delivering clear, concise orders. During 1863 he was promoted to major general.
Following his successful 1863 Vicksburg Campaign, which gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and split the South in two, Grant was given command of the entire western theater. Grant was relentless, but his tough tactics paid off. Grant cornered the Confederate Army in the small Appomattox Court House, forcing General Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865, and ultimately ending the war. A national hero, Grant was named General of the Army, a new rank similar to the General of the Armies rank that previously had been held by George Washington only.
President Andrew Johnson appointed Grant Secretary of War to replace Edwin Stanton. When Congress declared the move illegal, Grant willingly left the position, which made him a hero to the Radical Republicans. They nominated him as their candidate for President in the 1868 election. In his acceptance letter, his closing words were “Let us have peace,” which was used as his campaign slogan. Grant won the election with a 300,000 vote lead over his opponent, Horatio Seymour, and an Electoral College landslide of 214 votes to Seymour’s 80.
Having never held a political office before, President Grant had little knowledge of the inner workings of the government. He appointed to his cabinet friends and people who helped him during his military years. While some of these appointments, such as Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, were good choices, many resulted in scandal.
Over the course of Grant’s two-term presidency, 11 scandals were discovered, and many involved his personal secretary Orville E. Babcock. Although these scandals tarnished Grant’s time in office, he was never a part of any of them. His greatest criticism in relation to the scandals was his inability to remove the offenders from office.
In the wake of these scandals, Grant attempted to improve the way people were appointed to government positions. He appointed America’s first Civil Service Commission, which suggested giving exams and creating regulations in relation to the hiring and promotion of government employees. This went into effect in 1872, but Congress refused to take the proper actions to make this system permanent.
Grant did not let scandals keep him from doing what he set out to do as President, which was largely promote civil rights and peace. Congress passed the 15th Amendment in 1869 that gave freedmen the right to vote. The 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act gave the Federal government the power “to arrest and break up disguised night marauders.” Grant also pushed for the freedmen’s civil rights, saying they should be “possessed of the civil rights which citizenship should carry with it.” When more racist organizations began to appear and threaten the blacks out of voting, Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which required equal treatment in public housing and jury selection. The President also aimed to extend civil rights to the Native Americans, lobbying to preserve their land from American westward expansion.
Upon leaving office, Grant admitted his mistaken appointments were “errors of judgment.” He and his wife spent the next two years traveling the world. Grant spent his last days composing his memoirs, at the suggestion of his friend, Mark Twain. The former President died on July 23, 1885, just days after completing his memoirs. Twain promoted Grant’s book as “the most remarkable work of its kind since the Commentaries of Julius Caesar.”
U.S. #2975d
1995 32¢ Ulysses S. Grant
Civil War
- Issued for the 130th anniversary of the Civil War
- From the second pane in the Classic Collections Series
- Declared the most popular stamps of 1995 by the USPS
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Civil War 130th Anniversary
Value: 32¢, rate for first-class mail
First Day of Issue: June 29, 1995
First Day City: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Quantity Issued: 15,000,000
Printed by: Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 20 in sheets of 120
Perforations: 10.1
Why the stamp was issued: To mark the 130th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.
About the stamp design: The Civil War stamps featured artwork by Mark Hess, who had previously produced the artwork for the Legends of the West sheet. The USPS explained that they liked his painting style because of its “folksy stiffness,” that “emulates people standing uncomfortably in front of daguerreotype cameras.”
Ulysses S. Grant’s portrait was based on a famous photo of the Union general taken at City Point during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864. As Hess described the image, “It’s just such a typical pose for him. He was a calm guy, laid back, not a big blustery person.” Hess replaced the tent from the original photo with a landscape and mountains in the distance.
First Day City: The official first day ceremony was held at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, the site of one of the war’s most famous battles. Because they received a large number of requests, the USPS made the stamps available for sale across the country the same day.
Unusual facts about the Civil War stamps: The Civil War sheet was available by mail order in uncut press sheets of six panes. Of these, 20,000 were signed by stamp artist Mark Hess. The USPS also produced a set of postcards featuring the same images as the stamps (US #UX200-19). Imperforate and partially imperforate error panes have also been found.
About the Civil War Stamps: The Civil War stamp sheet featured 16 individuals – eight from the Union and eight from the Confederacy. The four battles in the corners included one victory for each side and two that are considered draws.
This was the second sheet in the Classic Collections Series following the famed Legends of the West sheet. Stamps in this series follow a similar format – 20 stamps, a decorative header, and information about each stamp printed on its back under the gum.
Plans for the Civil War sheet began while the 1994 Legends of the West sheet was still in its planning stage. The USPS believed that the Civil War was a natural addition to the new series and would be informational for the public. Initially the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee rejected the idea, saying they should wait 20 years for the 50th anniversary of the war. But they were eventually swayed and the Civil War stamps were created. A group of historians were tasked with making a list of protentional subjects and Shelby Foote was hired to make the final selections. Foote was an expert in the Civil War, having written a three-volume history of the war and been featured in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series on the war.
The USPS wanted the Civil War stamps to have more action to them – so only the two presidents were depicted in traditional portraits. The rest of the individuals were placed in the field or amidst an activity. After the Legends of the West mix-up, in which the Bill Pickett stamp mistakenly pictured his brother Ben, the USPS completely revamped their research process. The release of the 20 Civil War stamps marked the most extensive effort in the history of the USPS to review and verify the historical accuracy of stamp subjects. As Hess completed each version of his paintings, they were sent to a panel of experts who commented on the historical accuracy of everything from the weather to belt buckles.
Some of the people and battles featured in the Civil War sheet had appeared on US stamps before. This was also the second time the Civil War was honored – a set of five stamps (US #1178-82) was issued for the centennial in the 1960s. And from 2011-15, the USPS issued a series of stamps for the war’s 150th anniversary (US #4522/4981).
History the stamp represents: Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He was a small, sensitive, and quiet child, which earned him ridicule in school by children who confused his silence for stupidity, nicknaming him “Useless.”
From an early age, Grant displayed a high level of skill in horsemanship, and he was known throughout town for his talent at handling unruly horses. In 1839, Grant’s father heard of a vacancy at West Point. He asked Congressman Thomas L. Hamer to appoint his son to fill the spot. Grant was hesitant at first, but grew excited at the chance to travel and receive a better education.
Having limited education beforehand, Grant struggled at West Point, although he did do well in math and drawing. Where he excelled was with horses. He amazed his classmates and teachers with his riding abilities, earning a reputation as a fearless and expert horseman. He also set an equestrian high jump record that was not broken for almost 25 years. Because of his skill with horses, many expected he would join the cavalry, but his poor grades placed him 21st in a class of 39 and he was made a regimental quartermaster in the infantry, managing equipment and supplies.
Upon graduating from West Point in 1843, Grant was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment south of St. Louis, Missouri. Grant received two citations for his bravery at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War. Spending much of his time at the front lines, Grant closely observed colonels and generals, and especially admired how Zachary Taylor led his campaign.
When the war was over, Grant married Julia Dent. Amidst a number of relocations, the Grants had one baby and another on the way. But when he couldn’t afford to support his family in the California frontier, he became depressed and left the Army suddenly to return home to them. He spent the next few years in a variety of jobs, but with little success.
With the breakout of Civil War in 1861, the North was in desperate need of experienced officers. The governor of Illinois asked Grant to take over a volunteer regiment that no one had been able to train. He enthusiastically accepted the task, instituting discipline and showing the men how to focus on their main goals. Over time, he won their respect and was soon appointed brigadier general.
Grant began recruiting and training volunteers. His effective and energetic style earned him a promotion to Colonel. His early engagements revolved around the area where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi River. Although some of these early battles were draws or losses, Grant was well respected. Unlike most Union leaders of the time, he had a willingness to fight.
In February of the following year, Grant led the successful captures of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. These were the Union’s first major victories of the war, and the success gained Grant national fame overnight. His surrender terms soon became famous as well – “no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender.” In light of these victories, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to major general of volunteers.
That April, the Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war. About 13,000 Union troops and nearly 11,000 Confederate troops died at the battle. Many Northerners were outraged by the loss of life and called for Grant’s replacement. But President Abraham Lincoln refused, stating, “I can’t spare this man – he fights.”
Despite the criticism he received in the press, Grant was the first Union leader to push the war into the South and force the Confederates to defend their territory. He was well respected in the field for his calmness in the heat of battle, delivering clear, concise orders. During 1863 he was promoted to major general.
Following his successful 1863 Vicksburg Campaign, which gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and split the South in two, Grant was given command of the entire western theater. Grant was relentless, but his tough tactics paid off. Grant cornered the Confederate Army in the small Appomattox Court House, forcing General Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865, and ultimately ending the war. A national hero, Grant was named General of the Army, a new rank similar to the General of the Armies rank that previously had been held by George Washington only.
President Andrew Johnson appointed Grant Secretary of War to replace Edwin Stanton. When Congress declared the move illegal, Grant willingly left the position, which made him a hero to the Radical Republicans. They nominated him as their candidate for President in the 1868 election. In his acceptance letter, his closing words were “Let us have peace,” which was used as his campaign slogan. Grant won the election with a 300,000 vote lead over his opponent, Horatio Seymour, and an Electoral College landslide of 214 votes to Seymour’s 80.
Having never held a political office before, President Grant had little knowledge of the inner workings of the government. He appointed to his cabinet friends and people who helped him during his military years. While some of these appointments, such as Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, were good choices, many resulted in scandal.
Over the course of Grant’s two-term presidency, 11 scandals were discovered, and many involved his personal secretary Orville E. Babcock. Although these scandals tarnished Grant’s time in office, he was never a part of any of them. His greatest criticism in relation to the scandals was his inability to remove the offenders from office.
In the wake of these scandals, Grant attempted to improve the way people were appointed to government positions. He appointed America’s first Civil Service Commission, which suggested giving exams and creating regulations in relation to the hiring and promotion of government employees. This went into effect in 1872, but Congress refused to take the proper actions to make this system permanent.
Grant did not let scandals keep him from doing what he set out to do as President, which was largely promote civil rights and peace. Congress passed the 15th Amendment in 1869 that gave freedmen the right to vote. The 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act gave the Federal government the power “to arrest and break up disguised night marauders.” Grant also pushed for the freedmen’s civil rights, saying they should be “possessed of the civil rights which citizenship should carry with it.” When more racist organizations began to appear and threaten the blacks out of voting, Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which required equal treatment in public housing and jury selection. The President also aimed to extend civil rights to the Native Americans, lobbying to preserve their land from American westward expansion.
Upon leaving office, Grant admitted his mistaken appointments were “errors of judgment.” He and his wife spent the next two years traveling the world. Grant spent his last days composing his memoirs, at the suggestion of his friend, Mark Twain. The former President died on July 23, 1885, just days after completing his memoirs. Twain promoted Grant’s book as “the most remarkable work of its kind since the Commentaries of Julius Caesar.”