War and Politics:
Lincoln, Virginia and the Election of 1864
How did the bloody military stalemate in Virginia affect the presidential election of 1864?
Also, how did candidates and generals respond to events during that long summer?
Leaders and their Letters:
Primary Source Collections of Key Players
During the summer of 1864, the masterminds of both political and military decisions undoubtedly viewed their circumstances differently. While Lincoln was busy preserving the Union, he also faced fears and doubts about re-election. Grant wanted to end the war quickly and focused on the destruction of the Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan joined the world of politics and viewed the quagmire in Grant’s Overland Campaign as an opportunity to seize the presidency. Lee struggled to maintain his stronghold, while facing a lack of both reinforcements and equipment.
Click on the images below to be connected to these four men and their primary source collections:
Abraham Lincoln's
Primary Source Collection
Ulysess S. Grant's
Primary Source Collection
George McClellan's
Primary Source Collection
Robert E. Lee's
Primary Source Collection