Citizens were discouraged that the war was continuing on and on, and thousands of soldiers on both sides had been killed or injured. The country was ready for change. Up until the last minute, it seemed that Lincoln might not win reelection. What changed this?
Something happened on September 6, 1864. The Union forces, led by General William T. Sherman, captured the southern city of Atlanta. After months of battle, the Union was victorious. This victory turned the tide of the war in favor of the Union.
Just two months later, Abraham Lincoln was overwhelmingly reelected.
