There was a major gala event at Cooper Union on May 14, 1864, to drum up support for Lincoln. He had no significant Republican competition, but there were those who claimed the nation would be better served by a compromise candidate who could appeal to Republicans and middle-of-the-road voters. It was to forestall this that the Cooper Union benefit was held.

Several army generals spoke that evening, and the truth of what they said seemed self-evident. Only Lincoln had held the military policy together. There had been times when it seemed that George McClellan—or someone else—would railroad the military agenda; time and again, Lincoln had pulled things together. The Cooper Union event did not guarantee Lincoln the nomination, but it represented an important step in that direction.