The first October Surprise, in a presidential election considered the most important in history

In U.S. politics, a contrived or spontaneous event influencing a presidential election has been termed an "October Surprise." Like the upcoming election only weeks away, the election of 1864 was considered the most important in history up until that point. 

Accordingly, the Confederacy planned arguably the first October Surprise – a bold attack at Cedar Creek to defeat a Union army – a desperate bid to aid the Copperhead Peace Democrats at the ballot box. 

At their convention in Chicago weeks earlier...