The war in the eastern theatre continued with the same deadly boringness in 1864 as it had in '63. Though the fortifications and trench-systems became more elaborate the living conditions of the soldiers became more pitiful by the day. Most soldiers lived in stinking, watery mudholes with only a coat and a sheet to protect themselves against the cold and the rain. The really lucky ones managed to build a little shack in the bomb crater blotched countryside.
The Confederacy always aware of their inferior numbers didn't dare to attack the unions fortified lines but were "playing it out". President Toombs and his cabinet were very well aware of the dire situation of their counterparts in the north. And due to the horrible defeats and the overall miserable situation in the remaining unoccupied states of the union President Lincoln's reelection was very doubtful. So the confederates just sit and wait hoping for a "peace candidate" carrying the vote.
On the other side of the "no man's land" the union soldiers were send time and again against the confederate lines and every time thy payed a high blood toll for almost no gain. President Lincoln not only feared to lose his reelection but he feared most that the Union really could lose this war. Lincoln knew that only major victory on the battlefield would turn the tide on both the wareffort as well as in the polling booth. Lincoln pushed his generals to break through the enemies lines in the west of Pennsylvania in order to broaden the frontline, which would be a perfect opportunity for the Union to bring their superior numbers to greater effect, and to reconquer at leat Ohio and Indiana until the presidential elections. States which were considered as Lincoln territory.
But all attempts failed and on the first Sunday in November the troops sat in the almost exact same position as the year before.
Union soldiers mining a tunnel beneath confederate lines and filling it with explosives.
The war on the atlantic on the other hand saw some major engagements. The USN invested all of its resources in the new Monitors and Ironclads but due to the loss of important coal and iron producing regions they progressed only slowly. When the CSN began harassing union ports in March 1864 destroying important merchant vessels as well as some military sailing ships the USN send its new ironclads and monitors squadron to counterattack the confederate raiders on their way to New York. In the Hudson Bay 18 Ironclads engaged in battle.
The Battle of Hudson Bay went on for three days, from dawn till sunset. And while the union ships could withdraw to New York harbor to resupply and for makeshift repairs the confederate ships got their ammunition from support ships anchoring down the coast. While on the first day not a single ship was sunk on the second day the boiler of the USS Roanoke exploded and the CSS Tennessee had suffered so much beating that she had to be towed away at the end of the day.
On the third day the Confederate ships steamed full speed ahead into battle and rammed their surprised opponents. Within the first hour another three union vessels were sunk. Outnumbered nine to four the union squadron began its retreat up the Hudson river, but before night came another two vessels were sunk.
On the following day the confederate ironclads shelled the US Naval Yard at Brooklyn completely unopposed destroying many half-built union ironclads.
The shelling of the naval yard at Brooklyn (left) and the "Battle of Hudson Bay" (right).
Still unopposed the Mexican army continued their invasion of the american west. By September they had occupied all of California and the Nevada territory as well as the western parts of the Utah territory and the south of Oregon.
In northern Oregon, at the harbor of Astoria the Mexican met first opposition. But not by the US Army, but by the British Royal Navy.
A squadron of the Royal Navy laid for anchor and the commanding Rear-Admiral informed the Mexican commander that "all territory claimed by the government of the United States north of 42° latitude, namely the state of Oregon, are under the protection of the British crown. Every further incursions would be regarded as hostile acts against British rule."
The British Squadron at Astoria harbor.
The democrats elected General George B. McClellan as their candidate for the white house. McClellan a staunch supporter of a quick peace with the Confederacy managed it to blame President Lincoln for all military disasters and to sell himself as a war hero.
But despite all the hardships the american people had to suffer and dire situation on the battlefields Lincoln wasn't that easy to beat and he put up a fight everywhere where McClellan was campaigning.
Especially the north-east, the New England area stuck with the president. But McClellan managed it to carry the two most populous states by a narrow margin, New York and Pennsylvania. States which had seen the most fighting in 1864. Together with the votes from Delaware and New Jersey McClellan amassed a total of 69 electoral votes, while President Lincoln only got 42.
After his defeat Lincoln declared a ceasefire.
The states under confederate occupation are depicted in the same gray as the territories.