The story of the Sun, New York: 1833-1928 / by Frank M. O'Brien ; with an introduction by Edward Page Mitchell ...

"THE SUN" DURING THE CIVIL WAR 133
which declared the war a failure; but in the last days
of the campaign it was frank in its predictions that
Lincoln would be elected. On the morning after election it had this to say:
The reelection of Abraham Lincoln announces toJ
the world how firmly we have resolved to be a free
and united people.
After the assassination of President Lincoln the Sun
said:
In the death of Mr. Lincoln the Southern people
have lost one of the best friends they had at the
North. He would have treated them with more
gentleness than any other statesman. From him they
would have obtained concessions it is now almost
impossible for our rulers and people to grant.
The methods of gathering war news, early in the con.
flict, were haphazard. The first reports to reach New
York from southern fields were usually the government
bulletins, but they were not as trustworthy as the official bulletins of the European war.
On the morning after the first battle of Bull Run, the
Sun's readers were treated to joyous headlines:
A GREAT BATTLE-SEVENTY THOUSAND
REBELS IN IT-OUR ARMY VICTORIOUSGREAT LOSS OF LIFE-TWELVE HOURS'
FIGHTING-RETREAT OF THE REBELSUNITED STATES FORCES PRESSING FORWARD.
But on the following morning the tune changed: