#postalcovers

Decorated postal envelopes were popular during the mid-nineteenth century and were often collected and placed in special albums as keepsakes. During the Civil War many of these envelopes were illustrated to support the Union war effort. A set of five “Champion Prize Envelope” postal covers published by J.H. Tingley of New York City in 1861 is one example. The envelopes feature cartoons of “Lincoln & Davis in 5 Rounds” showing the Union and Confederate presidents squaring off in a roped-in boxing ring while supporters for each man look on.

 In the “1^st Round,” a confident Lincoln proclaims, “I use no more force than necessary” and faces a cringing Davis, who whines, “Let me alone!” Lincoln is backed by Secretary of State William Seward, a group of statesmen, and General Winfield Scott as well as Union troops and canon. An American flag flies from the Capitol dome in the background. General P.G.T. Beauregard and Confederate politicians stand with Davis, and the Confederate flag, bales of cotton, dogs, and slaves are in the background. French and British leaders watch the “belligerents” from afar.

In the “2^nd Round,” Lincoln tears Davis’s coattail and pants-seat as Davis runs stumbling away with his backside exposed. “Go back you dog to the junction—I’ll call on you there soon,” Lincoln declares. “Beauregard,” Davis says, “Let’s fall back on Richmond.” Union politicians comment, “Secession is looking smaller” and “We shall soon strip it,” while one Confederate bystander asks, “What strategic movement is this?” and another answers, “Only retreating in good order.” Slaves cheer at Davis’s embarrassment and defeat, and the European onlookers declare, “We are drifting into rough waters.”

In the “3^rd Round,” Lincoln holds Davis in a headlock and proclaims, “I will soon smother those pirates.” The Confederate spectators flee, trampling the slaves in their path and shouting, “Let’s go home boys” and “Damn Pickens! South Carolina and Sumter too!” Canon balls litter the ring, and the starving dogs run off, abandoning the Confederate flag and cotton. The Union politicians cheer, “General, that’s secession’s last kick” and “See those balls rolling.” The French and British exit as well, noting the effective cotton blockade that the Union has put in place.

The “4^th Round” shows Lincoln facing his departing Union troops and declaring, “I have taken the world by surprise.” Seward and Scott stand in the center of the boxing ring. Seward asks Scott, “General, where is secession now?” to which Scott replies, “Don’t you see that grease spot?” The remaining onlookers, including Unionists John J. Crittenden of Kentucky and John M. Botts of Virginia, strain to see what will happen next.

In the “5^th Round,” a triumphant Lincoln stands in the “Champion Belt” in front of a pyramid built of all the states topped by an American flag with the letters U.S.A. Men of the North, South, East, and West wave their hats and cheer as Lincoln declares, “You shall all have my impartial, constitutional and humble protection!” The federal eagle holds a ribbon promising “Union Forever,” and Columbia holds a laurel wreath and asserts, “I still live.” Smoke from the canon carries a warning, however: “Traitors beware!! For we still live.” 

These illustrated envelopes reveal the Union belief in 1861 that the war against the Confederacy would be short and Davis’s government and army easily defeated. As would soon become clear, however, that was not to be the case.