The Civil War: 1865 Souvenir Sheet of 12 USPS Forever Stamps Scott 4981a by USPS The Civil War (1861-1865), the most wrenching chapter in American history, claimed the lives of more than 620,000 soldiers and brought vast changes to the country. The Postal Service concludes its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the war by issuing a souvenir sheet with two new stamp designs for 2015. One stamp depicts the Battle of Five Forks, near Petersburg, Virginia, on April 1, 1865. The other stamp depicts Robert E. Lees surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9. Issue date: April 9, 2015