Lincoln's war was unpopular in the early going. He was very worried the Copperheads, the Northern Democrats, would win in 1864, even after the twin victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in July 1863. The fall of Atlanta seems to have cemented the belief in a majority that Lincoln was on the path to victory.
The problem with the MSM today is they won't call a victory a victory, but tell the people its a defeat.