Vidal Gore — Eighteen Seventy [3078]

Today, for the first time since Lincoln’s murder, the front page of the New York Sun appeared with a band of mourning. There are rumours that General McClellan is raising an army in order to ensure that Tilden will be inaugurated day after tomorrow. If McClellan moves with the same despatch that he did during the Civil War, we can expect to see him arrive in time for the inaugural of 1881. — Vidal Gore, Eighteen Seventy, 3078

Note

The contrast between the mourning band and the rumors surrounding McClellan creates a sense of impending drama, while the ironic comparison of McClellan’s potential military action to his past performance during the Civil War adds a layer of humor and skepticism to the narrative.