The Treasury Warrant shown above bears Dr. Starr's signature, but the image is that of Postmaster General Reagan.

Meet Dr. James H. Starr and note a Treasury Warrant signed by him.

The Trans-Mississippi Agency provided the means of keeping an effective mail system operating in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Postmaster General John H. Reagan proposed that the Confederate States of America Congress authorize the appointment of an officer west of the Mississippi. He was to perform, generally, all such duties as may be required of him, in conformity of law, to keep up the postal service.

President Jefferson Davis appointed Dr. Starr as "Trans-Mississippi Agent" effective March 12, 1864. Dr. Starr (1809-1890) had emigrated to Texas in 1837 to reside in Nacogdoches. He was a surgeon in the Army of the Republic of Texas and later became Secretary of Treasury for the Republic. When the war began, he was appointed East Texas Receiver in Sequestration, to take and sell property of enemy aliens. Starr's salary was set at $4,000 per annum and he was authorized to employ 10 clerks at $1,500 annually and was given an allotment of $500 monthly for his headquarters. Starr selected Marshall, Texas, for his office.

Starr's authority did not give him the right to "appoint" postmasters; this power reserved for the President and Postmaster General. The PMG directed Starr to employ postmasters or the entire program might have fallen apart.

On orders of PMG Reagan, the Agency would consist of the "Territories west of the Mississippi River," including the part of Louisiana west of the river. Although not specifically spelled out, the Indian Territories and any other Confederate controlled land west of the Mississippi were to be considered under Starr's jurisdiction.

Postage stamps were sent from Richmond, contained in three tin cases. These consisted of 1,250,000 10-cent stamps, 400,000 20-cent stamps and 250,000 five-cent stamps. No two-cent stamps were in this shipment.

The Trans-Mississippi Agency continued functioning until the end of hostilities. Confederate forces west of the Mississippi River surrendered formally at Shreveport on May 26, 1865.

(The majority of this article was excerpted from Confederate Post Offices, Postmasters and Postmarks of the Trans-Mississippi Department by Sanders & Gunter, pages 9 & 10.)