D5202

Civil War Sesquicentennial

Battle of Vicksburg

Collins Cover Announcement 

The Civil War

Battle of Vicksburg

In May of 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant crossed the Mississippi River and drove an army of Confederate troops into defensive lines surrounding the fortified city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. On May 21 and 22, Grant's naval forces began bombarding the defensive positions with 220 artillery pieces and heavy naval gunfire from ships-on the Mississippi under the command of Rear Admiral David D. Porter.

My hand painted cachet shows men from the U.S. Navy reloading a cannon on the deck of their ship. In the distance, clouds of smoke mark hits on the southern positions as part of the bombardment. As with my Civil War covers of the past two years, the American flag and the Confederate flag are colorfully displayed at the bottom of the cachet. These covers are always eagerly acquired by my collectors, so please do not delay in ordering. The "Battle of Gettysburg" companion piece will be

announced soon.

The Battle ofsurrendered on July 4, 1863. ty days, the city was • After holding out for more than for Vicksburg is now ready. Collins #D5202 at $14.00.

Summer 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 37 D5202 — The Civil War — Gettysburg — 5/23/13

In 1863, General George Meade moved his Union troops toward the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to stop the northward advance of the Confederate Army of Robert E. Lee. The resulting three-day encounter was the largest battle of the Civil War with casualties numbering over 45,000 of which 7,500 were killed in action. My hand-painted cachet is a reflective one. It shows rifles stacked in a grassy field ready for instant use. Nearby is a field artillery piece representing the many cannons that were used with such deadly fire by both sides on the advancing lines of Blue and Gray. At the bottom, both the stars and stripes and the stars and bars are shown in rich and vibrant watercolors. Both flags and, in fact, every bit of color on each cover is done by brush-stroke after careful brush-stroke. It's the artistic craftsmanship that Collins collectors have come to expect.