October 3, 1860: A massive demonstration by Wide Awake Lincoln supporters in New York

Even by the standards of the early 21st century a crowd of 12,000 people at a presidential campaign event is considered a large crowd. In 1860, the population of the United States was roughly a tenth of what it is today, yet, on October 3, 1860 about 12,000 Wide Awake members marched in a demonstration of support for Abraham Lincoln in New York City. That was the number of people in the parade: no one bothered to count the tens of thousands of people who came out to watch the spectacle--and remember, Abraham Lincoln wasn't even present at this event:

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.; GRAND WIDE-AWAKE DEMONSTRATION. The Whole City on Fire for Lincoln and Hamlin! Twelve Thousand Torchmen in Procession.PANORAMIC SKETCH OF THE WHOLE AFFAIR Details and Particulars of the Clubs on Duty.What was Thought and Said of the Wide-Awakes in the Hotels and Street-Corner Groups.Full and Accurate Account of Every Incident and Item.

Round us a shield and bright as molten silver the moon uprose last evening about 7 o'clock, touching the cupola of the City Hall with right and throwing out into delicate relief the foliage and branches of the Park trees, as your Reporter hastened from the TIMES Office to Broadway, on his way to view the Wide-Awakes.

Even at that early hour, the Park itself and all the sidewalks were densely crowded, the stages and carriages having to slowly crawl up the centre of the street through dense fringes of excited and expectant humanity. Windows and stoops were packed with curious faces; all the corners displayed mass-meetings in embryo -- fresh accessions constantly thronging up from the side streets to swell the numbers or supply the places of those lucky ones who had managed to push their way into the main upward-drifts of the palpitating current.

Stepping into a stage and driving up towards Union-square as fast as the many human obstructions would allow us, the scene became more animated and brilliant each moment, as we approached the main centre of attraction. Broadway never more thoroughly displayed its Metropolitan character -- all ranks and varieties of men, women and children being collected and merged together behind its curbstone lines on either hand.

Here and there some earnest Republican, not having the fear of Southern excommunication in his heart, had lighted up the entire front of his store with a prodigal display of wax-candles in tin sconces -- the provisions of his policy of insurance being set at naught for this one night. But other store-fronts were dark and dismal, more especially those desirous of figuring in such "white lists" as the enterprising Mr. HAMBLETON, of Georgia, was in the habit of publishing at fifty dollars per name.

Slowly presses forward the stage between living walls of American man-and-womanhood, the best order everywhere prevailing, and not a single disturbance marring the harmony of curiosity and expectation. It is a scene such as only the Empire City could produce -- a thing to be proud of in the midst of that lax administration of justice which has so long been the reproach of our people. Everywhere the Police may be seen quietly moving through the crowds and pressing back those who would block up the thoroughfare. Now and again a suspicious character is caught in the middle of a throng, his fingers probably coveting his neighbor's goods. Without noise or bustle he is seized, hurried away down some back street towards a Police Station, and there given lodgings for the night, on the truly charitable pretext of keeping him out of temptation.

Brilliantly gleam the many-colored, fiery lamp-writings in front of the various theatres and concert halls. Proudly flap the Lincoln and Hamlin banners suspended across the street in front of each Republican Campaign Club. Denser and more billowy grows the human tide on either side of the street, as the stage in which we are seated slowly plows its way, in the rear of a long procession of similar vehicles, up towards Grace Church. Here we pass the gaudy white marble-front of the St. Nicholas, every window in its immense face thronged with a private party of patient spectators. Next we reach the severely conservative New-York Hotel, from the darkened windows of which no word of cheer can be expected.

But just in front of this latter hostelry is one of the largest Wide-Awake Clubs in our City -- the Club, in fact, which had the difficulty with the New-York Hotel guests some eight or ten days ago. From the large wooden stage in front of this building, a fiery arrow now shoots up into the darkened sky -- a serpentine quivering light, flinging behind it as it rises a shower of golden sparks, brilliant and beautiful as the auriferous rain with which Jove penetrated the chamber-roof of Danae. Higher and higher shoots the wavering spear of fire, followed by a dozen similar projectiles, each bursting at the climax of its height, and scattering broadcast against the deep blue background of the sky a shower of flaming rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires and white crystals. We are approaching the outskirts of the procession, and this is the first alarm-point on the route.

You can read the entire account of this amazing event at The New York Times.

It is difficult to conceive of the size of this event in contemporary terms. Our population is so much larger, it would be like a parade of 100,000 people watched by a crowd of a million spectators.