.jpg?w=1)
Details
[LINCOLN, Abraham]. CURRIER & IVES, publishers. "Caving In, or, A Rebel 'Deeply Humiliated,'" lithographic political cartoon. New York: Currier & Ives, 1863. 1 page, (13½ x 18 in.), edges a bit browned.
LINCOLN AND DAVIS IN THE RING. A relatively uncommon war-date political cartoon, optimistically commenting on recent Union military victories. Davis and Lincoln, stripped to the waist, wear boxing pants modeled on the U.S. and Confederate flags. Lincoln is clearly getting the best of Davis, who bears bruises and lacerations labeled "Fort Henry," "Fort Donelson," "Nashville," "Port Royal," etc. Lincoln's dialogue balloon reads: "Now, you scoundrel, I've got my muscle up, and I'll put in blows until I finish you!" Davis, cringing under Lincoln's assault, replies "Oh! Mr. Lincoln I abandon the 'Defensive Policy.' I see that I have undertaken more than I can accomplish." The cartoon has interesting foreign-policy implications: standing in the background are a number of figures representing European nations, including a portly, top-hatted representative of the London Times who exclaims "Ho, my! I begin to feel queer. H'Im afraid when he has finished Jeff he'll pitch into me!" (It was feared that Britain might support the Confederacy unless the Union could make a strong showing on the battlefield.)