another campaign ends
On Election Day 1864 President Lincoln spent the evening at the war department reading the telegraphic good news. Here’s a bit more about Washington and Gotham on November 8th. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 14, 1864:
Later from the North.
We have received copies of New York and Baltimore papers of the evening of Wednesday, the 9th instant. We give below a summary of their contents:
The election in the United States–Lincoln re-elected by an Immense majority — M’Clellan Carries there [three] States.
There were heavy rains in the Northwest on Tuesday, rendering the working of the telegraph wires in that portion of the United States inoperative and preventing the reception of any full intelligence from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.–Without these returns, however, it is certain that Lincoln is elected by a very heavy majority. …
NY Times 11-9-1864
Election scenes in New York.
Though the election of Lincoln was a foregone arrangement, the Yankees made the same fuss over it as if there had been a chance for both sides.–There was the usual turning-out excitement and speeches that would have attended a bond fide election. Around the Herald office, in New York, the scene is thus described:
Large transparencies were fitted up in the cashier’s office of the Herald buildings, and in the windows of the editorial rooms, so arranged as to show the vote of the city by wards, for the Gubernatorial and Presidential candidates, and miscellaneous returns; while another was devoted exclusively to the announcement of the final result in the State and the country.
Amid a raw, drizzling rain, the crowd, coming from every part of the city, gradually increased, until by eight o’clock all the streets were blockaded in every direction, and transit on foot and in vehicles was almost entirely prevented. The rain did not appear to deter the citizens from venturing out; for they gathered by thousands, exposing themselves to the weather with perfect indifference to everything else but the result of the vote. They stood in the streets in solid phalanx, as compactly and regularly arranged as a regiment in the field, swaying and moving as one immense body. The rain poured down upon the upturned and anxious faces unheeded, the crowd, in the excitement of the hour, baring their heads to the storm in order to wave their hats for Little Mac. The scene and the crowd were truly characteristic of New York. –Old Abe found but little favor in it. A youthful tradesman in the literary line, who offered the Express for sale, with the announcement that [ that ] sheet claimed only two States for McClellan, met with little encouragement for his mistaken enterprise. As the heavy majorities for General McClellan were announced, long and loud cheers went up from the crowd below, breaking at times into hoarsely-sung patriotic airs, and returning, in the enthusiasm of the moment, to repeated cheers for Little Mac. …
The result in Washington.
Leonard Swett to Lincoln 11-8 10:30 PM; New York – City for Mac, State for the Prest. (Library of Congress, American memory)
A telegram, dated at Washington on the 8th, says:
About dark, a heavy rain commenced, which is still falling, and the streets are flooded, considerably reducing the numbers in search of information. Everything here is very dull and quiet.
The Union League Hall, on Ninth street, was crowded until a late hour this evening with Republicans, and as the dispatches came in the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. As it became evident that the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of Lincoln and Johnson, cheer after cheer rent the air, and audience and speakers were carried away by their feelings of rejoicing and exultation, and gave vent to them in patriotic songs and shouts of triumph. The opinion was generally expressed that Lincoln had made a clean sweep, and that it was doubtful whether McClellan had carried a single State.
Long ABRAHAM LINCOLN a Little Longer.
The Republicans here generally to-night are about the happiest people in existence. The Democratic headquarters in this city were crowded with Democrats this evening eager for election returns. They whiled away the time in listening to the reports of ballot-distributors among the hospitals and troops in the district. The leaders of the meeting evidently anticipated had news, and did very little for the consolation of the doubting — occasionally attempting a feeble speech, but generally hurrying up the messengers after telegrams. None seemed to be at all confident, although each assured the other of good news yet to come, which at a late hour had not arrived. It was expected that the Democratic Association would attempt a public demonstration, and the failure is attributed to the inclement weather.
Another, dated at midnight, says:
The people generally have gone house satisfied that Mr. Lincoln is to be the next President, and almost the only watchers are those who are interested in the result.
A few of Mr. Lincoln’s friends have called to congratulate him and hear what news he has received, but no public congratulatory visit has occurred.–The White House is closed, and nothing unusual is apparent thereabouts.
The Republicans take the result as a matter of course, and the Democrats grin and bear it.
The Abraham Lincoln cartoon was published in the November 26, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South
