The pyrrhic victory of the Mulligan guards in Maine
Subject(s): Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893, Brady, Thomas Jefferson, 1839-1904, Campaigns, Military, Clapp, A. M. (Almon M.), Corruption, Dana, Charles A. (Charles Anderson), 1819-1897, Dorsey, Stephen Wallace, 1842-1916, Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895, Elkins, Stephen B. (Stephen Benton), 1841-1911, Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886, Phelps, William Walter, 1839-1894, Presidents--Elections, Raum, Green B. (Green Berry), 1829-1909, Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912, Robeson, George M. (George Maxwell), 1829-1897, Scandals
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James Gillespie Blaine is dressed as a knight, with the plumes of his helmet labeled “Speakership Record, Mulligan Letters, [and] Credit Mobilier.” He holds papers labeled “Aggressive Cash Campaign,” and rests his left hand on the head of William Walter Phelps who is holding a sword and a battered shield labeled “Blaines Magnetism.” Whitelaw Reid, wearing a paper hat, carries a standard that states “Moral Ideas,” (crossed out) “Soap and Success!” Stephen B. Elkins presents a “Report” to John Alexander Logan and Blaine that states “Great Victory in Maine! Blaine Vindicated! Cost $265,000.” Charles A. Dana sits in the lower right corner pouring “Personal Animosity” into cannonballs labeled “Personal Animosity, Spite, Mud Bombs, [and] Malice.” Frederick Douglass holds a sign labeled “Mulligan Guards Blaine’s Record” that appears to have drawn considerable enemy fire. On the left, “A. M. Clapp” turns his empty pockets inside out and George M. Robeson looks at an empty cash barrel. In the background, there is action at the “Whiskey Arsenal, Fort Cleveland, Polls, [and] Fort St. John” and casualties on the battlefield. Caption: “Another victory like this and our money’s gone!”
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1884-09-17
Creator(s)
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894
Period
Dakota Rancher (June 1884-1886)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
The pyrrhic victory of the Mulligan guards in Maine. [September 17, 1884]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287615. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894. The pyrrhic victory of the Mulligan guards in Maine. [17 Sep. 1884]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287615.
APA:
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894., [1884, September 17]. The pyrrhic victory of the Mulligan guards in Maine.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287615.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
