Soldier Ballot Envelope and Voting Power of Attorney Form For Abraham Lincoln’s November 8th 1864 Election
Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 Election – Important history: Soldier Ballot Envelope and Official “Soldiers Voting Power of Attorney” Form, Cedar Creek, Virginia, Lot of Two Items, Very Fine.
Historic actual Union Civil War Soldier-used group containing two items, (which also includes additional copied documentation regarding the service of George Snyder):

1. Partially-Printed Absentee Voting Document from George Snyder of Company B, 116th Infantry of the New York State Volunteers as a Private, then in Cedar Creek, Virginia. This document granting his “Power of Attorney” for the vote, measuring 8” x 13” with usual folds and some age.

2. A very detailed, Manuscript and Partially-Printed Envelope, “Soldier’s Vote,” sent to Mr. Snyder, in Cedar Creek, Virginia. Specifically made for the November 8th Election. It has been opened at right edge, with minor loss to edge, typical wear. Both items are extremely rare. (2 items).


116th Infantry fought in Philip Sheridan's successful campaign in the Shenandoah Valley against General Early in October 1864, just before casting ballots.

As the Presidential Election of 1864 approached, Lincoln doubted he would be re-elected.

Despite the crucial victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg the previous year, the people were war-weary. It was feared that the conflict would continue indefinitely, or that the Confederacy would yet win European recognition and negotiate a settlement. To attract support from War Democrats and border states, Lincoln replaced Hannibal Hamlin as the Vice Presidential candidate by the Unionist military Governor of Tennessee, Andrew Johnson. The Democrats, convening at the Wigwam in Chicago in late August, nominated the former commander of the federal Army of the Potomac, General George McClellan to oppose the “Rail Splitter,” Abraham Lincoln.

Most important, the Civil War marks the first time in American history that soldiers on active duty were able to vote. Beforehand it was necessary to return home at election time to cast a ballot. (A handful of states allowed resident soldiers to mail in absentee ballots or cast their votes out-of-state, typically in southern encampments.) Republican politicians in battleground states pressured Union generals to be liberal with furloughs for both state and national elections (at that time usually held about a month apart). Despite the exigencies of war and charges of abuse and fraud, significant numbers of Union soldiers voted in the Presidential election of 1864. The vast majority supported “Old Abe.”