by Barbara Rimkunas
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, October 9, 2020.
If ever there was a chaotic election, it was 1860. The United States was walking the plank towards disunion, although they didn’t realize it at the time, and the political parties, well, let’s just say they weren’t what they used to be.
Exeter’s men found themselves conflicted when facing the election. There were still a lot of Democrats in town, but Abraham Lincoln had made an impressive speech at the town hall in early March promoting free soil. He’d won over a lot of voters. But then again, the Douglas’s Democrats were offering popular sovereignty to the new territories – allowing the population out there to decide whether to be a free or slave state seemed pretty darn fair. And, of course, maybe all this talk about slavery, abolition, nullification, and possible secession were just distractions from real honest American government. Hrumph. Hrumph. Who could make sense of all this?
Into the fray, a determined new group marched, calling themselves the “Wide Awakes.” Formed after a Republican meeting in Hartford, Connecticut in March, the Wide Awakes were a group of young men who initially formed to escort Republican speakers to speaking venues. They quickly organized into one of the most unusual clubs in US political history. Imagine you are getting ready for bed on a quiet night. Suddenly, the silence is disturbed by the sound of marching feet, the darkness outside lit by kerosene lanterns. The sound of the Exeter Coronet band cut through the darkness. Chants of “one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine – hurrah! One, two, three – hip, hip, hip; one, two, three – hip, hip, hip; one, two, three – Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!” echoed through the streets. Outside, dozens of young men wearing identical black caps and capes of enameled canvas, all carrying lantern torches, marched double-file, stopping only occasionally for more cheering and formation marching. It was a very new and exciting take on campaigning.
From Connecticut, the movement quickly spread across the northern states. In early June, the Exeter News-Letter announced, “a club of ‘Wide Awakes,’ in this town, have organized.” The officers chosen, none of them as young as the members, were all established Republicans: James Odlin, Charles Conner, Charles Bell, N.G. Gilman, William Morrill, George Lougee. “The next meeting of the club will be tomorrow, Tuesday evening, at 8 o’clock, at the Grand Jury room” (in the town hall). They recruited young men – ages 15 – 40 – especially those who were new voters – to provide an identity to the new Republican party. The uniform was made of simple, practical, inexpensive upholstery cloth that shimmered in the lamplight while repelling any hot oil that might drip. It had the look of a paramilitary group, although the marchers were unarmed and swore not to engage in fighting while in formation. In places larger and more pugnacious than Exeter, there was some fighting when members were provoked, but never while marching. Members took a temperance pledge to avoid charges of drunkenness that had plagued previous political campaigns.
The Wide Awakes had the feel of flash mob. The New York Times wrote of the group, “The word being given, each man dons his cap and cape, seizes his torch, and at the appointed rendezvous meets his fellows all equipped like himself; the line is formed, torches are lighted and the torch-light procession moves on in twenty minutes or less after the first notification.” But the Wide Awakes were far more organized than they may have appeared to the citizens. They drilled extensively. Exeter’s group formed in early June, but it wasn’t until August, when the campaign really got rolling, that we find the first account of their activities. “The Wide Awakes, some fifty in number, appeared in a handsome and appropriate uniform, accompanied by the Exeter Cornet Band, which made excellent music. Each Wide Awake held a torch light, and as the company marched through the streets, they made a brilliant show. A large company of spectators assembled and as the wide awakes halted before the Squamscott Hotel, the flag was raised, when the Hon. Amos Tuck was called for, and from the steps of the hotel he addressed the gathered audience, making remarks appropriate to the occasion, and complimenting the Wide Awakes for the spirit they have manifested and their fine appearance. He spoke words of encouragement respecting the election of the two candidates, whose names were seen upon the elegant flag just displayed. His remarks were received with applause, and as he concluded, Nathaniel G. Gilman, Esq., took the stand, calling for additional cheers for the candidates, which were heartily given, also, three cheers for the Wide Awakes.” The News-Letter didn’t mention that the Exeter Wide Awakes could boast of one very important member – Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln. Robert was still in town that summer while readying himself for the fall semester at Harvard. Amos Tuck, in a letter to Lincoln’s campaign manager, David Davis, mentioned the boy. “He is a member of our ‘Wide Awakes,’ and was out in full uniform a few evenings since, with the rest of the ‘boys’ to attend the raising of a Lincoln and Hamlin Banner.”
Then made their next appearance in town on September 4th at a large mass meeting held in the field beyond the old railroad depot. They marched both in the morning, when the crowds began to gather, and later once the sun had set. “The torch light procession of the Wide Awakes,” reported the Exeter News-Letter, “made a brilliant display in the streets, headed by the Exeter Cornet Band. They had some sixty torches, and during their march through the principal streets, rockets and roman candles were frequently let off.” The procession lasted until 10pm. They marched again in October, when returns from state elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana yielded Republican victories. “The scene was enlivened by the letting off of Roman candles during their progress. A large number of spectators lined the sidewalks. One hundred guns were fired, which the Portsmouth Journal says was distinctly heard in that city.”
Their greatest moment was reserved for after the election. Exeter celebrated the returns nearly a week after votes were cast. The American Ballot, a competing newspaper in town, called it a “Brilliant Demonstration.” Houses in town were illuminated to a dazzling degree. “The entire front of the Squamscott House was illuminated, and at the windows alone 366 lights were displayed, while the main entrance was handsomely decorated with evergreen and Chinese lanterns surrounding a portrait of Lincoln.” The Wide Awakes “commenced their march about eight o’clock and continued it until ten, traversing nearly all the streets within the compact part of the town – a constant discharge of fireworks from the ranks and by the people whose houses they passed marking their route. The bells of the churches were rung during the march, and the waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies and the cheers of the men were enthusiastically responded to.”
Once the election had been won, the Wide Awakes largely dispersed, its members caught up in the war that quickly followed. In many ways, the paramilitary nature of the group only added to southern discontent. They were met with suspicion by the southern press. Similar groups formed during later campaigns, but none ever reached the excitement of those that marched during the campaign of 1860.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: All the equipment needed for a successful torch-light parade. Advertisement in the Exeter News-Letter in 1860 when the Wide Awakes were meeting at the Exeter town hall.