“The Prairies A-Blaze” Iowa Wide Awakes Carry Torehes for Lineoln

by Floyd and Mahon Rinhart

n photographs, it is said, the (the ambrotype was found in 1964 ing from the hall that night, one of dead laugh and wave at us. in Green Lane, Pennsylvania), the the young men was attacked by a In this rare image, however, picture itself provides some clues. sturdy and determined Democrat, a stiff and serious young We know, for instance, that torch­ but a blow from a Republican's oil man stares at us. He holds a long- light parades were a common fea­ lamp stretched the assailant out on handled torch with a flag attached, ture of American political cam­ the ground. its faint letters arching through the paigns for most of the 19th century Resolved to combat Demo­ stripes. As indicated by his uni­ and that the American flag at­ cratic interference in their rallies, form and flag, this anonymous tached to this man's torch pole was the 36 Hartford men met on March young man was one of several obviously a campaign sign. That it 3 and organized the original Wide thousand across the nation who, was promoting Abraham Lincoln Awake club. They adopted a with great enthusiasm, joined with and his vice-presidential running glazed-cloth cape and cap, along brigades of other men called mate, Hannibal Hamlin, dates it with an oil torch, as their standard Wide Awakes,” to support Re­ precisely to the 1860 election. That uniform. Two days later, they es­ publican candidate Abraham Lin­ the sign also promotes "Congress­ corted Abraham Lincoln to the coln in the volatile presidential man S. R. Curtis” on the bottom Hartford City Hall. Initially, mem­ campaign of 1860. line places it in the southeast con­ bership was limited to 50 men, but Perhaps the young man's ex­ gressional district of Iowa. In 1860, the Hartford group proved so pression indicates the seriousness Congressman Samuel Ryan Curtis popular that it would eventually of that election: a civil war and the was running for his third term out boast a membership of more than dissolution of a nation lay ahead. of Keokuk. The young man in the 500. Or perhaps his serious look was ambrotype, therefore, was prob­ The idea spread quickly in part of holding still long enough ably an Iowa Wide Awake from the 1860, and the Hartford group soon for this "ambrotype” to be prop­ Keokuk area. received requests for information. erly exposed directly on glass. The But not necessarily. The march­ Uniforms of oilcloth capes and glass was then backed with dark ing clubs known as Wide Awakes caps and torches began selling on cloth, paper, paint, or varnish, were not a uniquely Iowa phe­ the market for about a dollar. By much like a mirror. As the 1860 nomenon. The Wide Awakes origi­ summer many Wide Awake clubs campaign ended, so did the use of nated in Hartford, Connecticut. were being formed in the North the heavy, fragile ambrotypes, There, ardent young Republican and Midwest; perhaps as many as passed over for cheaper and less men had gathered to escort 200,000 to 400,000 men became fragile alternatives of tintvpes (im­ Cassius Clay, the famous southern Wide Awakes. ages on sheet metal) and prints abolitionist, to a lecture hall on The original group served as from glass plate negatives, which February 25,1860. The young men the model, and a system of ranks were also developed in that de­ formed a torchlight parade, and to and officers became features of a cade. protect their clothing from the well-run Wide Awake local. Men Although there is little infor­ dripping oil lamps, they wore caps with military experience often mation regarding this young man and capes of glazed cloth. Return­ joined the Wide Awakes, and, as a

Spring 1996 43 result, many clubs were quickly group, organized in June 1860 by, their own amusement, and for the drilled into smart, well-ordered among other prominent citizens, purposes of seeing how their uni­ units, marching with all the fan­ state senator and future congress­ form suited." (The group had or­ fare and discipline of a military man James F. Wilson. The Fairfield dered 20 uniforms from Chicago brigade. They would march, some­ Wide Awakes' purpose, as stated but soon opted for cheaper, better- times in a zig-zag formation to imi­ in their constitution, was "support­ quality uniforms made locally.) tate a split rail fence in honor of ing the Republican causes and aid­ The procession ended in the Lincoln, and sing specially written ing in the election of the Republi­ Fairfield park, where local co­ campaign songs such as "Lincoln, can ticket, State as well as Na­ founder James Wilson urged his Pride of the Nation," "The Red, tional." "All young men who are group "to be ever on watch, and White, and Blue," and "Honest willing to endorse the sentiments guard the purity of the ballot-box Abe of the West" (sung to the tune of the Republican party . . . and with unceasing vigilance." An­ of "The Star-Spangled Banner"). abide by the [Wide Awake] rules other speaker assured the torch­ Wide Awakes were usually and regulations" were invited to bearing Wide Awakes that they committed volunteers, although join. These rules included holding were indeed "well prepared to sometimes men for hire were paid "himself in readiness to take part meet the enemy" because they as much as $2 to march. They in torch-light processions during could "light the enemy out. . . [or] would gather in large numbers— the Presidential campaign, to per­ burn them out... [or] smoke them 20,000 at an October rally in New form escort duty, to attend the out." York, for example—and carry lan­ night meetings and grand rallies of In the strident party loyalty of terns or torches atop wooden the party, and to act as a Vigilance mid-century, the "enemy" was stakes (sometimes split rails) bear­ Committee on election day." clearly the political opposition and ing small American flags. The flags In Fairfield, every member its citizen support. Throughout the were generally inscribed with the was to pay a $2 uniform fee or nation, Lincoln's opponents had names of Lincoln and Hamlin, and "provide himself with a uniform, their own marching groups, for often a local candidate's name as consisting of a cap, cloak and this was also the heyday of politi­ well. torch." According to the Fairfield cal parades. The "Minute Men" With this Wide Awake fever Ledger, the group numbered at and "Little Giants" supported spreading west, Iowa was not to be least 60 by mid-June. On the 15th Democratic candidate Stephen left out. Reportedly the first Wide they held their first torchlight pro­ Douglas of Illinois, Lincoln's pri­ Awake club in Iowa was a Fairfield cession through Fairfield, both "for mary foe. One Douglas group, called the "Chloroformers," was Samuel R. Curtis (left) and said to be dedicated to putting the other candidates are listed on Wide Awakes to sleep. The rem­ an I860 Republican ballot. nants of the old Whig Party in coa­ lition with the American Party (or "Know Nothings") organized the "Bell Ringers Union-Sentinels" and "Bell Followers" to support John Bell of Tennessee. (Ironically, / a m the Know Nothings had used the term "Wide Awake" in 1855 in

••■JZXruinAU their nativist propaganda.) The se­ REPUBLICAN TICKET cessionist Democrat John Breck-

For P resident, enridge of Kentucky had the "Na­ ABRAHAM LINCOLN, OF ILLINOIS. tional Democratic Volunteers." For Vick Pjibsi&rxt, HANNIBAL HAMLIN, In the political give-and-take, of maini:. ? sneering Democrats spoke of a sin­ For Presidential Electors at large, | FITZ HENRY WARREN, of the 1st Cong.Dis. ister purpose behind the Wide JOSEPH A. CHAPLINE, of the 2d Cong. Dis Awakes; others called them "un­ For District Electors,• M. L. McHIEKSON. for the 1st Cong. Dis. mitigated nuisances," comparing CHARLES POMEROY, ior the 2d,Cong. Dis them with the tough gangs of the PORTRAIT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BALLOT SHSl (DES MOINES) For Member of Congress of the l^t Cong*. Di*. SAMUEL R. CURTIS. For Judge of the Supreme Cour:. ^GEORGE G. WRIGHT. 44 Iowa Heritage Illustrated For Secretnrv of State, ELIJAH SELLS. For Auditor of State/ ^ J f i g ATJgAN W: CATTELL____ F«r t roam►atmrrr oLStatC. —n : and to build bandwagon momen­ tum. In Washington that day, the iii'i 41/H afternoon stump speeches by prominent public figures would also have built a candidate's mo­ mentum, as did the evening torch­ light parade. As sky rockets and Roman candles sizzled overhead, more than a dozen Wide Awake companies marched past blazing bonfires and Washington homes "illuminated in honor of the occa­ sion." Earlier that day, the Fairfield : Wide Awakes had led a procession GRAND PEOOLSSIOX OP JMDC-AWAK.W AT K *fc YOU*.ON THE KVKNINO O f OClODrn A | of a hundred wagons into Wash­ ington, "where we saw delega­ VVide Awakes marched in large cities, but also in small towns like Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Here, Harper’s Weekly depicts a “Grand Procession of Wide-Awakes at New tions coming from all directions. York on the Evening of October 3, I 860.” Note Wide Awake sign, center front. The ground appeared to be cov­ ered with people," the Ledger re­ ported. "One wagon attracted day; and jokesters referred to them journalistic exaggeration standard great attention. . . . Behind the as the ''Sleep Walkers" and the to newspapers then, but they also wagon were chained one yoke of "Fast Asleeps." But the Republi­ document campaign styles typical the poorest oxen we ever saw. A cans sneered back. In Iowa, for ex­ of the mid-19th century—includ­ board was fastened on their horns ample, Fairfield Ledger editor (and ing the popularity of the Wide labeled 'Poor Kansas'"—a refer­ charter member of the local Wide Awakes in the 1860 election. At ence to the violent conflicts Kansas Awakes) W. W. Junkin ridiculed three large rallies in particular—in Territory was weathering over its the local Democrats' "True Blues" Washington, Keokuk, and Fair- admission to the Union as a slave and their comparatively pathetic field—Wide Awake companies or free state. parade in early October, in which gathered to light their torches and "On some of the wagons were only half of the 23 True Blues wore fuel Iowa's political passions. men busily engaged in carrying on uniforms: "They marched around the various trades, blacksmiths, the Park, without their red lights," carpenters, tailors coopers, &c.; Junkin noted, "and had a glorious “Grand Times others were thrashing, mauling time in the dark." rails, &c." the Ledger reported. "On Throughout the campaign, at Washington!” [another] wagon were women Junkin's Fairfield Ledger would On September 20, Washington, busily at work, ironing, washing .. keep his readers well informed Iowa, hosted what local papers de­ knitting, sewing, darning, churn­ about the campaign—from where scribed as the largest public assem­ ing." These wagons of ordinary they could buy Lincoln-Hamlin bly in the community's two-de- people engaged in productive and flags (in his office), to where Wide cade history. The Fairfield Ledger useful work echoed the "common Awake companies had last pa­ headlines were giddy: "The Prai­ man" theme used by Lincoln and raded with their torchlights. In ries A-Blaze! Grand times at Wash­ other politicians in the 19th cen­ tury. Iowa's 11 southeastern counties ington! 10,000 people in council! J alone, more than 34 communities 800 Wide Awakes in procession! They also echoed an incident organized Wide Awake clubs— Keep the ball rolling!" the previous summer in Republi­ from South English to Montrose, That 10,000 people attended a can Samuel Kirkwood's campaign Muscatine to Bloomfield. Ledger rally in a town of 2,600 is hardly for Iowa governor, in which Re­ accounts, along with those in credible; 19th-century editors no publicans capitalized on portray­ Keokuk's Des Moines Valley Whig, doubt exaggerated such estimates ing him as a man of the people. As reflect all the political rhetoric and to imply their candidates' strength Edgar Harlan recounted in his

Spring 1996 45 Narrative History of the People of on a hayrack drawn by a team of hundred lamps in the sun-light, Iowa, "A Democratic editor [had] oxen." the waving of innumerable ban­ referred to the Republican ticket as ners and transparencies, and the the 'Plough-handle ticket/ an epi­ “Gmii gorgeously fitted up cars filled thet intended to cast opprobrium, with beautiful young ladies." but instead was accepted by the for Keokuk!" Heading for a gala picnic and Republicans as a campaign slogan. The weather was beautiful and stump speeches, the procession . . . [At the last joint debate at clear when, at an early hour, "wag­ marched at noon to a nearby Washington] again the Republi­ ons by the hundred and people by grove. There, perhaps the most ex­ cans found a way to emphasize the the thousand" converged on Keo­ citing speech for those intent on a contrast between their candidate kuk for a rally October 14. The Des national sweep was the "glorious [Kirkwood] as a man of the people Moines Valley Whig reported that news from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and [Augustus C.] Dodge as a man many of the day's events were de­ and Indiana" of Republican guber­ of aristocratic associations. The lo­ layed because of the crowds. The natorial victories at state elections cal Democratic committee brought train bringing Wide Awakes and already held. Dodge into town riding in the best their supporters from Fort Madi­ The high wind had been carriage that could be found . . . son was late. "Running as fast as drowning out many of the speak­ but the crowd had already ex­ the wind would permit," the two ers, and when a 4 p.m. call came hausted their enthusiasm in cheer­ ferries across the Mississippi into for the Wide Awakes to assemble ing the appearance of Kirkwood Keokuk could not keep up with and march back to town for dinner, riding to the scene of the meeting the demand. Standing out from the the "vast throng" deserted the throng were a reported grove. Having missed a noon 2,500 ardent Wide Awakes, meal, many were more eager to eat at least 22 companies from than to hear the next speech. the surrounding area, a With stomachs full and dark­ third of them from Illinois. ness at hand, the Wide Awake As a high wind kicked companies assembled and strutted up clouds of dust on the about in all their well-drilled fash­ streets, "the companies ion, vying for prizes. Fort Mad­ marched up Main street," ison's Wide Awakes won a banner the Whig reported. "The bearing a life-size likeness of Lin­ Ft. Madison Wide Awakes coln; the banner for the largest attracted particular atten­ company went to Wide Awakes tion. But even they were from Fountain Green, Illinois. eclipsed by the beautiful "Main street was made brilliant by company of handsome the torch lights of the various com­ politic young ladies from Den­ panies and by abundant fire­ mark [in Lee County] rep­ works," the Whig stated. Although resenting the States of the "the high wind blew out many K W itS uS îT Union. . . . with the lights and the dust flew uncom­ wreaths on their heads fortably, yet the pavements were s a i t 2 0 , 1 8 6 0 . and the neat little banners lined with spectators all the in their hands. . . . One evening." young lady was dressed in ■NC KIWa black, for Kansas, but her “Greatest Meeting PROCESSION, B banner had the cheering 4 * K * X . 4 totvjrrrrw inscription —'I am com- in Iowa!" /// SHSI (DES MOINES) ing The headline "Ain't You Glad You Cloth poster for I860 Washington, The Des Moines Valley Whig Joined the Republicans!" on the Iowa, rally lists Wide Awakes’ “Grand rhapsodized over "the thrilling front page of the October 19 Torch Light procession” with “Bonfires music of many bands, the firing of Fairfield Ledger set the self-con­ and Illumination in the evening.” cannon, the glitter of twenty-five gratulatory mood following Fair-

46 Iozva Heritage Illustrated 9 1 field's rally October 17. The Ledger campaign, had broken a long­ FROM brazenly claimed 25,000 in atten­ standing taboo—he campaigned Warsaw, Hamilton, Carthage, LaHarp, dance at Fairfield (its own popula­ for himself and gave his own Quincy, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, Salem, Fairfield, Birmingham, tion only 1,700); "Even our Dou­ stump speeches. According to his­ Keosauqua, Bentonsport, glas friends are willing to concede torian Gil Troy, "Originally, presi­ Farmington, Bloom* that we had 15,000." dential candidates were supposed field, Ottumwa, Regardless of the actual num­ to 'stand' for election, not 'run.' Ft. Madison, bers, the rally included similar fea­ They did not make speeches. They and from all quarters where your tures of previous rallies. Compa­ did not shake hands. They did LIGHTS ARE BURNING ! nies of Wide Awakes and other nothing to betray the slightest am­ Your W idtj-Awake Brethren of Keokuk citizen groups arrived by wagon bition for office. Candidates were W ILL TENDER YOU A DINNER. or train. A large wagon with men supposed to stay on their farms in Come, then, help us put down Buchanan, "engaged in various branches of dignified silence, awaiting the Corruption in Office, Peculation on trade—blacksmithing, carpenter­ people's call, as George Washing­ the Treasury, and Opposition ing, broom making, sugar mak­ ton had done." to Free White Labor. ing" was again in the procession. Times were changing, how­ Lotus preserve a soil where such men as Lincoln can grow. Wapello County sent a surprise: ever, and voters were becoming "When [the Wide Awakes from more insistent in their demands Down with Slavery Exten­ Agency City] had formed in pro­ that presidential candidates dis­ sion !! and cession," the Ledger reported, "we cuss the important issues. Dou­ Up with the White Man discovered a company of lady glas, the most famous orator of his and his Labor!! Wide Awakes, numbering sixty- day and genuinely concerned cornraiTTEE or ahkaivgfitients two. They were dressed in white, about the country's future, broke H. B.TEN-EYCK, WM. TIMBEKMAN, r T. J. RICE, C, -¥. SMrV-rs, with a blue sash around the waist. with tradition and hit the cam­ WM. LEIGHTON, ED- JAEGER. J. A. DUiiKEK, \VM. K. THOMPSON, Each lady wore a jaunty cap, paign trail. But he did it surrepti­ R. M. REYNOLDS. trimmed with ribbon. Each mem­ tiously, claiming that he was on his Dr. JAMES J. BRIOE, Marshal of tbo day. ber also carried a pole with a spear (J^^Arrangamcnts bavo been made with way to visit his mother—hence, tho Railroads and Steamboats to bring pas­ on the end of it, and a flag on the the worn-out boots and the ridi­ sengers to this Convention at half fare. pole with the names of Lincoln culed claim. Douglas had made and Hamlin." himself a laughingstock and, ac­ f'f f 9 % f 'f f HIG W Y LLE A V S E IN O M S E D TVIdc-Au'akes, A u c n tio n I The daytime parade through cording to Troy, "By September, The Wide Awakes of Keokuk will present a full length portrait of Abo Linooln to the Fairfield featured banners and effi­ Douglas had yet to visit his best drilled Company of Wide* Awakes, and gies, several championing Lincoln mother. His opponents circulated another to tho largest Company, that will be present in full uniform at tho Republican at the expense of Stephen Douglas. an 'ADVERTISEMENT FOR A Mass Meeting in tho City of Keokuk, on the 3 P 1860). 24. (SEPT "On one banner was a horn," the LOST BOY/ wandering in the 10th of October nox;t. Let the Wide-Awakes of Iowa, Illinois Ledger described, "at one end of Northeast, with a penchant for and Missouri turn out in full foroo, as the which was 'Old Abe' with a long clambakes." Fairfield's effigy on portraits are well worth competing for rail, punching in the horn, while at October 17 (Douglas had decided the little end of the horn was the to actually visit his mother on Sep­ Hailing Wide Awakes where ever their “lights are burning,” this ad in the Des head of Douglas, just coming out." tember 15) was simply a variation Moines Valley Whig promises dinner and On a Douglas effigy, signs on a national joke. prizes from “your Wide-Awake Breth­ bore the words "I don't care The Fairfield rally followed the ren of Keokuk.” whether slavery is voted up or usual pattern of parade and politi­ voted down," and "I've found my cal speeches, the speakers' voices of living flame presented the most Mother, if you don't believe it look carrying well in the clear, warm imposing exhibition that our citi­ at my boots." The boots, the Ledger air. That night, "over 2200 torches zens ever saw in this place." explained, were in "a very dilapi­ were on fire around the Park, pre­ At 9 p.m. the procession es­ dated and much abused condi­ senting a magnificent spectacle.... corted the Wide Awakes to the tion." In every direction could be seen trains; other Wide Awakes "were That last political jibe would flaming lights. The whole proces­ divided into squads by our citi­ be unintelligible to anyone who sion reached about one and a half zens" who hosted them overnight. did not know that Douglas, in this miles around town, and the streets Tarty prejudices were forgotten,"

Spring 1996 47 SHSI (OES MOINES), PHOTO BY CHUCK GREINER but onthat day they came forward diffidence Democrats askinga in StringBand in Wells' Hall. Even in cans." Republi­ the assisted nobly and teetoprocure accommodation felt the totake and feed the Wide Awakes, came back Fairfield. to "They felt and aroundwagons, turned they goodtimes. Heading home in theirwere reluctant to thepoliticalend o n mn ee on round going were men young sogood that they couldnot leave," Fairfield the to daylight until reportedthe h mrig h Wd Awakes Wide the morning the h k n hns ebaig each embracing hands, shaking these from State HistoricalSocietyof State from these 48 forLincoln. torches downtheir pa­ campaign in century the of turn rades, long after the Wide rades, Awakeslongthe Wide put after o Iowa collections, were used until the the until used collections,were Iowa

llt cps n trhs uh as such torches, and capes ilcloth o e ie wks danced Awakes Wide Some Ledger Iowa Heritage Illustrated Heritage Iowa reported. "The commit­ Ledger. "Old men and bettermusic." ie orevs omly dis­ formally ourselves sider vised. "Though shall we con­ not country," Fairfield the ad­ report capeas fit andhonorable memori­ torch andcarefully his aside lay certainly,"the l o some service of rendered hisals port,"no companyin the Statehad their jubilant doubt that nowere Iowa southeasterncompanies in Awake Wide various the 6,ber ever!" Novembercontinued. four On 2, Curtis—into office. Since July, the lons ofkerosene coal or oil. "And "regalia,"for 60 burned gal­ and business, $164.50 spent anddrill radesin Fairfield, torchlight pa­ dozenmet 22 a heldtimes had for They community. their outside meetings nine attend towagon, te ad elrn ta they that declaring and other lyinits November 24 wrap-up re­ torchlight parades hadcontributed For­ Union the Labor,Free and Curtis, Free Speech, Free Homes, rg tr ni te ih thereof and dark theshall upon break light in the until brighter and otherRepublicans of Fairfield Captain R. L. Miller of Keosauqua o g d 3 mls msl by mostly miles, 237 logged e e fl s go i al their all lives." in good so felt never tothis "Republican Thunder" roll­ ABE in the Presidential chair, and rollonand on thick fastanduntil dimmedvision of everyDemocrat. and brighter burn lightedhave fortheirhospitality: "Maythe Re­ publiclythanked the Wide Awakes beforedays national the election, Fairfield Wide Awakes alone had n Lincoln—anding Keokuk's R. S. u rh o Lnon Hamlin, Lincoln, for Hurrah roll,may it roll, roll for ever. . . . November, OLD of 6th with the May ... the Republican Thunder... you which camp-fires publican E c Wd Aae should Awake Wide "Each h go feelings goodThe apparently After election the Novem­ on Ledger addedproud­ MarionRinhart have lectured and writ­ can photography, authors Floyd and ten extensively on the topic. Collectors and experts on early Ameri­ passiontor politicking. ♦> maraderie much theiras fed itas appetitefor entertainment andca­ cal rallies 1860 of fed Americans' "feelingsome little regrets atpart­ l b wr uiu t Lincoln's to unique wereclubs o l cniu t characterize to continue would Fairfieldreport probably spoke 1860 for campaign. The writer the of ing,"for certainly exuberant politi­ t c og, n sup speeches stump and songs, otic h uad o Wd Aae in Awakes Wide of thousands parting." from feeling some little regrets at m r c n oiia campaignsthroughmuch of the 19th politicalcentury. American a e lsd h campaign closed tri­have the so have probably hadour last parade. the Presidential inand] Chair, we bandeduntil after 'Old Abe' is[af­ umphantly, cannot we butrefrain . . . Itispleasing toknow that we u te ie wk marching Awake Wide the But im d y h Electoral College the by firmed StephanieCoon, Jacquelineand Smetak in the researchedIowa sources. Annotations are files. SusanWelty, Ledger, DesMoines Valley Whig Historyof thePeople of Iowa on oe Raising," Pole coln of of the Presidential Candidate 1925);EdgarRubey Harlan, sourcesinclude O.A. Garretson, "A Lin­ Troy, Harper's Weekly Torch Light Parades," tricity," dation#1572 (Feb. 1969), 3-4;Edward A. letin Lincolnofthe National Life Foun­ Rushford,"Electioneering WithoutElec­ coln Sources forWidethe used Awakes and McMurtry, "The Wide CampaignAwakesLincoln and Their (1960); J.G. Holland, ae, Mr.Hayes, h 16 cmag icue evn L. Melvin include 1860 the campaign Torchlight processions, patri­ (1866); Reinhard H. Luthin, See How They Ran:The Changing Role Iowa Heritage Illustrated ueNv 16. ia Moran, Lisa 1860. June-Nov. Antiques NOTEON SOURCES Lincoln President Runsfor A FairA Field (Oct. 13, I860); Gil and Nv 1939), (Nov. 236-39; 14) Grl R. Gerald (1944); Life of AbrahamLin­ Palimpsest and Lincoln Lore, (1968); theand (1931), 1:409; (1991). Iowa TheFairfield production NarrativeA The First (April Bul­