A few days ago I reviewed The New York Times The Complete Front Pages 1851-2008 for articles from 150 years ago this week. It was a bit challenging finding Civil War related articles because much of the front pages were devoted to covering in great detail the visit of the Prince of Wales to New York City.
Prince of Wales by Matthew Brady 1860
This photo comes from the Smithsonian Institution
The Times reporter says that some people were inordinately excited about seeing a real live prince who might one day be king. The reporter says that even people of greater intelligence were motivated by the goodwill New Yorkers feel toward the prince’s country and toward his mother, Queen Victoria. What a difference eighty-four years makes! The Declaration of Independence is largely an indictment of the many crimes of George III, the prince’s great grandfather. Three Times issues during the week devoted their entire front pages to the prince’s New York City visit.
Actually, there was quite a bit of Civil war related news during the rest of the week. From the October 11, 1860 Times: Arrests were made in a suspected “negroe” insurrection in the Norfolk, Virginia area. Confessions (some of them extorted) of the arrested blacks indicated that some free persons (some of them free “negroes”) instigated the plot. Some citizens of the area formed “Vigilance” patrols to investigate and suppress the insurrection. One of the patrols shot a white man dead and wounded a free “negroe” at a campsite that some of the insurrectionists were using.
Also on October 11th The Times reported on October election results from a few states. Apparently some states held elections for state offices (including U.S. House Representatives) in October. To learn more about this I found a great site – The American Civil War, which focuses on one event for each day 150 years ago. According to The Times there were “Heavy Popular Majorities for the Lincoln Cause.” However, the paper also reported that the Pennsylvania and Ohio delegations to the U.S. House would each lose two Republican members to Anti-Republicans.
The October 17th issue of The Times was full of election news. There was a large Republican rally in Auburn, New York (William Seward’s home-town) the night before. “The Wide-Awake procession was large and enthusiastic. Nearly ten thousand people were in attendance.” According to Wikipedia Auburn’s population in 1860 was 10,986. A very big rally indeed!
The Wide-Awakes were also reported as being active in Springfield, Illinois. They marched to Lincoln’s home to cheer for the Republican victories in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Later at the Wigwam they heard speeches. The Wide-Awakes were also presented with “an excellent photograph of the cabin in Kentucky in which Mr. Lincoln was born.” “The enthusiasm could not be repressed until a late hour of the night.”
The Wigwam in Chicago
Extra Things
1) To see an engraving of the prince visiting Washington’s tomb during the prince’s grand North American tour check out the Civil War page of Dickinson College
2) The October 17th issue of The Times reported on a local “Base Ball match”. The box score reported outs and runs per player; even 150 years ago base ball was a nine inning game with three outs per half-inning; the offenses predominated – the final was 17-15.
3) Below the box score was an announcement of a newly formed cricket club, which was set to play their first game. The team included many base ball players. Cricket seems appropriate the week of the prince’s visit.
As always I’d appreciate any comments.
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