By Ballot and Bullet: The Election of 1864 in Vicksburg

The presidential election of 1864, much like the election taking place tomorrow, offered the citizens of the United States two distinctly different visions for the future of the nation. Timothy P. Townsend, historian of the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic site, summarized the options before the voters in 1864 thusly:

"The presidential candidates offered the soldiers two distinct choices. A victory for the current Lincoln administration would mean the continuation of the war. A victory for General McClellan, offered the hope for immediate cessation of hostilies and the possibility of permanent disunion. It might seem that the soldiers would rather vote to end the war so that they could return home. But a vote for McClellan would invalidate all of the sacrifices that they and their comrades had made. As one soldier put it, "I can not vote for one thing and fight for another." Another wrote saying, "I do not see how any soldier can vote for such a man, nominated on a platform which acknowledges that we are whipped." ("Lincoln, Grant, and the 1864 Election." Accessed on November 2, 2020, at: https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincolngrant.htm)

Among the Union soldiers who voted in this momentous wartime election were thousands of men that made up the garrison at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The editor of The Vicksburg Herald, Ira A. Batterton, was a former Union soldier who had stayed in the city after his term of enlistment had expired. A strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln and the Union war effort, Batterton provided extensive election coverage for his readers in the Hill City. Although the presidential election was held on November 8, 1864, to accommodate the absentee ballots of thousands of soldiers, many of them cast their ballots early, and The Vicksburg Herald was able to obtain results from some of the regiments and publish them in advance of the election. On November 1, 1864, the paper announced that the 8th Illinois Infantry cast their votes for president, and the result was 413 for Abraham Lincoln and 1 for George B. McClellan.

Ira A. Batterton had been a member of the 8th Illinois Infantry, and he proudly said of his old regiment:

"The heroes of many a well-fought battle field, know how to vote as well as how to fight. This record will challenge comparison with that of any other regiment in the field, and shows that the veteran soldier is in for putting down the enemies of his country both by ballot and bullet." ("The Veteran Vote." The Vicksburg Herald, November 1, 1864)

On November 9, the day after the election, The Vicksburg Herald published the following article, entitled, "Election Day In Camp:"

"Yesterday we witnessed the exercise of that most sacred of rights, belonging to American citizens - the elective franchise - by the soldiers of the good old "Buckeye" State. The polls wee opened in accordance with the requirements of the election laws of Ohio allowing her soldiers to vote, at the camp of the 58th regiment Ohio Infantry; and voting began rather animated by soldiers of the 58th as well as those from other commands and detachments of Ohio troops who were in the city.

The day was fine and cheering. The scene on the occasion was one which has seldom ever been witnessed in the history of our country - the soldier, that noble defender of our National Flag, exercising freely and fully his political rights under her laws. The sublime spectacle too fully demonstrates the unbounded freedom of the benign institutions of our great and glorious republic, establishing beyond all cavil its claim to the earnest and just consideration of mankind.

When we consider the momentous issues involved, we are compelled to look upon the election of yesterday as the most important event in the history of the nation - an event, the influence of which will be felt throughout the world, where human breasts beat with sympathy for liberty.

The issues were so clearly marked that friend to the Union and Constitutional freedom, could for a moment hesitate for which candidate he should vote, and as sure as yesterday's sunset Abraham Lincoln is chosen to conduct the nation to a just and enduring peace - a peace, through the overthrow of the power of the rebellion, and to its proper place in the history of human progress." (The Vicksburg Herald, November 9, 1864)

The newspaper published the election results for two other regiments stationed at Vicksburg. It reported the 58th Ohio Infantry had 253 votes for Abraham Lincoln and 97 for George B. McClellan. The paper also noted that "The vote of the regiment represents 56 counties, and is perhaps to that extent an indication of the vote of the state." (The Vicksburg Herald, November 10, 1864) In the 8th Ohio Battery, the vote was 144 for Abraham Lincoln, and only 25 for George B. McClellan. The paper stated that "This vote represents some 40 counties of the State, and includes a few votes of members of the Marine Brigade who are citizens of Ohio." (The Vicksburg Herald, November 11, 1864)

When the final results came in, Abraham Lincoln had won a clear mandate from the people of the United States for a second term of office. He won the popular vote by a wide margin; 2,213,665 to 1,805,237. Lincoln also won the electoral vote in equally large fashion; 212 to only 21 for McClellan.

1864 Presidential Election Results - States in Red won by Lincoln, States in Blue won by McClellan (270towin.com)

When news of Lincoln's re-election reached Vicksburg, the Union League in the city announced a grand

celebration to take place on November 30 at the Methodist Church. The Vicksburg Herald reported that the event was "A most perfect success, and was conducted with an unbounded unanimity and good feeling." (The Vicksburg Herald, December 1, 1864)

The Keynote speaker at the Union League celebration was Lieutenant Colonel John Howe of the 124th Illinois Infantry, whose regiment had fought to capture Vicksburg in 1863. The colonel made clear in his remarks the importance of the election which had just taken place:

"He referred most touchingly to the change of circumstances which has taken place in this city - to the 4th July, when the city capitulated - when the glorious old Union flag waved in triumph from the dome of the Court House; but he thought that event dwindled into insignificance when contrasted with this occasion. It was not in the re election of Abraham Lincoln that we have to rejoice most, but in the triumph of Union and Liberty over disunion and slavery." (The Vicksburg Herald, December 1, 1864"

Tomorrow the people of the United States will elect the president to lead our country for the next four years; I only hope that choose as wisely as those soldiers at Vicksburg that voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.