Chapter 69: Lincoln Is Re-Elected in 1864

Since the losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the South manages to fight on, with a few victories such as Chickamauga, Georgia in September 1863 and Sabine Cross Roads in April 1864. They also temporarily stall Grant’s Overland Campaign toward Richmond with defensive stand-offs in May and June at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Kennesaw Mountain.

In July General Jubal Early’s dash north ends outside Washington at Monacacy, but leaves many American’s questioning if and when the bloodshed might cease.

This doubt frames the race for President in 1864 which, ironically, features General George McClellan challenging as a Peace Democrat. Early in the conflict McClellan dismisses Lincoln as “nothing more than a well-meaning baboon,” and he is eager to take revenge for twice being fired from his army command.

Lincoln fears a defeat, writing in a blind memo he never sends: “It seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President elect.”

But on July 22, 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman reports that he has captured Atlanta on his March to the Sea campaign. This bolsters belief that the war may soon be over, and Lincoln is re-elected by a comfortable 55-45% margin.