Today and tomorrow mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of
Shiloh, the deadliest day of fighting since the Civil War began
in 1861. On April 6, 1862, Union forces under the command of
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant were surprised by a Confederate attack.
Confederate forces fought well that first day, but their battle
lines became confused and the Union rallied to a victory on
April 7. But victory came at a high cost: The number dead
equaled more than all previous battles in the war, combined.
Later this month we will commemorate the 150th anniversaries of
two more Civil War battles with the release of the Civil War:
1862 stamps. One stamp depicts the Battle of New Orleans while
the other depicts the Battle of Antietam. The stamps will be
issued in a ceremony on April 24 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Will
you be joining us?