Beast on Broadway

Posted on November 7, 2014 by SUMPTER
NY Times 11-7-1864

NY Times 11-7-1864

General Benjamin F. Butler had yet another role to play for the Union cause – help keep New York City peaceful and orderly for the November 8th election. New Yorkers could read his orders 150 years ago today.

From The New-York Times November 7, 1864:

TO-MORROW’S ELECTION; Gen. Butler in Command in the State of New-York. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 1. Troops Detailed to Preserve the Peace and Prevent Rebel Incursions. NO INTERFERENCE WITH THE ELECTIONS Raiders and Rebels and Ballot-box Stuffers Warned.

HEADQUARTERS CITY OF NEW-YORK, Nov. 5, 1864.

GENERAL ORDERS No. 1. — In obedience to the orders of the President, and by the assignment of Maj.-Gen. DIX, Commanding Department of the East, Maj.-Gen. BU[T]LER assumes command of the troops arriving and about to arrive, detailed for duty is the State of New-York, to meet existing emergencies.

To correct misapprehension, to soothe the fears of the weak and timid, to allay the nervousness of the ill-advised, to silence all false rumors circulated by, bad men for wicked purposes, and to contradict once and for all false statements adapted to injure the Government in the respect and confidence of the people — the Commanding-General takes occasion to declare that troops have been detailed for duty in this district sufficient to preserve the peace of the United States, to protect public property, to prevent and punish incursions into our borders and to insure calm quiet.

Gen. Ben Butler (between 1855 and 1865; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-00896)

beware “Raiders and Rebels and Ballot-box Stuffers”

If it were not within the information of the Government that raids, like in quality and object to that made at St. Alban’s, were in contemplation, there would have been no necessity for precautionary preparations.

The Commanding-General has been pained to see publications by some, not too well-informed persons, that the presence of the troops of the United States might by possibility have an effect upon the free exercise of the duty of voting at the ensuing election.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The soldiers of the United States are specially to see to it that there is no interference with the election unless the civil authorities are overcome with force by bad men.

The armies of the United States are “ministers of good and not of evil.” They are safeguards of constitutional liberty, which is FREEDOM TO DO RIGHT, NOT WRONG. They can be a terror to evil doers only, and those who fear them are accused by their own consciences.

Let every citizen having a right to vote, as according to the inspiration of his own judgment, freely. He will be protected in that right by the whole power of the Government if it shall become necessary.

At the polls it is not possible exactly to separate the illegal from the legal vote — “the tares from the wheat” — but it is possible to detect and punish the fraudulent voter, after the election is over.

Fraudulent voting in election of United States officers is an offence against the peace and dignity of the United States.

Every man knows whether he is a duly qualified voter, and he who votes, not being qualified does a grievous wrong against light and knowledge.

Specially is fraudulent voting a deadly sin and heinous crime, deserving condign punishment in those, who, having rebelliously seceded from, and repudiated their allegiance to this Government when at their homes in the South, now having fled here for asylum, abuse the hospitality of the State and clemency of the Government by interfering in the election of our rulers.

Such men pile rebellion upon treason, breach of faith upon perjury, and forfeit the amnesty accorded them. It will not be well for them to do so.

There can be no military organization in any State, known to the laws, save the militia and armies of the United States. By command of

Maj.-Gen. BENJ. F. BUTLER.

R.F. PUFFER, Captain, A.D.C., A.A.A. General.

You can read all about General Butler’s work in New York City for the election at Mr. Lincoln and New York

General Butler played Falstaff in the following 1864 political cartoon (details at the Library of Congress):

Behind the scenes (1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-89718)

Beast Butler in a supporting role

_________________________________________________________

1864_US_election_poster

Clement Secretary of War?

joking Abe

tall little joker

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

election day forecast

Posted on November 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

threats at home and from abroad

McClellan Mass ticket (J. E. Farwell & Co., Boston, Massachusetts, 1864 ; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/scsm000294/)

some Dems for Massachusetts

Richmond editors shared some information they said they found in Northern papers about the upcoming Yankee presidential election: the United States government warned about a conspiracy to set fire to Northern cities on November 8th to disrupt the vote (you can read about Chicago’s response to the alleged threat at Civil War Daily Gazette), there was a small attack in Maine, and New York Governor Horatio Seymour took steps to ensure a peaceful election without interference from Union troops.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 7, 1864:

Latest from the North.

We have received New York and Baltimore papers of Wednesday, the 3d [2nd?] instant, and the evening of that day.

More Alarms for the Yankees–a plan to burn the Yankee Towns.

We have some very strong election cards in the Yankee papers. The first is gotten up by Seward, and is contained in the following official dispatch:

Washington, November 2, 1864.

To the Mayor of Buffalo:

Erie County, NY 1864 (LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/2012593657/)

target on Lake Erie? (1854 map)

This department has received information from the British Provinces to the effect that there is a conspiracy on foot to set fire to the principal cities in the Northern States on the day of the Presidential election. It is my duty to communicate this information to you.

W. H. Seward.

The next is a grand description of a land battle, in which the sentinel was “shot at” and the ball lodged in “two feet” of him. The point attacked was a town called Castine, in Maine, on the Canada line [actually about half-way down the Maine coast from Canada]. A flaming telegram says:

A small party of men approached from the rear, and when challenged immediately fired upon the sentinel, who returned the fire. Sergeant Ramsdell was fired upon as he came out of his quarters. Four balls lodged within two feet of him.

The garrison mustered promptly and pursued the raiders for about half a mile, firing upon them and they replying, when they took to a boat and escaped. The object, it is supposed, was to capture the United States cutter lying in the harbor. This city has been put into a state of defence.

By orders from Governor Cony, the Home Guard are in readiness for duty, and the city government has increased and armed the police.

[No Democrats are likely to vote in Castine tomorrow, and the “Home Guard” will see that they don’t.]

Republican Cal ticket (LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/scsm000498/)

left coast Republicans

Governor Seymour out in another Proclamation — the military not to interfere with the polls.

Governor Seymour, of New York, issued a proclamation on Wednesday with reference to the coming election and military interference therewith. The abolition papers say it is gotten up with a single eye to a free fight at the polls. He appeals to men of all parties to unite with those holding official positions in their efforts to allay undue excitement, soften the harshness of party prejudices and passions, and to avoid all measures and language which tend to strife or disorder; but closes with the following significant directions:

Sheriffs of counties and all other officers whose duty it is to keep the peace and protect our citizens will take care that every voter shall have a free ballot, in the manner secured to him by the constitution and laws.

It will be their duty to see that no military or other organized forces shall be allowed to show themselves in the vicinity of the places where elections are held, with any view of menacing or intimidating citizens in attendance thereon.

Against any such interference they must exercise the full force of law, and call forth, if need be, the power of their districts.

A New York letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer gives the “Administration” view of what Seymour means:

Under cover of a desire to calm the public mind, it is not difficult to see that there is mischief in the proclamation, below the surface, and as such you will not be surprised to hear that the Governor’s friends, the Maskerelville boys and the “dangerous classes” generally, are in over it. The “military interference” paragraphs in the proclamation, it is well understood, are aimed at General Dix, who is now come about as great an eyesore to the disloyalists General Butler was once to the New Orleans Norfolk Secesh.

________________________________________________________________
I would say this political cartoon is a effort to sell General McClellan as the only hope to return to anything like the status quo ante.

The true issue or "That's what's the matter" ( New York : Published by Currier & Ives, c1864; LOC: LC-USZC4-12609)

break it up

You can read the details of the political cartoon showing General McClellan as mediator at the Library of Congress

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

campaign mission

Posted on November 5, 2014 by SUMPTER
Union Republican ticket. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, for Vice-President. [Campaign ticket] (1864; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/scsm000731/)

“the most important event in American History”

Two newspapers are definitely represented in the big notebook of Civil War clippings at the Seneca Falls, New York public library: the Seneca Falls Reveille, still published with a different name today, and the Seneca County Courier, which was published until 1902. I think both papers were pro-Democratic party, but apparently the Courier did publish an 1864 letter from a Republican cavalryman.

One of the reasons I did not post the following letter back in the summer was because of a confusion over dates. I think the clipping from 150 years ago had a typo within the date of the letter. I noticed that the correspondent’s last section kind of broke into the details of cavalry raids like a modern political commercial.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

Correspondence of the Courier.

 

FROM THE 8th N.Y. CAVALRY.

CAMP 8th N.Y. CAVALRY, NEAR
PRINCE GEORGE COURT HOUSE, Va.,
June 2[?], 1864.

Editor Courier: – Thinking that perhaps those having friends in the 8th N.Y. Cavalry would be pleased to hear from them, I will improve the few moments left me before we leave Camp. I will be brief, – going back as far as the 30th of May, (the time I joined the Regiment,) when our Division was ordered to pass around the right of the Army and destroy the railroad and bridge crossing the South Anna. … [the raid is described] The object being attained, we fell back and joined the Army, and crossed the James River on the 17th. We are encamped near Petersburg, but expect to leave in one hour. Where we can go can only be surmised. One thing is certain, an order has been issued to the officers to prepare for a ten day’s raid.

Second coming of "Abraham." Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1864, By H. Cann, in the Clerk's office, Of the District court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. [c. 1864] (1864; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/amss001222/)

Abraham’s flag, the old flag

A word to our friends at home: – The coming Presidential campaign will be the most important event in American History. In the contest of 1860, the friends of Slavery, under the banner of J.C. Breckenridge [sic] acted avowedly and solely to consummate the division and destruction of the Republic. In the contest of 1864, it is the co-relative duty of the friends of Freedom, under the flag of Abraham Lincoln, to rebuild and restore the Union. Upon their harmonious and vigorous action, the great work of achieving a permanent peace and honorable reconstruction, chiefly depends. Should faction, or ambition, distract or divide them, an enemy of the war for the preservation of our free iustitutions [sic], will succeed to the Presidential Chair, and in that event the catastrophe of separation will be inevitable. Keenly alive to this fact, the armed adversaries of the Union, and those who sympathize with them, will make herculean efforts to sow dissension among the true friends of the Government. Let every true lover of his country put forth every effort in his power to defeat these combinations in the coming election. We look to the men of Seneca to do their whole duty. We will take care of the enemy in the field. Will you defeat them at home? A MEMBER OF Co. D.

P.S. We receive your valuable paper weekly, and can say that we derive great pleasure in perusing its contents.

Posted in Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“blood-bought franchise”

Posted on November 4, 2014 by SUMPTER

I’ve gone to the polls many times, but I’ve never had to be concerned about the military interfering with my vote. Apparently not so in Civil War Kentucky.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 4, 1864:

Governor Bramlette, of Kentucky, and the Approaching Presidential “election.”

Soldiers from the 134th Illinois Volunteer Infantry marching at Columbus, Kentucky (by John Carbutt, 1864; LOC: C-DIG-ds-04863)

“Soldiers from the 134th Illinois Volunteer Infantry marching at Columbus, Kentucky” (1864)

Governor Bramlette, of Kentucky, has periodical fits of sauciness towards his master at Washington, which must amuse the Yankees a good deal, especially as nothing ever comes out of them. His last proclamation is a good specimen. It refers to the military control which the New England masters of Kentucky intend to exercise over the voting in that State at what is called, by way of a joke, the “coming Presidential election.” It is dated “Executive Mansion, Frankfort, October 17,” and here is an extract:

The military authorities have nothing to do with elections, and have no authority or right, as officers or soldiers, to interfere therewith. At elections, all are citizens — none are soldiers. Citizenship is the highest status of the man. The soldier is but a citizen employed in the military service — not in the civil. The duty of the soldier is to support — not to overthrow or control — the civil authority. He is to establish the civil authority where it has been overborne by revolt — not to overrule or usurp civil authority.

If, therefore, any military officer shall show-himself so regardless of duty as to assume to direct or control the officers of election, you should treat such orders with indignant contempt, and scorn obedience which implies perjury and cowardice in you.

Soldiers from the 134th Illinois Volunteer Infantry drilling at Columbus, Kentucky (by John carbutt, 1864; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-33524)

“Soldiers from the 134th Illinois Volunteer Infantry drilling at Columbus, Kentucky” (1864)

If military force is brought to menace the officers of election or voters, your duty is clearly marked out by law. The law is as binding upon the soldier as upon any other citizen. He has no more right to violate it, and is as amenable to its penalties. As no officer of any rank, from the President down, has any right or authority to interfere with elections, no order to do so can legalize the act. If there be sufficient power in the citizens present at any place where such interference may be attempted to arrest the offenders, and hold them over to answer to the violated laws, it will be the duty of the sheriff to make the arrest in such case. He has authority to require the aid of every citizen, and it should be readily and promptly given in defence of a common right — of a blood-bought franchise. If the force employed to interfere with the election be too great, at any place of voting, to be arrested, the officers of election in such case should adjourn, and not proceed with the election. If you are unable to hold a free election, your duty is to hold none at all, but adjourn and report the offenders to the grand jury of your county for indictment and punishment.–This is the lawful mode of meeting unlawful attempts to disturb the freedom of elections.

Thomas Elliot Bramlette was elected Kentucky governor in 1863 amid ” complaints about the election as Union forces which occupied the state were said to have intimidated supporters of [Bramlette’s opponent] Wickliffe. As a result, Bramlette won the election by a 4 to 1 margin.” When the Civil War broke out Mr. Bramlette raised a regiment for the Union army. As governor his support for the Lincoln administration eroded. He disagreed with arming Kentucky slaves and with the suspension of habeas corpus in the state.

General Stephen G. Burbridge was Union military commander of Kentucky during much of 1864. According to The Kentucky Civil War Bugle:

To ensure Lincoln’s reelection, Burbridge allegedly tampered with returns in Kentucky and arrested candidates and campaign participants he considered objectionable as well as people he thought might vote for someone other than Lincoln.

Lt. Gov. Richard Taylor Jacob and Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joshua Bullitt were among those arrested and taken away.

As it turned out, General McClellan won Kentucky’s 11 electoral votes.

I did not put the photos of the 134th Illinois in this post to suggest that the regiment interfered with the Kentucky vote.

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Going into polling booth. Election day, 1940. McIntosh County, North Dakota (by John vachon; LOC: LC-USF34-061686-D)

“Going into polling booth. Election day, 1940. McIntosh County, North Dakota”

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

October surprise?

Posted on November 3, 2014 by SUMPTER
ny times 10-29-1864

reconnoissance in force (NY Times 10-29-1864)

As the 1864 presidential election neared, a Democrat paper claimed that a Union assault on the Petersburg-Richmond front was politically motivated to create good war news for President Lincoln; the administration then covered up the failed attack. From a Seneca County, newspaper in November 1864:

Another Advance and Another Retreat.

On Wednesday of last week Grant’s army made another advance towards Petersburg and Richmond. The fighting continued during Wednesday night and all day on Thursday, ending in the repulse of our army at all points. It is stated that the enemy’s works were well manned and utterly impregnable, and that our forces could make no impression upon the lines. Our loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was very large. The administration has endeavored to keep back all intelligence of the disaster, for political reasons. It was a movement designed solely to bolster up the administration; it failed, hence the reticence of the authorities at Washington. –

Gen. Butler lost two full brigades. The 148th Regiment went into the fight two hundred strong, and lost nearly one half in killed, wounded and prisoners. Capt. GAGE, of Geneva, lost his life while bravely leading the regiment.

Darwin E. Gage

Darwin E. Gage

148thInfRegColor1995.3592

NY 148th’s regimental color

As part of the XVIII Corps, the 148th fought in the attack north of the James at Fair Oaks. The New York State Military Museum provides the image of the 148th’s colors:

According to Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Murray’s report regarding the regiment’s action on October 27, 1864, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, Color Corporal Harmon Van Vleck successfully brought this flag off the field of battle, “while under a most terrific fire.”

According to the October 29, 1864 issue of The New-York Times (the clipping at the top left) Secretary of War Stanton did telegraph the news of the October 27th action to General Dix in New York. The reconnaissance found out that the rebel line was entrenched and well manned. According to Mr. Stanton, the purpose was accomplished and then the Union troops withdrew.

Battle of Darby Town Rd. Gen'l Butler & his staff (1864 October 27; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-22413)

“Battle of Darby Town Rd. Gen’l Butler & his staff”

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

just “checker playing,”?

Posted on October 31, 2014 by SUMPTER
McClellan song ( New York : Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co., 1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-100752)

music from the Democratic Society

A Democratic paper reported lots of evidence that New York soldiers were voting for General McClellan in large majorities.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:
The Vote in the Army
Are the Soldiers for McClellan?

A special dispatch from Washington to the New York Commercial (Rep.) of Thursday, says: “Several regiments of New York soldiers in the Army of the Potomac, have given heavy majorities for McClellan.“

The Rochester Union of Wednesday says not only do New York regiments give Gen. McClellan heavy majorities, but in some instances they give him a unanimous vote, as in the case of the following regiments reported to us by an officer, tried and true, who has just come from the front:

[69th,155th,164th,170th New York, all for McClellan.]

In the face of such facts, what becomes of the persistent representations of the Republicans, that the soldiers are not for McClellan?

The New York Express of Tuesday, says a lady residing in that city permits us to make the following extract from a letter received this morning from her husband, an officer in the 88th New York Regiment:

88TH REG’T N.Y. VOLS.,
NEAR PETERSBURGH, Oct. 28, 1564[sic].

***

My regiment voted to-day. Two hundred were entitled to vote. They all voted for McClellan and Governor Seymour. – The New york soldiers are all voting for McClellan.

A soldier belonging to a Brigade in Warren’s Corps, writes to his father in Albany city as follows:

“This Brigade has a large majority for the Democratic State Ticket. The majority on President is 656 over the Lincoln ticket. This is what is being done in the army. If the army vote will elect McClellan, he will be our next President.”

A soldier belonging to the Ninety-fifth New York Volunteers states that the votes of many of the regiments have been misrepresented, and the soldiers are indignant over that fact. The vote having been taken in his regiment, he writes to notify the public that it for Little Mac, and that his company, numbering thirty-five officers and men in the field, gave two votes for Lincoln and the balance for McClellan.

ny times 10-28-1864

NY Times 10-28-1864

150 years ago this week a Republican-leaning paper reported that some of the soldiers’ votes for Democrats were fraudulent. Here’s a snippet from The New-York Times October 29, 1864:

THE ELECTION FRAUDS.; THE PROCEEDINGS AT BALTIMORE. THE PARTIES ON TRIAL. The Frauds Deliberate and Unblushing. Evidence Entirely Conclusive. Forgery Admitted by the Prisoners. How Votes were Manufactured for McClellan and Seymour. Implication of Democratic Politicians The Voting Fraud on the New-York Soldiers. Card from Gen. Farrell.

BALTIMORE, Friday, Oct. 28.

The military commission to investigate the alleged frauds in taking the vote of the soldiers from New-York was resumed to-day. …

Mr. ORVILLE K. WOOD, of West Chazy, Clinton County, N.Y., was then sworn on the part of the Government, and testified in substance as follows:

Resides at West Chazy, Clinton County, N.Y.; is a merchant; came to Baltimore as the agent of the Union Committee of his county to assist in procuring soldiers’ votes in this city; visited Fort McHenry, and there met Capt. MCDERMOTT, of the Ninety-first New-York, and several soldiers from Clinton County; stopped there two or three days; in conversation with Capt. MCDERMOTT, in relation to the voting of soldiers, he remarked that there had been some “checker playing,” and his suspicions were aroused; visited Newton University Hospital, and from what he heard there suspected that something was wrong; went to the office of the State agency, No. 85 Lafayette-street, and there met Mr. FERRY; asked him how things were getting along, giving him to understand that he (WOOD) belonged to the McClellan party; FERRY desired to know if he had a commission from Gov. SEYMOUR; he told him that he had not, but he represented his county committee. Mr. FERRY desired to see his commission. He said he had none; but he had a list of the soldiers of his county, which appeared to satisfy Mr. FERRY. He told Mr. FERRY that he came to Baltimore to get the vote of the Ninety-first New-York. He was informed that it had been. MCCLELLAN received 400 votes and LINCOLN 11. He expressed surprise at the small number of votes polled for LINCOLN, when Mr. FERRY said that, when Union votes comes into that office, they were all right when they went out, and that they were doing more here than he thought of. …

You can read about the New York vote fraud at Mr. Lincoln and New York.

The November 12, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South) illustrated its report on the fraud with the following (I don’t think anyone accused Mr. Ferry of precisely this):

get-out-vote (Harper's Weekly 11-12-1864)

HOW THE COPPERHEADS OBTAIN THEIR VOTES.

______________________________________________
______________________________________________

Halloween (c.1917; LOC: LC-USZ62-79501)

circa 1917

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

EXECUTIVE Mansion

Posted on October 30, 2014 by SUMPTER
The grand [Lincoln] presidential party at the White House, Washington, D.C. February 6th [1862] (Illus. in: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, (1862 February 22), p. 216-17; LOC: LC-USZ62-59906)

“the best building in the country”, February 1862 (Frank Leslie’s 2-22-1862)

“The buck stops here,” but President Lincoln did not seem to have any role in the following account – except that a Democrat paper put his name in the headline. Still, it was probably a tasty story for the newspaper’s partisan readers as the presidential election approached. Keep the base fired up.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

Lincoln and Stanton Refuse a Roof to the Wounded Soldiers.

In the statement of the causes which led to his removal, which has just been published by Surgeon-General Hammond, we find the startling disclosures:

After Pope’s defeat, when the wounded wero [sic] brought to Washington by the thousands, I found it necessary to extend still further the hospital accomodations. The churches and other public buildings were filled, the Patent Office was used for the sick and wounded, and the only other public buildings available were the Capitol and the Executive Mansion. The latter was not then occupied by the President, or his family, and not long before a company of soldiers had been quartered in it. I, therefore, made application for the Capitol, and for the east room in the President’s House, the latter to be used as an officers’ hospital. – When the application reached the Secretar [sic] he sent for me, and I was again the recipient of his abuse. Again I repelled it, as I always did. I knew not why the sick and wounded should not have the best building in the country; if it was necessary. – Hundreds were then lying upon the ground for want of a place to put them, and I told him so in plain language. The end of it was, that the Capitol was ordered to be turned over to me. He was afraid to refuse it, but he informed me that I should hear from him again on the subject, which however, I never did, except that he told a distinguished officer in the army that my conduct was highly presumptuous. The East Room was never turned over if he or[d?]ered it.

Bad blood between Secretary of War Stanton and Surgeon General William Alexander Hammond led to Hammond’s dismissal effective August 18, 1864.

Second day of the second battle of Bull Run, fought Saturday, August 30--the National forces commanded by Major General Pope, and the rebel troops by General Lee, Jackson and Longstreet (Illus. in: Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, 1862 Sept. 20, pp. 412-413; LOC: LC-USZ62-94838)

wounded source: second day of Second Bull Run (Frank Leslie’s 9-20-1862)

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Lincoln Administration, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

big purses

Posted on October 29, 2014 by SUMPTER
The jockey's prayer (.Y. : Rae Smith, printer, c1868.; LOC: LC-DIG-pga-03323)

“The jockey’s prayer” c.1868

Despite the manpower shortage, rotten weather, and the annoying “Yankee invasion”, 150 years ago this week residents of Richmond could look forward to horse races at a local track. Apparently jockeys were exempt from the Confederate draft.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 28, 1864:

Broad Rock Races.

–The friends of the turf, despite the Yankee invasion, have determined to maintain the supremacy of “thoroughbreds,” and, to that end, will commence a fall meeting at Broad Rock to-day. As our readers will perceive, the first race is for a post stake, two-mile heats, to which there are three or more subscribers; and as the race is play or pay, each subscriber will be almost sure to start something for the $7,000 purse.

We have heard it suggested that Oakland, Conductor and Orien, will come together on this occasion; and if so, the friends of each will go their “piles” on the result, as all are sanguine of winning. If the three “strip” well, and the day and track prove good, an interesting and exciting race may be looked for.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 29, 1864:

Broad Rock races.

–Because of the inclement weather, and the military annoyances around the city, the races that were to have commenced on the Broad Rock Course yesterday have been postponed till next Wednesday. Many old turfmen are here to attend the sport, and, from present indications, the meeting promises to be one of unusual interest. Let the lovers of the sport bear the change in mind and be in readiness to enjoy it at the appointed time.

Meanwhile folks up North were absorbed in another kind of horse race. Here’s another cartoon in which Republicans were trying to make hay by pointing out the incongruity of General McClellan running (or riding) on the Democrats’ peace platform (read about it at the Library of Congress):

Slow & steady wins the race (1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-92036 )

jockeying for position

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

gunboat politics

Posted on October 28, 2014 by SUMPTER
The gunboat candidate at the Battle of Malvern Hill (Currier & Ives, 1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-92038)

“the story has been put to the winds”

The following Democrat article ignores the fact that President Lincoln exposed himself to rebel fire at Fort Stevens – probably imprudent, but not exactly cowardly.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

Who is in the Gunboat Now?

The Evening Journal and a host of papers of the baser sort, are filled with falsehoods about McClellan taking refuge on the gunboat Galena, in the James river. – We have shown the falsity of the imputation; and the story has been put to the winds a score of times. But unfortunately for Lincoln it revives a story as to him which is too true. The Philadelphia Age gives it:

Abraham's dream!--"Coming events cast their shadows before" (by Louis Maurer, [New York] : Published by Currier & Ives, 152 Nassau St. N.Y., c1864; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-19400)

1861 disguise coming back to haunt him?

Unfortunately for Mr. Lincoln, there are two sides to this gunboat story! It is now pretty well settled that A.L. has had some gunboat experience, not at all calculated to increase his reputation for valor. During the recent rebel invasion of Maryland, when their forces attacked the fortifications in front of Washington, the President of the United States took up his quarters on board of a gunboat lying in the Potomac, with steam up, ready to start at a moments’ warning, and remained there for the greater part of two days. The failure of the rebels to accomplish anything at Fort Stevens, and their withdrawal from Maryland, reassured the valiant Lincoln, who, after trembling for nearly forty-eight hours on board the gunboat aforesaid, again took up his quarters in the Presidential mansion, and at once recommenced his philanthropic labor in behalf of negro equality.

This was not the first time that Lincoln laced his trust in gunboats! He had one in the Potomac in 1862, during the terrible panic, which was kept with steam up for several days. A special locomotive train was engaged at the same time, and the locomotive was kept under a full head of steam day and night for a week. Whether the military cloak and Scotch cap, in the disguise of which Lincoln entered Washington, were on hand, is not known; but he was ready again and again for an unheroic flight. – Argus.

plot-kill-lincoln-1861_Pictur2 (Harper's Weekly, March 9, 1861)


(3.) THE SPECIAL TRAIN.
” He wore a Scotch plaid Cap and a very long Military Cloak, so that he was entirely unrecognizable.”

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

mail-in ballots

Posted on October 27, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

SOLDIERS’ VOTES. – The votes of our soldiers are now being received in considerable numbers daily throughout the county. Those receiving them should be careful not to open the inner envelope, which bears on the outside the general oath. If this envelope is broken open the Inspectors cannot receive the vote.

Gov. Wm. Dennison (between 1855 and 1865; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-01669)

Post Office must use “utmost diligence” to deliver the soldiers’ votes


The Lincoln administration was trying to make sure those absentee ballots got counted. From The New-York Times October 24, 1864:

SOLDIERS’ BALLOTS — IMPORTANT CIRCULAR.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed to all Postmasters in the State of New-York:

POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 22.

SIR: To insure to the soldiers of New-York the right of voting by proxy at the approaching election, under the law of your State, you are directed to use the utmost diligence in delivering the envelopes containing the ballots to the persons addressed, and if not called for on the day of receipt, you will in each case notify the person addressed that such a package is in your office, with the request that he call for the same without delay. W. DENNISON,

Postmaster-General.

You can read the verbiage on the inner envelope of the New York soldier ballots at Washington County. There might be a couple typos – for example, I think the soldiers had to affirm they were at least 21 years old, not less than 21. The pdf also supports the idea that soldiers could pretty much send their ballots to anyone at home. That person would then deliver the inner envelope to the election inspectors.

William Dennison, Jr. replaced Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General in September 1864. He was one of the first Ohioans to join the Republican party and was serving as governor of Ohio when the Civil War broke out:

Without being asked by the War Department, he sent Ohio troops under George McClellan into western Virginia, where they guarded the Wheeling Convention, which eventually led to the admission of West Virginia as a free state. He also took the initiative to seize control of Ohio’s railroads and telegraph lines early in the war to allow military usage, angering Peace Democrats in the Ohio Legislature. He denounced secession and Ohio’s “Copperheads”, established a consistent supply of arms and equipment for the new troops, and was a vocal supporter of Lincoln’s policies. During his term, he raised over 100,000 troops and organized 82 three-years regiments for the Union army.

You can read a good overview of the 1864 soldiers’ vote at Mr. Lincoln and New York

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment