Clement Vallandigham

Clement Vallandigham Historical Figure Nationality: United States Year of Birth: 1820 Year of Death: 1871 Cause of Death: Accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound Occupation: Lawyer, Politician Political Party: Democratic Party Political Office(s): United States Representative from Ohio Fictional Appearances: The Guns of the South POD: January 17, 1864 Type of Appearance: Contemporary references Political Office(s): Vice President of the United States

Clement Laird Vallandigham (July 29, 1820 – June 17, 1871) was an Ohio unionist of the Copperhead faction of anti-war, pro-Confederate Democrats during the American Civil War. He served as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1858-1863. He grew to infamy as a sharp critic of Abraham Lincoln, and faced a military court for "uttering disloyal sentiments", and was sentenced to prison. He was then exiled to the Confederate States, where he then left and entered Canada. While in Canada, he attempted to run for the office of governor of Ohio.

After the war, Vallandigham returned to Ohio and again practiced law. During a trial, Vallandigham accidentally shot himself, and died of his wounds.

Clement Vallandigham in The Guns of the South

In 1864, with the Confederate States emerging victorious from the Second American Revolution, Clement Vallandigham was elected Vice President of the United States on the Democratic ticket, balancing out the more moderate presidential candidate, Horatio Seymour. Given his pro-Confederate stance, many in the C.S. government, Robert E. Lee and Judah Benjamin among them, were hopeful that Vallandigham would help formulate a U.S. policy that favored the C.S.A.

See Also

• Andrew Johnson, who was elected as the 16th Vice President of the United States in 1864 in OTL. He subsequently ascended as the 17th President of the United States upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

References

Political offices (OTL)
Preceded by Lewis D. Campbell	U.S. Representative from Ohio's 3rd District 1858-1863	Succeeded by Robert C. Schenk
Political offices (The Guns of the South)
Preceded by Hannibal Hamlin	Vice President of the United States 1865-18??	Succeeded by Incumbent at novel's end, 1868
Party political offices (The Guns of the South)
Preceded by H.V. Johnson	Democratic Vice Presidential candidate 1864 (won)	Succeeded by Most recent