Steamboat Talisman, J. M. Pollock, Master, leaves Beardstown to ascend Sangamon to Vincent A. Bogue's mill at Portland, five miles north of Springfield. Several citizens of New Salem and Springfield, including Lincoln, go along to help clear obstructions. Four days are spent breaking through ice at Sangamon entrance. Boat does not arrive at Portland landing until March 24, 1832.

Lincoln probably attends ball at court house in Springfield on March 26, 1832. After staying week at Portland landing, trip down Sangamon begins with Lincoln as assistant to J. Rowan Herndon of New Salem, pilot. Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 29 March 1832; Missouri Republican (St. Louis, MO), 21 February 1832, 28 February 1832, 6 March 1832, 13 March 1832, 27 March 1832, 3 April 1832.

Spring term of Sangamon Circuit Court opens. Judge Dan Stone of sixth circuit presides by agreement with Stephen T. Logan, judge of first circuit.Record.

[Lincoln is not engaged in any of eight cases called in circuit court. Stuart replies to Douglas' letter of March 4, 1839, declining Douglas' proposals to recanvass votes in congressional election of August 6, 1838. Stuart also declines to resign his claim to office and run race over.Original owned by Mrs. Logan Hay, Springfield, Ill.]

Stuart & Lincoln, attorneys for plaintiff in Spear v. Camp, are given leave to amend declaration. Case is tried before court, and court considers.Record.

Lincoln arrives in Jacksonville in evening.Register, 22 March 1844.

En route or by mail he files petition for partition in Opdycke et al. v. Godfrey, for petitioner, at Taylorville.Photocopy.

In U.S. Circuit Court, Peters for plaintiff in Donaldson v. Reynolds and Walker files praecipe and declaration alleging failure of defendants to pay three promissory notes in amount of $11,320. Lincoln is attorney for defendants.Record.

Lincoln votes aye on resolution directing speaker to improve seating facilities and desks of House and to provide tribune for speakers. It passes. He votes to table resolution looking to amendment to Constitution whereby tenure of Federal judges would be limited to years instead of during good behavior. It is tabled.Globe.

Lincoln loses the trial of Lewis for use of Longworth v. Lewis before the U.S. Supreme Court when the court decided in favor of the plaintiff. Chief Justice Taney ruled that the plaintiff sued before the statute of limitations took effect. Transcripts of Records, II, Dec. Term, 1848, No. 3.]

Court overrules Lincoln's demurrer in Wilson case and gives him permission to file pleas, which he does. Record.

President instructs Sec. Seward to refuse an audience to John Forsyth of Alabama and former Cong. Martin J. Crawford (Ga.). To receive them would be to admit that states they represent are out of Union. Henry J. Raymond, The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln . . . Together with his State Papers, including his Speeches, Addresses, Messages, Letters, and Proclamations and the Closing Scenes Connected with his Life and Death (New York: Derby & Miller, 1865), 170.

Interviews M. W. Delahay, whom he appoints surveyor general for Kansas. Abraham Lincoln to Mark W. Delahay, 13 March 1861, CW, 4:283.

Cabinet holds short session on appointments. N.Y. Times, 14 March 1861.

President consults with Lt. Gustavus V. Fox (USN, resigned), brother-in-law of Mrs. Montgomery Blair, and Postmaster Gen. Montgomery Blair on plan for provisioning Fort Sumter, S.C. Gideon Welles, "Fort Sumter, Facts in Relation to the Expedition Ordered by the Administration of President Lincoln for the Relief of the Garrison in Fort Sumter," Galaxy 10 (November 1870):618.

Receives request from Cong. Corwin (Ohio) to recall his nomination as minister to Mexico if it has not been acted upon. Corwin to Lincoln, 13 March 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President Lincoln receives a "party of Massachusetts gentlemen," which includes Nathaniel Hawthorne, who come to the White House to present Lincoln with an "elegant whip." Lincoln remarks, "[I]t is evidently expected that a good deal of whipping is to be done. But, as we meet here socially, let us not only think of whipping rebels, or of those who seem to think only of whipping negroes, but of those pleasant days which it is to be hoped are in store for us, when, seated behind a good pair of horses, we can crack our whips and drive through a peaceful, happy and prosperous land." Speech to a Massachusetts Delegation, 13 March 1862, CW, 5:158; New York Times, 22 March 1862, 4:6.

Interviews Pascal Plant, inventor who shows small wooden model of submarine gunboat. Bruce, Tools of War, 177.

Approves additional article of war, prohibiting all officers or persons in military service from employing any forces under their respective commands for purposes of returning fugitives from service or labor. Stat. L., XII, 354.

Thanks Henry A. Brown, Boston representative of London company, for engraving of Gen. McClellan. Abraham Lincoln to Henry A. Brown, 13 March 1862, CW, 5:157.

Composes letter for Sec. Stanton to send to McClellan: "1st. Leave such force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely certain that the enemy shall not repossess himself of that position and line of communication. 2d. Leave Washington secure. 3d. Move the remainder of the force down the Potomac, choosing a new base at Fortress Monroe, or anywhere between here and there; or, at all events, move such remainder of the army at once in pursuit of the enemy by some route." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 13 March 1862, CW, 5:157-58.

Mrs. Lincoln on sick list. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President receives Mrs. Winston from Tennessee and permits her to remove wounded son from prison in Fort McHenry, Md. Abraham Lincoln to William W. Morris, 13 March 1863, CW, 6:135; Rice, 507-8.

Cabinet continues to discuss letters of marque. Bates, Diary.

Senate committee notifies President of adjournment unless he has further communications. Senate Journal, 455.

Lincoln attends Washington Theatre to see James H. Hackett as Falstaff in Henry IV. James H. Hackett to Abraham Lincoln, 20 March 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

J. H. Hackett, in Washington for week's theatrical engagement, visits Lincoln. Hackett to Lincoln, 9 March 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Judge Hughes interviews President on behalf of A. Montgomery. Montgomery to Cameron, 20 March 1864, Simon Cameron Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes to Governor Michael Hahn and congratulates him on his recent election. Lincoln notes that Hahn will be remembered "as the first-free-state Governor of Louisiana." Lincoln suggests an agenda for the upcoming state constitutional convention. He advocates giving the vote to "some of the colored people," specifically, "the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks." Lincoln adds, "But this is only a suggestion, not to the public, but to you alone." Abraham Lincoln to Michael Hahn, 13 March 1864, CW, 7:243.

Informs Gen. Schurz that he cannot take part in approaching political canvass without separating from military service. Abraham Lincoln to Carl Schurz, 13 March 1864, CW, 7:243-44.

"Mr. Lincoln is reported quite sick to-day, and has denied himself to all visitors." N.Y. Herald, 14 March 1865.

President asks Gen. Grant to interview former Judge Hughes regarding destruction of tobacco at Fredericksburg, Va., by Union troops. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 13 March 1865, CW, 8:353.