Dave Hull
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2011
- Location
- Northern Virginia
Thought I would share this AAR from the election conducted at Cedar Creek this past weekend. It was a great little spur of the moment type things, in the middle of 1st USV camp Sunday morning, with no spectators present. The actual events were something to see.
Presidential Field Election Report
As duly authorized by General Markijohn a field election was conducted by the USV on October 19 under the auspices of the 2nd Regiment Sutler Saul Goode. Supervising the balloting directly were representatives of the two parties viz the adjutant of the 2nd Regiment, Captain Michael Barycki, for the Democratic candidate General Geo. McClellan and Saul Goode's clerk, Andrew Cassarino, for the Republican candidate President Abr'am Lincoln.
While there were a few irregularities in the voting the impartial balance of Captain Barycki and Andrew Cassarino watching the box insured overall honesty. A contingent of ladies from the Women's Loyal National League tried to force their way to the ballot box but a squad of armed sentries managed (with effort) to halt their advance. Not easily deterred, the ladies took to singing political songs within earshot and even dressed one of their own in soldier's uniform who attempted to approach to ballot box. Saul Goode was called in to intervene. Alas! He was too easily distracted by the rosy blush of cheek and a glimpse of finely turned ankle thus there was naught he could do to disperse the ladies.
The ballots were turned over in the sealed globe for counting by honest and impartial school master John Peterson (late captain of Company A, 2nd Vermont Volunteers). He was obliged to discard two separate bundles of tickets, one for McClellan and one for Lincoln that had each found their way into the ballot box but were obviously not representative of any single voter. The final tally was:
For Lincoln - 384 votes
For McClellan - 182 votes
The Union Forever!
Respectfully Submitted,
John Peterson
(As an historical footnote - soldiers, or the "bayonet vote" as some people called it, only accounted for 4% of the total number of votes cast but they were overwhelmingly cast for Lincoln. In the Army of the Potomac 78% went to Lincoln and 22% to McClellan. History remembers this as the first time an army engaged in war participated in a vote for their national leader.)
Presidential Field Election Report
As duly authorized by General Markijohn a field election was conducted by the USV on October 19 under the auspices of the 2nd Regiment Sutler Saul Goode. Supervising the balloting directly were representatives of the two parties viz the adjutant of the 2nd Regiment, Captain Michael Barycki, for the Democratic candidate General Geo. McClellan and Saul Goode's clerk, Andrew Cassarino, for the Republican candidate President Abr'am Lincoln.
While there were a few irregularities in the voting the impartial balance of Captain Barycki and Andrew Cassarino watching the box insured overall honesty. A contingent of ladies from the Women's Loyal National League tried to force their way to the ballot box but a squad of armed sentries managed (with effort) to halt their advance. Not easily deterred, the ladies took to singing political songs within earshot and even dressed one of their own in soldier's uniform who attempted to approach to ballot box. Saul Goode was called in to intervene. Alas! He was too easily distracted by the rosy blush of cheek and a glimpse of finely turned ankle thus there was naught he could do to disperse the ladies.
The ballots were turned over in the sealed globe for counting by honest and impartial school master John Peterson (late captain of Company A, 2nd Vermont Volunteers). He was obliged to discard two separate bundles of tickets, one for McClellan and one for Lincoln that had each found their way into the ballot box but were obviously not representative of any single voter. The final tally was:
For Lincoln - 384 votes
For McClellan - 182 votes
The Union Forever!
Respectfully Submitted,
John Peterson
(As an historical footnote - soldiers, or the "bayonet vote" as some people called it, only accounted for 4% of the total number of votes cast but they were overwhelmingly cast for Lincoln. In the Army of the Potomac 78% went to Lincoln and 22% to McClellan. History remembers this as the first time an army engaged in war participated in a vote for their national leader.)