A Damned Shame
Union Forces Skirmish Outside Atlanta
"It's a damned shame I waited as long as I did."- Union General William T. Sherman
The year 1864 was set to be one of the best years of the Civil War for the Union Forces. In March General Ulysses S Grant was appointed head of all Union armies. Union forces also began the Red River Campaign after capturing Alexandria, Louisiana. Union forces were also making some progress in their invasion of Virginia. There also were some defeats. In the Battle of Mansfield the 14,000 Confederates defeated 12,000 Unionists. The Battle ended the Red River Campaign in Louisiana. In the Battle of Cold Harbor Grant's 108,000 man army was defeated by a Confederate force half that led by Robert E. Lee. In the Battle of the Crater Lee scored another victory against Union General Ambrose E Burnside. Lincoln worried as election day neared, he needed a victory to give him a leg up in the coming election, Atlanta seemed just that victory. In September General William T. Sherman surrounded Atlanta, Georgia and laid siege to the city. Atlanta had developed into a transportation hub, making it a critical objective for the Union Army to capture, and even more critical for the Confederates to defend. Sherman tried three times to take Atlanta, each time his men were repulsed. On September 2nd, two days after Sherman captured the last remaining link to the outside world for Atlanta, Mayor James Calhoun announced he intended to surrender the city. General John Bell Hood, who had been pushed out the city when Sherman captured the railroads, launched a attack that caught Sherman by surprise. The 4th Battle of Atlanta was a brutal affair, badly maiming both sides. In the end though General Hood was able to enter the city and break the siege. With him he bought supplies and a new mayor as John Calhoun was deposed by Hood's forces. Atlanta was saved for the time being.
The Loss of Atlanta had a serious effect on Lincoln's political campaign prospects. Combined with the previously mentioned losses the Democrats were heavily expected to win the election. So when the Republican National Convention met on the days of June 7-8th and debated who to make a run for the Presidency, Salmon P. Chase of Ohio was chosen by a slim margin. The rest of the Republicans split off and formed the Unity Party and named Lincoln as their nominee. Lincoln refused the offer, stating that he did not want to split the Republican vote even more. The Democrats were slightly more unified in their nomination of George B. Mcclellan for President on the platform of a peace with the Confederacy.
Abraham Lincoln, Republican Nominee for President
George B. Mclellan, Democratic Nominee for President
The 1864 Election was one of the most hotly contested the United States would see for a long time. Abe Lincoln and George Mclellan campaigned furiously across the United States. At the start of the election Lincoln scored a victory in the Iowa primaries, but Mclellan stole New Hampshire out from under Lincoln. Millions were spent in advertising aimed at defaming the other. Democrats framed Lincoln as a "Negro Loving Warmonger" while the Republican camp called the Democrats "defeatists and disgraceful". It soon became apparent where each party was stronger. Lincoln drew hordes in his speeches in the Midwest while Mclellan drew large crowds in the West and Northeast. The country was firmly split again, almost as much as it was during the 1861 election. As the fateful day drew near pro-Lincoln or pro-Mclellan riots broke out in several cities across the US as some voters were "encouraged" to vote for one side or another by Pinkerton goons. Nevertheless the votes were counted and Lincoln lost his bid for re-election. Mclellan was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States and immediately met with the Confederates to negotiate a peace deal. America was to remain a divided nation.