After delivering the last speech of his election campaign on November 5, Stephen Douglas remained in Mobile, Alabama and waited for election returns from key states. By the time Douglas and his wife left for New Orleans, Louisiana on November 8, 1860 reports indicated that Abraham Lincoln had won. As historian James L. Huston explains, in the South “[Douglas] came face to face with those who would not accept majority rule, even when conducted wholly within the confines of the Constitution.” (By Don Sailer)

Senator John C. Breckinridge remained at home on election day in Lexington, Kentucky. While Breckinridge carried eleven southern states, it was not enough to prevent a Republican victory. Even his home state of Kentucky had failed him and voted for Constitutional Union candidate John Bell. The 1860 election marked Breckinridge’s ”first political defeat,” as historian William C. Davis notes. (By Don Sailer)

Once polling places closed, the Charleston (SC) Mercury noted that “enthusiastic gentlemen” waited outside their office for updates on election returns from other states. After reports indicated that “Lincoln’s election was certain,” the Mercury described how “the crowd gave expression to their feelings by long and continued cheering for a Southern Confederacy.” News about the Republican victory “spread with lightning rapidity over the city.” (By Don Sailer)

As voters in Memphis cast their ballots, the Appeal reported that no “disagreeable incidents” took placed and a “general good feeling…prevailed at the polls.” Yet later that night residents waited outside the telegraph office with “much anxiety” for election updates. While the crowd greeted reports favorable to John Bell, John Breckinridge, or Stephen Douglas with “long and loud shouts,” news about Republican victories “was received…in silence.” (By Don Sailer)

After waiting in a New York City polling place line for an hour, George Templeton Strong voted for Abraham Lincoln. Strong noted in his journal that voter turnout was “very large” and perhaps “far beyond that of 1856.”  While it had been “a memorable day,” Strong observed that “we do not know yet for what.” No one knew “what historical lesson” would result, but Strong argued that “the lesson cannot fail to be weighty.” (By Don Sailer)

Late in the night on the Mississippi near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the steamboat H.W.R. Hill, bound from Memphis to New Orleans suffered a massive rupture of its boiler head.  This sprayed massive amounts of steam onto the deck where passengers and crew were sleeping. In all, forty-five people were reported killed with a dozen others scalded seriously.  The H.W.R. Hill later served in the Confederate river fleet.   (By John Osborne)   

In mid-morning, the steamer Globe exploded while docked in Chicago destroying the vessel and showering debris over the surrounding neighborhood.  Just arrived from Buffalo, New York, the Globe was preparing to discharge its cargo when the crew made the error of refilling hot boilers with cold lake water.  Thirteen people, including crewmen and bystanders in the docks were killed and others severely injured.  (By John Osborne)