One of three anti-Lincoln satires published by Nichols in Boston at around the same time. (It was deposited for copyright on June 30, 1863, along with "Oppression!! Suppressing the Press" and "The Great American What Is It? Chased by Copper-heads" nos. 1863-6 and 1863-8). The present cartoon criticizes the Lincoln administration's mismanagement of the war, the "Four Years Contract" being the presidency. A barefoot Lincoln sits on a log labeled "Fredericksburg" (site of a major Union defeat under the leadership of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside) and holds an ax between his legs, as he receives four members of the "Committee on War" at left, who also carry axes. He says to himself, "My axe is as dull as theirs so I hid it between my legs." The Committee on the Conduct of the War was formed in 1861 to investigate recent Union military failures. In front of them is a woodpile with logs inscribed with the names of Southern cities, such as "Richmond," "Mobile," and "Charleston." Ensconced in the pile is a tiny black man who cries out, "Massar.r.r." Beneath a nearby grindstone lurks a copperhead (nickname of the Peace Democrats, who opposed Lincoln's wartime policies). The members of the committee (from left to right) report: Man with top hat: "Mr. President. There is a nigger in the woodpile dont you here him holler. Old song." Second man: "Abe., We found Fremont [Union Officer John C. Fremont] all run out, but we have fixed him up as good as new and I invented the first lie about McClellan." In 1862 Gen. George B. McClellan was relieved from command of the Army of the Potomac (some said for political reasons) and later became the presidential candidate of the Peace Democrats. Bareheaded man: "Abe--I've been in Mac's Com-sary department and found the provisions good, as I stole a sheep that he left in Maryland and twas excellent." Man carrying a large book "Committee on War Full Report": Mr. Pres. We've got axes to grind, as they got dreadful dull in trying to cut up McClellan's character & by the way cant you do something for us now?" Lincoln addresses them: "Sirs; Your report is recieved with profound pleasure, and your shall be great; but ther's a blasted Copperhead under the grindstone so that if you grind here you'll get bit and that is sure death. 'Mac' is the only one that can handle 'em, so I dont see what I'm going to do. 'Mac' gave that Richmond log a good crack and if I hadn't stole his Wedge, he would have split it sure and if my heels want so long I'd go to Trenton and get him back. I am this moment getting a despatch from Fr so I must bid you all good day. 1st News Good, Good, Good. 2nd News Thunderation!" The term "Copperhead" referred to Peace Democrats and others who advocated a negotiated reconciliation with the South. A Union officer behind Lincoln cuts with his ax into the Fredericksburg log, on which lies another copperhead. He announces, "1st Despatch Copperhead cut off, his capture certain. 2nd Despatch He has escaped through the gap and threatened our positions." In the right background, "Stone-Man" a figure made of stones standing on a horse, comments, "Mr. Pres. I have been to the rear and owing to my great weight I have broken down a number of bridges." The figure no doubt represents Gen. John Stonemen, commander of Union cavalry during the recent defeat at Chancellorsville. At far left a two-headed man, "Wilke's Spirit by a Medium," observes, "Mac is a slow hoss but there's no use in trying to run him down." In November 1861 Union naval officer Charles Wilkes captured Southern diplomats James Murray Mason and John Slidell on the "Trent," a British merchant ship. Beside him is a sign "Lies told for cash." In the distance are a dog, a rooster, a horse, and a boxing match.|Entered . . . 1863 by E.W.T. Nichols . . . Mass.|The Library's impression of the work was deposited for copyright on June 30, 1863. |Title appears as it is written on the item.|Weitenkampf, p. 139.|Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)|Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1863-7.

An anti-Lincoln satire, showing the Republican incumbent and his supporters menaced by giant "Copperheads" (Peace Democrats). After a speech on May 1, 1863, asserting that the Civil War was being fought to free blacks and enslave whites, not to save the Union, Clement Laird Vallandigham, leader of the "Copperheads," was arrested and tried for treason. He had defied Union general Ambrose E. Burnside's General Order No. 38, that "the habit of declaring sympathies for the enemy [would] no longer be tolerated" and that offenders would be punished by military procedure. Bowing to Vallandigham's widespread public support, Lincoln reduced the severity of his sentence from imprisonment to banishment behind Confederate lines. Here, three huge copperheads pursue Lincoln, who tears a piece of paper "Constitution & the Union as it was." A fourth snake curls around in front of him. The quotation is from a speech given by Vallandigham in May 1862: "To maintain the Constitution as it is and to restore the Union as it was." Lincoln, who is barefoot and in backwoods dress, drops a paper that reads, "New Black Constitution [signed] A. L. & Co." One of the snakes says, "If you cant read that document drop it." Two others hiss, "Hit him again," and "Ah, you cuss. I thought you had a little nigger on the brain." Lincoln calls to two freedmen who follow him, "Go back to your master, dont think you are free because you are emancipated," but they implore, "Fadderrrr Abrum" and "Take us to your Bussum." A minuscule black man who has fallen from inside Lincoln's hat cries, "Ise going back to de sile." At far left Burnside, who holds a flaming torch, is being choked by a snake representing Vallandigham. The significance of the torch is unclear, although it resembles the lanterns of the Wide-Awakes, active in Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign. Burnside begs, "Oh, dear Clement you are hugging too tight." Vallandigham responds, "Look here if you think to Burn-my Side you will get foiled." Below, a snake eating a black man comments, "I say, Clement, Shriekers go good Down with him." At right a skeleton has just risen from the grave of abolitionist martyr John Brown, whose tombstone is inscribed "Hung in Virginia by Wise [i.e., Virginia governor Henry A. Wise]." On the ground are the words "Removed to No. 7 Hell Gate." The skeleton is exhorted by Satan, ". . . the Devil is to pay come get up and take your share." The skeleton responds, "Sure enough. Come Father let us start for Canada where it is colder." The "What-is-it" of the title refers to a deformed African man recently featured at P. T. Barnum's Museum on Broadway. (See also "An Heir to the Throne, or the Next Republican Candidate.," no. 1860-33.) |Entered . . . 1863 by E.W.T. Nichols . . . Mass.|The Library's impression of the work was deposited for copyright on June 30, 1863.|Title appears as it is written on the item.|Weitenkampf, p. 138.|Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)|Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1863-8.

An extremely crude and somewhat obscure satire on Union general Ambrose E. Burnside's controversial suspension of the Chicago "Times" because of "disloyal and incendiary statements." The anti-Lincoln paper was temporarily closed by order of Burnside, the military commander of the Department of the Ohio, in June 1863. This order was quickly rescinded by President Lincoln. Nichols's satire is crowded and confusing. Burnside stands in the center in a tattered uniform stamped repeatedly "Chicago Times." A gavel or mallet rests on his head. A ragged black officer "Chief of Staff" stands beside him asking, "Wah! Brudder what dat on your head an back an what you doing here?" Burnside replies, "Well "Alias" I've been prowling about here and stole the Cock of the walk, then I went into the Times Ofice to get some pie (pi) and their devil [i.e., printer's devil or apprentice?] scratched and tore me and left his mark all over my back. Then Drummond put this injuntion on my head and told me to stand here and look at this goddess a spell [i.e., the figure of Civil Justice who appears at left] and it rather skeers me." At left is the goddess of Civil Justice holding a sword marked "Civil Liberty First" and scales. She stands on a large book inscribed "Drummond's State Platform." Behind her is a telegraph line which flashes the words "Back out Ambrose--A. Lincoln." Several onlookers are also present. One (far right) shouts, "Hurah," as a newsboy carrying the Chicago "Times" rushes up announcing, "Eres the Times Morning Edition. dugham-stealers got Injunctioned." The print must have appeared in the midst of the "Times" controversy, as the Library's impression was deposited for copyright on June 30, 1863.|Entered . . . 1863 by E.W.T. Nichols . . . Mass.|Title appears as it is written on the item.|Weitenkampf, p. 138.|Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)|Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1863-6.