As the price of postage creeps ever higher, consider the challenges of delivering mail more than 150 years ago — not only across a hostile wilderness, but also across a warring nation.

The first (and only) postmaster general of the Confederate States of America was an adopted Texan, John H. Reagan.

Although this Southern “general” fought his battles on the budget front and not the battle front during the Civil War from 1861-65, Reagan is still remembered today for his service.

John H. Reagan, in a photo circa 1861, was tapped by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to create the CSA’s postal system.
Library of Congress photo

In fact, some chapters of the Southern heritage societies such as the Sons of the Confederacy and the United Daughters of the Confederacy memorialize his name in their chapter monikers.

Tennessee native

John Henninger Reagan (1818-1905) was a native of Tennessee who came to Texas at age 19.

While working as a surveyor, Indian scout and farmer, he studied law on his own and was licensed to practice in 1846, opening an office in Henderson County.

After serving in the Texas State House of Representatives, he was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1857. The moderate Democrat was a Union supporter, but he resigned on Jan. 15, 1861, to return to his adopted state when it became clear that Texas would secede. 

President Jefferson Davis picked Reagan to head the new Confederate States of America Post-office Department.

On May 13, 1861, Reagan issued a proclamation creating the Post Office Department of the Confederate States of America.

The Confederacy also established new postal rates to replace the 3 cent standard postage rate used in the United States:

*  5 cents per half-ounce under 500 miles;

*  10 cents per half-ounce over 500 miles; and,

*  2 cents drop letters ( “dropped” at a post office for the addressee to pick up) and circulars (printed business documents or newspapers sent with either a wrapper or in an unsealed envelope).

Despite the looming hostilities, the United States postal service continued operations in the South until June 1, 1861.

Meanwhile, Reagan had sent an agent to Washington, D.C., with letters addressed to the heads of the U.S. Post Office Department’s various bureaus, asking that they come work for him. A large number did so — bringing their records, contracts, maps, forms and account books with them, historians noted. In all, 8,535 of the 28,586 post offices in the United States fell into rebel hands.

Reagan cut expenses by eliminating costly and little-used routes, and forcing the railroads that carried the mail to reduce their rates. His was the only department that managed to turn a profit.

Imprisoned in Georgia

When the rebel strongholds fell and Davis fled Virginia on April 2, 1865, Reagan accompanied him to the Carolinas. He, Davis and Texas Gov. Francis R. Lubbock were captured near Irwinville, Ga., on May 10. 

During his five months of solitary confinement at Fort Warren in Boston, he penned an open letter to his fellow Texans, urging cooperation with the Union, renunciation of the secession convention of 1861, the abolition of slavery and letting freed slaves vote.

President Andrew Jackson, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and President Thomas Jefferson were among the subjects of Confederate States of America stamps.
CSAcurrency.com images

For his recommendation on rapid reconciliation with the North, he was excoriated by Texans.

He was released from prison in December 1865, when he was pardoned, and he returned home to Palestine and the farm.  After a decade out of public life, Reagan returned to the spotlight, serving as a senator from Texas from 1875-87.

In 1891, Gov. Jim Hogg named Reagan as chairman of the newly created Railroad Commission, a position he held until retiring in 1903 to pen his memoirs.  

In 1897, Reagan helped found the Texas State Historical Association and was a frequent guest at many Confederate reunions around the state.

When he died at his home in 1905, he was the last surviving member of the rebel government to pass into the pages of history.

Sources: Handbook of Texas Online, ConfederateDigest.com, SonoftheSouth.net, National Postal Museum.

RELATED SEARCHES

• Daughters of Confederacy chapter re-chartering, officer ceremony