It is hard for modern Americans to believe that Abraham Lincoln, one of history’s most beloved Presidents, was nearly defeated in his reelection attempt – Yet by the summer of 1864, Lincoln himself feared he would lose.

Traveling to Baltimore in the fall of 1864, Orville Wood had no way of knowing he would soon uncover the most elaborate election conspiracy in America’s brief history.

Wood was a merchant from Clinton County in the most northeastern corner of New York. As a supporter of President Abraham Lincoln, he was tasked with visiting troops from his hometown to “look after the local ticket.” What he discovered was a network of Democrat criminal conspirators.

Two men, Moses Ferry and Edward Donahoe, were arrested in Baltimore by an Army Provost Marshal. Specifically, the two were charged with “conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the service, falsely impersonating and representing officers in the United States service”.   

The specific allegations against Ferry and Donahoe were grave. They were accused of engaging in the forgery of ballots belonging to New York soldiers and manipulating votes to favor Democrat candidates.

Amidst the legal proceedings, Donahoe exercised his right to request legal representation, Ferry took a different approach by confessing to his involvement in the fraudulent activities. In his confession, Ferry accused Donahoe of personally affixing the names of officers to the forged ballots. The intricate nature of their scheme suggested a deliberate and premeditated effort to alter the election outcome through fraudulent means.

Donahoe eventually admitted to signing blank ballots using the name “C.S. Arthur, captain and aid-de-camp.” The revelation further reinforced the allegations against him and Ferry, exposing the extent of their deceitful actions.

A letter from Lincoln reads; “Please procure the record, and report to me,
on the case of Edward Donahue, Jr. about election fraud.”