Wisconsin Daily Patriot Noveber 21, 1860

In early March, 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke in Hartford, Connecticut opposing the spread of slavery and advocating for the right of workers to strike. Five store clerks, who had started a Republican group called the Wide Awakes, decided to join a parade for Lincoln, who delighted in the torchlight escort provided for him after the speech back to his hotel.[2] Over the ensuing weeks, the Lincoln campaign made plans to develop Wide Awakes throughout the country and to use them to spearhead large voter registration drives, knowing that new voters and young voters tend to embrace new and young parties.

Members of the Wide Awakes were described by The New York Times as, “young men of character and energy, earnest in their Republican convictions and enthusiastic in prosecuting the canvass on which we have entered." In Chicago on October 3, 1860, 10,000 Wide Awakes marched in a three-mile procession. The story of this rally occupied eight columns of the Chicago Tribune. In Indiana, as one historian reports,

   1860 was the most colorful in the memory of the Hoosier electorate. “Speeches, day and night, torch-light processions, and all kinds of noise and confusion are the go, with all parties,” commented the “independent” Indianapolis Locomotive. Congressman Julian too was impressed by the “contrivance and spectacular display” which prevailed in the current canvass. Each party took unusual pains to mobilize its followers in disciplined political clubs, but the most remarkable of these were the Lincoln “Rail Maulers” and “Wide Awakes,” whose organizations extended throughout the state. Clad in gaudy uniforms the members of these quasi-military bands participated in all Republican demonstrations. The “Wide Awakes” in particular were well drilled and served as political police in escorting party speakers and in preserving order at public meetings. Party emulation made every political rally the occasion for carefully arranged parades through banner-bedecked streets, torchlight processions, elaborate floats and transparencies, blaring bands, and fireworks.

By the midpoint of the 1860 campaign, Republicans bragged that they had Wide Awake chapters in every county of every Northern (free) state. By the day of Lincoln's election as president there were 500,000 members. The group remained active for several decades

Whatever their names marching clubs of both parties often had bands and fancy uniforms. The social dimensions have been described:[7]

   The young men and boys who joined the Wide-Awakes, Invincibles, and other marching clubs were sold inexpensive uniforms and taught impressive march maneuvers. In Marion the Wide-Awake uniform consisted of an oil cloth cape and cap and a red sash, which along with a lamp or torch cost $1.33. Their “worm fence march” can be imagined, as can a nice connection to Lincoln as rail splitter—a connection that does remind us of the log-cabin and hard cider symbolism of earlier days [of 1840]. The more

important connection to be made, however, is to the “militia fever” of the 1850s. Many Americans north and south delighted in military uniforms and titles, musters and parades, and the formal balls their companies sponsored during the winter social season. Their younger brothers no doubtdelighted in aping them, so far as $1.33 would allow, while their parents were provided with a means by which youthful rowdyism was, for a time, channeled into a military form of discipline.The regular campaign clubs, meanwhile, were given a different attraction. One of the first items of business, once the club was organized, was to invite “the ladies” to meetings. Many members were single young men, and the campaign occurred during a relatively slow social season following the picnics, steamboat excursions, and other outings of the summer, and preceding the balls sponsored by militia companies, fire companies, and fraternal lodges during the winter. Campaign clubs helped to extend and connect the social seasons for single young men and women, and gave both an occasion for high-spirited travel. “Coming home there was fun,” wrote the Democratic editor of a Dubuque Republican club excursion to a rally in Galena. “There were frequent ‘three cheers for Miss Nancy Rogers.’ ... Captain Pat Conger was the best looking man on the ground and we can only say that it is a pity he is not a Democrat.”

Typical Wide Awakes chapters also adopted an unofficial mission statement. The following example comes from the Chicago Chapter:[8]

   To act as a political police.

   To do escort duty to all prominent Republican speakers who visit our place to address our citizens.

   To attend all public meetings in a body and see that order is kept and that the speaker and meeting is not disturbed.

   To attend the polls and see that justice is done to every legal voter.

   To conduct themselves in such a manner as to induce all Republicans to join them.

   To be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican Ticket.

I would add to the above Wikipedia sections, that women were more active in the movement than they were heretofore credited. Whether driven by political activism, or romantic adventure, it manifested not only in the creating and presentation of flags, but agressively confronting females of the opposing party!

Connecticut Courant, October 20, 1860

With the enclosed research, it became evident that the Wide Awakes represent a very important pre war movement. It is more than fitting to offer a reproduction of the flag, not only in honor of the original members, but for the living history community to accurately portray their role to the public.

In addition, we have added a few more reproductions of the campaign flags used, in addition to the ones that we have previously offered. We will continue to add to this line, as it is something that still bears weight in our modern day society.