Birth of Florence Nightingale
Nurse and social reformer Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.
Civil War
Winfield Scott’s “Anaconda Plan”
On May 3, 1861, General-in-Chief Winfield Scott presented a plan to end the Civil War without a great loss of life – it was later dubbed the “Anaconda Plan.”
Missouri Compromise & Dred Scott Decision
On March 6, 1820, President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise into law.
Birth of Winfield Scott Hancock
Civil War commander Winfield Scott Hancock was born on February 14, 1824, in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania.
Black Heritage Series
On February 1, 1978, the USPS issued the first stamp in its now longest-running series, Black Heritage.
Postage Currency
On August 21, 1862, Postage Currency was issued to make business transactions easier during the Civil War.
U.S. Issues Replacements for Demonetized Stamps
On August 17, 1861, the first of several Civil War era stamps was first used.
Battle of Wilson’s Creek
On August 10, 1861, the first major battle in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Civil War was fought in Missouri.
Robert E. Lee Attempts to Resign
On August 8, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee penned a letter to Jefferson Davis offering to resign in the wake of his loss at Gettysburg.