October 28, 1864
The Election Yesterday. - The election yesterday passed off without the occurrence of any of the serious disturbances which too often attend such occasions. We heard of one or two little skirmishes in different parts of the city but none of them attained the dignity of an "engagement." Not a little ill-feeling was created by "challengers" at some of the precincts who insisted that every foreigner offering to vote should exhibit his naturalization papers. In one instance an old gentleman who proposed to vote the Union ticket was challenged. He was requested to produce his papers. He could not do so, having mislaid them. He was naturalized forty years ago and has been voting ever since, but in consequence of not being able to find his papers he could not vote yesterday. There were other cases of similar hardship that came to our knowledge. Quite a number of Copperheads refused to take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of West Virginia, as provided by law, and therefore were not allowed to vote. The great majority of those to whom the oath was presented, however, took it, but with a wry face, and deposited their votes.
The Union ticket goes out of the city with about two hundred majority, and it is expected that Ritchietown will give at least fifty majority. There is no doubt but the whole ticket is triumphantly elected.
P.S. - News was received this morning after three o'clock that Triadelphia had given forty majority for the Union tickets and West Liberty an average majority of ten. This is perfectly reliable, the news having been brought by those who copied the figures from the poll books.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1864