3c rose tied by target cancel on cover addressed to U.S. Steamer Ship New Ironsides, off Charleston, SC with Mar 20 Lynn, Mass cds.

The USS New Ironsides was stationed off Charleston, South Carolina, protecting the wooden blockaders from attack by Confederate ironclads.

3c rose tied by "U.S. SHIP" straightline marking with Philadelphia Aug 5, 1864 cds on cover to New York.

The tug/gunboat USS Azalea was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in June 1864. It served off Charleston, SC. The vessel arrived back in Philadelphia from blockade duty on August 4, 1864, carrying a load of letters from sailors involved in the blockade.

3c rose tied by target cancel on cover with "U.S. SHIP" straightline marking and Sep 1

The marking "U.S. SHIP" was applied to mail which originated from sailors and soldiers aboard ships on blockade duty and soldiers along the Atlantic Coast. The Bermuda was part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron which patrolled the Atlantic coast from the
North Carolina/South Carolina line to Cape Florida. The Bermuda arrived in Philadelphia on September 17, 1864 from Wilmington, NC.

The marking was applied to sailors' and soldiers' mail brought into the port of Philadelphia. The letter was charged the normal 3¢ postage, but not the 2¢ ship fee because such mail was considered federal mail and, therefore, not liable for such charge.

3c rose tied by grid cancel with Jan 13 New York cds on cover addressed to U.S. Steamer Fort Donelson, North Atlantic Block Squadron, off Beauford, NC

3c rose pair with large left margin, tied by Mar 1863 Philadelphia cds with "U.S. SHIP" straightline marking on cover to Bristol, Conn.

The Massachusetts was part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron which patrolled the Atlantic coast from the North Carolina/South Carolina line to Cape Florida. The Massachusetts arrived in Philadelphia on March 30, 1863 from Wilmington, NC.

This letter was charged the normal 3¢ postage [x2 in this instance for an overweight letter), but not the 2¢ ship fee because such mail was considered federal mail and,
therefore, not liable for such charge.

Two 3c rose singles, tied by large grid cancel and New York cds on cover to Hilton Head, SC. Manuscript "Recieved Hilton Head S.C. Sept 5 1864" and "Steamer Arago"

The Arago carried troops and supplies on a regular schedule between Beauford, SC and Hilton Head, SC.