Two Pro-Union 1864 George McClellan Campaign Medalets

BillJones

George B. McClellan is best remembered as the general who presided over the Union Victory at Antietam. He is also remembered as the Union general who was too cautious in battle. That ultimately led Lincoln to sack him not once, but twice. The second time was after he failed to follow up on his partial success at Antietam. Lincoln urged him to go after Lee’s army after it had sustained heavy losses at Antietam, but McClellan failed to do it. After Lincoln removed him from command of the Army of the Potomac, McClellan waited for another assignment that would never come.

In 1864 the Democratic Party nominated McClellan for President of the United States. Prior to that nomination, Lincoln predicted that the Democrats would either nominate a peace candidate with a pro-war platform or a pro-war candidate who would have to run on a peace platform. As it turned the Democratic Party platform termed the war “a failure” and called for a rapid end to it while McClellan could not run a campaign that betrayed the blood and sacrifice that his men had given.

During the 19th century, party platforms met far more than they do today. Modern presidential candidates can and have repudiated the party platform and run on their own ideas and values. In the 19th century, before there was any television or radio, the written word was the most effective communicator and the party platform was of great importance. In addition, it was considered unseemly for presidential candidates to campaign for themselves. Most of that “dirty work” was left to surrogate speakers and the vice presidential candidate.

Given the anti-war language that was in the party platform, the McClellan campaign had to get the word out that he was not in favor of ending the war before the Rebels were defeated. Here are two 1864 presidential campaign medalets that conveyed that message.

The first was originally paired with a Lincoln – Hamlin (Lincoln’s first vice president) after the shelling of Fort Sumter. It calls for avenging the fall of Fort Sumter, crushing the rebellion and maintaining the integrity of the nation.

The second piece was an entirely new design. It features an American eagle, atop a rock and a Union Shield, vanquishing a copperhead snake. “Copperhead” was the pejorative nickname for residents of the North who supported the Confederate Cause.

Not all of the McClellan pieces were this supportive of his stand for the Union. One piece that went in the other direction was this Civil War token which combined an image of McClellan with the pro-copperhead “Blessing of peace” design. I’m sure that McClellan’s handlers would have been none too pleased if they ever saw one of these pieces.

ricko

Interesting medals Bill and informative supporting history. Thanks... Cheers, RickO

thisistheshow

The history and the messages conveyed through the medals is fascinating. Thank you for posting this!

coinsarefun

I always loved the second designed piece as the reverse has a Wonderfull eagle onto of the shield
going for the snake

Washingtoniana

can't decide whether the woman on the last token is supposed to be a horror of war or a blessing of peace

BillJones

@Washingtoniana said:
can't decide whether the woman on the last token is supposed to be a horror of war or a blessing of peace

This variety almost always comes flatly struck. That makes her nose look flat and ugly. I think that she was intended to be an angel or a lady is longing for peace. Two re-enforcements for that view are that she is flanked by two horns of plenty. The implication is that everything would be great if the Union simply made peace with the South, let it go in peace, and ended the war.

Here is a higher grade example of this die variety, which still is not a perfect strike.

dpoole

I have this reproduction of a McClellan 1864 campaign poster. It's a contrivance meant to be sung to a contemporaneous ditty "Whack! Row de dow!" (You can listen to the tune on You Tube). Note the vilification of Lincoln and the astounding casual public racism of the lyrics, a testimony to the times.

McClellan was a self-aggrandizing martinet, whose forte was organizing and reorganizing, supplying and generally gussying up the Army of the Potomac, but who was loathe to get it dirty. The troops loved him, even though he repeated immobilized himself in battle and failed to aggressively take the initiative, much to Lincoln's frustration. His most striking quality was his narcissistic certainly that he was the brilliant savior of the union, stymied only by politicians in Washington (whom he held in contempt). He never gave a hint of recognizing his own limitations.