{"id":3709,"date":"2016-11-17T07:52:54","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T12:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=3709"},"modified":"2025-04-18T10:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T14:40:29","slug":"flags-flew-during-disputed-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/flags-flew-during-disputed-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Flags flew during disputed election"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tilden-Hendricks-campaign-poster,-studded-with-American-flags.-(Library-of-Congress)\"<\/a>
Tilden-Hendricks campaign poster, studded with American flags. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Americans vote for a president, you can count on American flags<\/a> being displayed outside polling places, alongside roads and beside the winner. You can also, every now and then, expect a controversial election with claims about stolen or illegal votes.<\/p>\n

A case occurred 140 years ago when the centennial of 1776 was celebrated. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden went head to head. Days after the November 7, 1876, election, newspapers were still speculating on who won. The New York Herald, for example, headlined its coverage with these phrases: \u201cNip and Tuck\u201d\u2026\u201cBattle for the Presidency Still Undecided\u201d\u2026\u201cMammoth National Doubt\u201d\u2026\u201cIntense Anxiety Everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"After<\/a>
Hayes is inaugurated in 1877 (Library of Congress).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asked for his opinion of who won, Mark Twain cautioned, \u201cDo not raise the flag\u201d for Tilden. But, when the raw votes were finally counted, that\u2019s who won. Then, after the Electoral College met, Hayes triumphed \u2013 by a single vote.<\/p>\n

The New York Times, reviewing the 1876 process recently, revealed how complicated the election was: \u201cMr. Tilden, with 184 electoral votes, had fallen one vote short of a majority necessary for election, with the 19 electoral votes of Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana still being decided. Mr. Tilden had carried all three states, but there were many instances of voter fraud and voter intimidation \u2013 primarily toward black voters, who were likely to support Republicans. Each state had a Republican-controlled returning board that held the power to throw out contested votes. There was also controversy in Oregon, a state carried by Mr. Hayes, where the Democratic governor removed one of the three Republican electors and replaced him with a Democrat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Civil<\/a>
Civil War battle flags reminded voters of Hayes’ military career. (New York Public Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The outcome in Hayes\u2019 favor wasn\u2019t sorted out until February, shortly before Inauguration Day, which was then held March 5. \u201cThe east portico of the Capitol was gay with flags,\u201d one newspaper enthused, referring to the 37-star American flags<\/a> at the inaugural ceremonies. In addition, the platform for the new chief executive\u2019s speech was \u201ctrimmed with the ensigns of different nations<\/a>.\u201d As the sun burst through clouds, the report continued, \u201cthere was just breeze enough to move the flags and plumes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The flag Hayes’ wife sent might be like this one. (ohiocivilwar150.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the inauguration proceeded, The New York Herald told readers that \u201ca good many flags [were] flung from the windows of private residences\u201d in that city. In Brooklyn, \u201cthe flags of the city and county<\/a> were displayed\u201d on City Hall and the Courthouse, while houses of Republican voters were festooned with the Stars and Stripes.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Hayes was very familiar with American flags because he had served in the Union Army<\/a> during the Civil War and was wounded five times. In 1864, his wife, Lucy, sent a flag to his regiment, the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and worried in letters about whether it had been delivered.<\/p>\n

\"Color<\/a>
Color Guard of Hayes’ unit holds what might have been a gift from his wife. (ohiocivilwar150.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHas the flag been received yet?\u201d she asked on May 26, 1864. \u201cLet me know if you have received it and whether it has been presented.\u201d A few days later, she wrote, \u201cI wish I could have seen the Flag before it went \u2013 now I fear it may not be what it ought to be \u2013 or that you have not got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That summer, flags remained on her mind. After learning that the standard bearer in her husband\u2019s command \u201cloves the flag,\u201d she said, \u201cMy heart warmed towards him, I can imagine what his feeling must be towards it after having borne it in battle \u2013 do you know him\u2026personally \u2013 if you do I shall feel that the Flag is nearer to me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Americans vote for a president, you can count on American flags being displayed outside polling places, alongside roads and beside the winner. You can also, every now and then, expect a controversial election with claims about stolen or illegal votes. A case occurred 140 years ago when the centennial of 1776 was celebrated. Republican… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[394,391,395,392,393],"class_list":["post-3709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-democrat","tag-election","tag-republican","tag-rutherford-b-hayes","tag-samuel-tilden"],"yoast_head":"\nFlags flew during disputed election - Gettysburg Flag Works Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/flags-flew-during-disputed-election\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Flags flew during disputed election - Gettysburg Flag Works Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Americans vote for a president, you can count on American flags being displayed outside polling places, alongside roads and beside the winner. 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