What exactly is a "wide awake"

[Yellowhammer]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

Here is a nice period engraving of a large group of Wide Awakes marching in NYC after Lincoln's election:



Here is a quite telling article from the August 1, 1860 addition of the Waupun, WI Times detailing the Bylaws of that particular Wide-Awake company and clearly illustrating the military parallels. Article 6 of the Bylaws are particularly telling and informative.

Waupun Times, August 1, 1860

"AT A MEETING of the Republican Club, held at Dodge Hall last Wednesday evening a Wide-Awake Company was formed. Sixty-four names were enrolled, and considerable enthusiasm was manifested. The regulations of the Janesville Wide-Awakes were read, and, after being amended, were adopted. They are as follows:

1st--This is a branch of the Waupun Republican Club, and shall be known as the "Wide Awake Club."

2d--Any person who has attained to the age of eighteen years, who will aid and support the Republican candidates, and furnish himself with the style of uniform adopted by this Club, may become a member thereof.

3d--Every person shall, before he is recognized as a member of this Club, sign these articles.

4th--The officers of this Club shall be a Captain, 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th Lieutenants, and Treasurer. The Captain shall have command of the Club at all times; in his absence the Lieutenants shall have command in the order of their rank.

5th--Every member of this club shall attend all the meetings whether regular or special; and when on duty or in attendance at the meetings, shall obey the officers in command, and shall at all times perform such duties as shall be required of him by the officers in command.

6th--It is the object of this club--

1st. To act as a political police.
2d. To do escort duty to all prominent Republican speakers who visit our village to address our citizens.
3d. To attend all public meetings in a body and see that order is kept, and that the speaker and meeting is not disturbed.
4th. To attend the polls and see that justice is done every legal voter.
5th. To conduct ourselves in such a manner as to induce all Republicans to join us.
6th. To be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican ticket.

The following officers were then elected:

Captain--Hans C. Heg.
1st Lieut.--Andrew Clark.
2d Lieut.--I. P. Randall.
3d Lieut.--Wm. Ware.
4th Lieut.--M. J. Althouse.
Treasurer.--Geo. W. Butterfield.

L. B. Hills was elected Corresponding Secretary of the club. The officers were authorized to obtain uniforms, and a resolution was passed requesting members to pay one dollar to the treasurer for the purpose of procuring the same. The uniform, it was decided, should consist of a cap, cape, and torch. On Thursday evening there was a drill meeting at Wirt's Ware-house, which was well attended. Several new names were added to the roll-call. Another drill-meeting is called for this evening, at the same place. Let every Republican who has the good of the cause and the fame of our village at heart be in attendance. Such as deem themselves too old to join the Wide-Awakes, are not debarred the privilege of uniforming a substitute. There are many who wish to join, but lack the means, offering a good field for political philanthropists. Our young Republican friends in the country, who reside sufficiently near town to attend the meetings are cordially invited to join."

[Justin Runyon]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

Alright, I waited for a while to see if someone else would post, but it kept going along the wide-awake path, which is what it started as in the first place. However I need to go back and set the record straight on the Know nothings.

The Know-nothings were a shortlived but relativley strong political party that hit the scene around 1853. Made up of mostly old Whigs as that party was collapsing, they were actually called the American party and started as a secret organization members were supposed to say they "Knew nothing" about. Their platform was that of Nativism, which at the time was a pretty popular way of thinking. Nativism can be summed up as anti everything that isnt "Native American" (when they say Native american BTW it translates to the modern term WASP) They were anti- immigration, anti- catholic and anti- black. The only way they would have been in favor of abolition was if it was combined with colonization. Attempts at colonization always failed and were economicly impossible anyway, though Lincoln kept his dream of exporting all the blacks alive well into 1863.

The know nothings reached their political hay day around 1856 when they ran Millard Filmore for the Presidency. At the last minute the Republicans included an anti imigrant platform under Fremont which took most of the northern Know nothing votes, and fully 50% of Know nothings didnt vote at all. Fremont and Fillmore both loose that one and the know nothings dissapear form the political landscape. If you look closely, you can still find Know nothing politicians today, though they would never use that typology. I wont mention any names but the ideas are still alive and under bigger names than you may think.

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

scratchings

Thanks to some sharp-eyed comrades....
I've come across a Wide-Awake source that mentioned using 'Hardee's for drill purposes. Cited sections but I don't recall which at the moment.

There were different ranks (supposing that all clubs/chapters kept the same basic rules) of members. Some also carried glass lanterns with colored globes (red, white or blue, if I recall)

Aside from the Mohawk, NY group outside shot and a handful of others with scant IDs, I have not had much luck finding images. Can anyone help?

I'm also in search of a surviving cape to get a repro made off of. Perhaps a period fireman's cape would suffice. I've considered rubberized cloth but I'm leery of it weighing too much.

Anyone with any leads is more than welcome to contact me!

John Pillers
skulkerjohn@yahoo.com

P.S.
Greg Schuller and I did look at a purported Wide-Awake item in west/central Illinois (Carthage I believe) - it was oilcloth but was more like a vest. Red, blue and white. Featured Federal general service eagle buttons too. Had a 'sailor-type' collar and sort-of epaulettes. Curious item. Here, I was just hoping for a plain ol black cape....

[Millie Fillmore]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

Andrew,

No need for this little guy ( :embaresse ), because you are correct. There is a hat called the wide-awake (felt with a wide brim and a low crown; worn by men and women).

The women's fashionable wide-awake was usually curved from front to back -- I heard somewhere that it was called that because when set upon a table, it would rock back and forth (and wouldn't "rest"). Ha ha.

Sincerely,

Katie Guslick

[John Peterson]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

It's good to see some discussion about things that would have been in the minds of citizens of the period. To add, by way of illustration, a little bit to what has been said above I offer the following:

an image from a Currier and Ives series of lithographs poking fun at the 1860 election campaign in which Lincoln, rail in hand, is portrayed as a Wide Awake

an image detailing the uniforms of the Albany Wide Awakes which are described thusly:
"Our President's uniform consists of a black glazed mantle, with the letters R. W. A. C. [presumably for Republican Wide Awake Club], in white leather, across the breast, and a glazed chapeau. Our Captain's uniform consists of an overcoat and cape of black enamel cloth, bound with red, and a military cap of glazed silk. The capes of the Lieutenants are bound with blue, and the capes of the Sergeants with white. The Privates wear a black enamel circular cape and glazed cap, and carry a swinging torch. Four Pioneers, the tallest men in the company, carry very large torches, are stationed on the extreme right."

The description goes on: "We are drilled in a few simple military movements. (See Hardee's Tactics, pages 76, 118 and 123.)" They insist, "The Organization is not intended alone for torch-light processions, but is also especially designed to co-operate in all the minutia of political work; and to this end, on Election days, at each polling district, the Wide Awakes are out in full force - doing duty as distributors, checkers, challengers and especially as patrol-men, bringing every Republican to the Polls, and using all honorable means to secure the doubtful and wavering, and persuade the hostile.

For those who might be interested in some music: (Of course, by today's standards they are brutally politically incorrect - my apologies if any readers are offended.)

The Wide Awake Yankee Doodle (which makes no secret of the Wide Awake's antiCatholic and xenophobic sentiments which they inherited from the Know Nothings):

Come Uncle Sam, be "Wide Awake,"
Too long you have been sleeping,
Be on your guard, to crush the snake,
That round you has been creeping.
For it has almost charmed your eyes,
To such imprudent blindness,
That it could take you by surprise,
And crush you for your kindness.

Yankee Doodle, Wide Awake,
Be silent you should never,
Until you drive the popish snake,
From off the soil, FOREVER.

Our forefathers were "Wide Awake,"
When liberty was dawning,
They saw what foreigners would take,
And gave us timely warning.
Of foreign influence, beware;
Our Washington has told us,
And time indeed, there's none to spare,
His words they shall embold us.

Yankee Doodle, &c.

Americans should be "Wide Awake,"
For surely you must know,
That for our country's own dear sake,
Each man his worth must show.
For we are free, and wont submit
To intolerance and aggression,
From papists, who from foreign lands
Come here to rule this nation.

Yankee Doodle, &c.

Brave Washington bequeathed to us,
The liberty we enjoy,
Shall we not claim our rights, and thus
Prove worthy, without alloy.
For is he not the father of
The country that we love,
Shall we then stand and blush with shame,
For foreigners who disgrace the same.

Yankee Doodle, &c.

And two anti-Wide Awake songs ...

O, what is all this noise about,
This midnight confusion?
'Tis the Wide-awakes have all turned out,
And made this grand intrusion.

CHORUS; Our cause is Abolition,
And for the Nigger we do cry;
For we do love the Nigger,
And will love him till we die.
And here we are with torch in hand,
We want to cut the figure;
For we proclaim throughout the land,
That we all love the Nigger.

We call ourselves the Wide Awakes,
And vote for the Rail-splitter,
Because we think the Nigger makes
Our glorious cause the better.

'Tis honest Abe and Hamlin,
We want to rule our nation,
And for the Nigger we do claim
Equality of station.

The poor white man we wish to take
The place of Mr. Nigger,
And for this cause we're wide-awake,
And ready to pull the trigger.

Chorus: Our cause, &c.

For this we march with torch-light,
To shout our holy mission;
And worship Nigger with delight,
And pray for Abolition.

Then let our noble cause prevail,
Through every land and nation;
Till none will dare our cause assail,
But shout Amalgamation.

This is an interesting lament written in the voice of a drafted federal soldier:

I was a glorious Wide-Awake,
All marching in a row;
And wore a shiny oil cloth cape,
About two years ago.
Our torches flared with turpentine,
And filled the streets with smoke;
And we were sure, whate'er might come;
Secession was a joke.

Oh, if I then had only dreamed,
The things that now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

I said the South would never dare
To strike a single blow;
I thought that they were cowards then,
About two years ago.
And so I marched behind a rai',
Armed with a wedge and maul;
With honest Abe upon a flag,
A boatman gaunt and tall.

Oh, if I then had only dreamed
The things which now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

My work was good, my wages high,
And bread and coal were low;
The silver jingled in my purse
About two years ago.
In peace my wife and children dwelt,
Happy the live-long day;
And war was but the fearful curse
Of countries far away.

Oh if I then had only dreamed
The things which now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

My wife sits pale and weeping now,
My children crying low;
I did not think to go to war
About two years ago.
And no one now will earn their food,
No one will be their shield;
God help them when I lie in death
Upon the bloody field!

Oh, if I then had only dreamed
The things which now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

One brother's bones, half buried lie,
Near the Antietam's flow;
He was a merry, happy lad
About two years ago.
And where the Chickahominy
Moves sluggish towards the sea,
Was lait another's wasted corpse--
I am the last of three.

Oh if I then had only dreamed
The things which now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

Just now I saw my torch and cape,
Which once made such a show;
They are not now what once they seemed,
About two years ago.
I thought I carried freedom's light,
In that smoky, flaming band;
I've learned I bore destruction's "torch"--
That wedge has sput the land.

Oh, if I then had only dreamed
The things which now I know,
I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake
About two years ago.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

''...overcoat and cape of black enamel cloth, bound with red, and a military cap of glazed silk. The capes of the Lieutenants are bound with blue, and the capes of the Sergeants with white. The Privates wear a black enamel circular cpe and glazed cap, and carry a swinging torch. Four Pioneers, the tallest men in the company, carry very large torches, are stationed on the extreme right."

This answers a few questions. 1 Double Secret Reputation Point for a excellent reply.

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

Mr. Peterson,

Wonderful post!

Now, to find a surviving cape or facsimile to make a reproduction off of....



John Pillers

[vbetts]

Re: What exactly is a "wide awake"

While looking in the New York Times for articles mentioning political transparencies, I ran across great articles on the Wide-Awakes parade in New York City, both preparatory and after the fact. The October 1, 1860, issue, page one, also includes a long section on the approved manner of formation and movement while on parade, including manner of forming company in one rank, to form company in two ranks, to pass from two ranks into one, to march by a flank, to change direction by file, the company being in march by the flank to form on right into line, to break into column by sections, to march in column by sections, to change direction to the right while marching in column, the company being in column by sections to cause it to march by a flank in the same direction, the company being in march by the flank to form by section into line, to break into open column of march, to advance by rank in open column, to advance by rear section to front in open column while on the march, to resume the open column, and the rail fence movement (The Company being in march by flank will simply pass from one side of the street or road to the other and reverse.)

This article also states "There has been considerable difficulty in procuring enough uniforms for all who have ordered them. The enameled cloth in which they are fashioned is for the most part manufactured in New-Jersey and New-England, and the mills have been unable to supply the sudden demand for it. Hundreds of women and many a man in this City have been engaged for weeks past in making caps and capes for Wide-Awakes in various parts of the country, and they are still stitching away for dear life. Although the orders come in so thick and fast that the tailor and his assistants are hardly able to fulfill them, yet enough of the equipments have been manufactured to insure the computed size of the procession if there are men enough to fill all the uniforms that are in being. Undoubtedly many members of Companies that design visiting New-York on the 3d will be found wanting when the time comes; the experience of all who have taken part in public pageants demonstrates that it will be so; but it is claimed that every Club will find hosts of Republicans outside of its organization ready to don the uniform of each delinquent, so that the ranks of all will be full in spite of all contingencies.

There will be much more variety of costume and insignia in the coming parade than there was in the procession of the City Wide-Awakes. Gen. J. H. Hobart Ward, the Grand Marshal, will be habited in a glittering suit of gilt-enameled cloth, to be presented to him by Capt. Chalker [sic?], of the Hartford Wide-Awakes--the first Company organized--and will carry a baton made of the wood of the Charter Oak, also the gift of Capt. Chalmer. The Adjutant and Aids to the Grand Marshal will wear similar uniforms, brilliant only in a less degree, and each will bear a staff covered with gilt-enameled cloth. The Marshals of Division will be clad in silver-enameled cloth, and their Aids in light blue. The Marshals of Sub-divisions will wear uniforms of scarlet with black trimmings. The coats of all these officers reach to the knee, are set off with the United States military button, and have capes reaching to the elbow. The Grand Marshal and Adjutant will be distinguished by double capes. Many of the visiting Companies wear vari-colored uniforms. The New-York Wide-Awakes are, for the most part, appareled in black or silver-gray suits. We have already published some account of the devices to be worn in the procession. The preparations for the demonstration have been in progress ever since Aug. 1, when Mr. Wm. M. Gillespie, the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements and Adjutant, first proposed that such a parade should take place."

The accounts of the actual parade are quite impressive--thousands upon thousands bearing torches down the streets of New York City, giving an almost unearthly red glow to the night, banners and transparencies and flags everywhere. Our current political "theatre" has nothing on these folks!!

Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net