Most of baggage wagons are used for officers' equipment. Privates carry cooking utensils and rations for eight to ten days. About nightfall volunteers, after marching 20 miles, make camp on Rock River. On May 8, 1832 Gov. Reynolds writes Gen. Atkinson from "Camp at the Old Sac Village," and next day Rock Island Indian agent Felix St. Vrain says that volunteers are "still encamped on the large Island [Vandruff's] in Rock River opposite the Old Village." Rock Island County tradition locates May 7, 1832, May 8, 1832, May 9, 1832, May 10, 1832 camp on south side of river near town of Milan. Since Vandruff's Island lies between Milan and village on north side of river, it is not unlikely that camps extended from Milan to island and perhaps across to village; good fords cross both channels of river.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; William Orr to John York Sawyer, 1 July 1832; Journal of Felix St. Vrain, 9 May 1832, Photo; Trans., 1921, 92-106.

Lincoln is appointed postmaster at New Salem by President Jackson. Lincoln, avowed supporter of Whig Leader Henry Clay, receives appointment from Democratic administration because, Lincoln states, office is "too insignificant to make his politics an objection." Nelson Alley and Alexander Ferguson sign Lincoln's $500 bond.ISLA—Bulletin, No. 31.

Lincoln writes a receipt for fees for Richard Larimore and signs Larimore's name: "Received of John Close two dollars and fifty cents being the amount of fees due me for attendance as a witness in a suit in the Sangamon Circuit Court" Close v. Ritter. Photocopy.

Lincoln writes to a romantic interest, Mary S. Owens, of Kentucky, about whether or not they should marry. He writes, "I ... wish you would think seriously before you decide. . . . My opinion is that you had better not do it. You have not been accustomed to hardship, and it may be more severe than you now immagine." Lincoln adds, "Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should any ever do so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her happy and contented; and there is nothing I can immagine, that would make me more unhappy than to fail in the effort." Abraham Lincoln to Mary S. Owens, 7 May 1837, CW, 1:78-79.

The McLean County Circuit Court opens a six-day session. On the docket are 7 criminal, 16 chancery, and 352 common law cases.Record.

Kellogg v. Crain, action in debt, is continued on motion of defendant's attorney. Lincoln is for plaintiff, Benjamin Kellogg Jr.Record.

For plaintiffs in Stapp & Lanier v. Shannon et al., Lincoln writes and files affidavit that some defendants reside out of state.Photocopy.

Lincoln writes affidavit of Samuel Bevans, witness in Maxwell v. Harrold.Record.

[Sangamo Journal carries Stuart & Lincoln "card" for last time.]

[Champaign County Circuit Court convenes for four-day term at Urbana.]

Lincoln writes to James Berdan, attorney at Jacksonville, that he is morally obligated to attend Coles and Edgar courts in May, but expects to be in Morgan on fourth Monday in May and make speech.Abraham Lincoln to James Berdan, 7 May 1846, CW, 1:380-81.

Lincoln loans John Hay $500, taking promissory note secured by mortgage on 150 acres of land about two miles south of Springfield. Note is payable six months from date, and is to bear interest at 6 per cent. Book CC of Mortgages, 43.

Lincoln writes to George W. Rives, of Paris, Illinois, in response to Rives's request for Lincoln's help in attaining a federal position, specifically related to the Minnesota Territory. Rives explains, "I learn from the deportment that the solicitations of . . . friends of the present administration are attended to more promptly." Lincoln writes, "You overrate my capacity to serve you. Not one man recommended by me has yet been appointed to any thing, little or big, except a few who had no opposition." George W. Rives to Abraham Lincoln, 25 April 1849, Robert Todd Lincoln Collection of Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to George W. Rives, 7 May 1849, CW, 2:46.

He buys, at Irwin's store, $4.62 in groceries and 6¾ yards moreen and piece of binding (15¢). Irwin Journal and Ledger.

In Vermilion Circuit Court Lincoln and Sconce, for plaintiff, dismiss Shearer v. Lawrence, appeal in case of forcible detainer. Record.

[A Chicago newspaper reports that the jury begins deliberation in the U.S. District Court case of Johnston v. Jones and Marsh. Lincoln would later serve as one of the attorneys in the case, which is often referred to by the more familiar name of the "Sand Bar" case. Chicago Daily Journal (IL), 8 May 1852, 2:2; U.S. Circuit Court, District of Illinois Transcript, 4 December 1854, Johnston v. Jones and Marsh, Record Group 267, Record 1, case file 3201, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.]

Lincoln for plaintiff in Ruble v. Cashman, appeal, agrees to continuance. Record.

On quiet day in May, possibly Sunday, on which day Lincoln did much of his paper work on circuit, he writes and sends to Metamora list of questions in Jackson v. Whorrall, Woodford Circuit Court case in which he is for defense. Photocopy.

Lincoln's only case, People v. Shaffer & Shaffer, indictment for cheating and fraud, is continued. Record.

He files injunction bond in Flint v. Kellogg et al.Photocopy.

Lincoln loses Graham v. Robinson when court decided that defendant is not indebted to plaintiff, whom he represents, and orders his client to pay costs. In Opdycke v. Opdycke & Opdycke, which appears on docket almost every term, Lincoln files another order for sale of real estate. Record; Files.

Lincoln reaches Urbana to watch interests of Illinois Central, writing judgment in Brock, Hays & Co. v. Illinois Central RR. Photocopy.

In the Cass County Circuit Court case of People v. Armstrong, Lincoln defends William Duff Armstrong. Armstrong, whose family had ties to Lincoln from his New Salem days, is on trial for the murder of James Metzker. A jury finds Armstrong not guilty. Lincoln employs several strategies to gain an acquittal for Armstrong, including the use of an almanac to discredit a key prosecution witness, who testifies he had seen the fight by the light of the moon high in the sky. Circuit Court Transcript, 15 April 1858, People v. Armstrong, case file; Order, 7 May 1858, People v. Armstrong, Circuit Court Record C, 174, both in Cass County Circuit Court, Cass County Courthouse, Virginia, IL; William E. Barton, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, 2 vols., (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1925), 1:310-318.

Bevan v. Davis, in which Lincoln and Beckwith appear for defendant, J. E. Davis, is tried by court. Verdict is for plaintiff in sum of $1,051.94, amount of note on which suit was brought. Record.

[Mrs. Lincoln buys silk at Smith's store. Pratt, Personal Finances, 156.]

President empowers Col. Robert Anderson to recruit three-year troops from Kentucky and western part of Virginia. Order to Robert Anderson, 7 May 1861, CW, 4:359.

During morning Col. Ellsworth visits White House. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Lincoln, son Tad, and John Hay, assistant secretary to President, attend exercises of Ellsworth's New York Fire Brigade in square behind Capitol. N.Y. Tribune, 8 May 1861; Hay, Letters and Diary.

John Hay relates items of Illinois news to Lincoln and hears comments on disposition of Secretary of State William H. Seward. William R. Thayer, The Life and Letters of John Hay, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1915), 1:107.

President, Gen. Scott, and members of cabinet review 3,300 New Jersey Volunteers under General Theodore Runyon. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 May 1861, 3:2.

Committee from convention of governors of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin held in Cleveland, Ohio, visits President and renews pledge of resources and men. Memorandum, 7 May 1861, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President acknowledges letter from Regent Captains of Republic of San Marino conferring citizenship upon him. Abraham Lincoln to the Regent Captains of the Republic of San Marino, 7 May 1861, CW, 4:360.

Sen. John Sherman (Ohio) and friends call on President hoping to provide plan by which Capt. William T. Sherman (resigned) will return to army. Ewing to "Dear Brother," 8 May 1861, William T. Sherman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

With Nicolay and Hay, President discusses the existing contest, remarking that "the real question involved in it, (as he had about made up his mind, though he should still think further about it, while writing his message) was whether a full and representative government had the right and power to protect and maintain itself. Admit the right of a minority to secede at will, and the question for such secession would almost as likely be any other as the slavery question." Memorandum, 7 May 1861, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Presidential party arises early and rows out to board yacht Vanderbilt before breakfast. After 9 A.M. breakfast with General Wool in Quarters No. 1 Lincoln goes aboard U.S.S. Monitor and U.S.S. Stevens, then visits Fort Wool, Va. Returns to Fortress Monroe, Va., for conference with Flag Officer Goldsborough. In afternoon rides horseback to view ruins of town of Hampton, Va., burned by Confederates, and to review troops at Camp Hamilton, Va. Sends message to Goldsborough to send U.S.S. Galena and two other gunboats up James River if they can be spared. Holds conference in Wool's quarters and spends night. Chester D. Bradley, "President Lincoln's Campaign against the Merrimac," Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 51 (Spring 1958):78-80; William E. Baringer, "On Enemy Soil: President Lincoln's Norfolk Campaign," Abraham Lincoln Quarterly 7 (March 1952):11-13; Abraham Lincoln to Louis M. Goldsborough, 7 May 1862, CW, 5:207.

"Library of the Executive Mansion" orders books from William F. Richstein, bookseller and dealer in foreign and American stationery, 278 Pennsylvania Ave. "1 set Hood's Poems $6.50, 1 Goldsmiths Poems $5.00, 1 Homes of American Authors $6.00." [Thomas Hood, Poems; Oliver Goldsmith, Poems; Homes of American Authors: Comprising Anecdotical, Personal, and Descriptive Sketches, by Various Writers..., New York, 1853.] Last item is paid for by President; others out of annual appropriation of $250 for books for White House per Benjamin B. French, Commissioner of Public Buildings. Pratt, Personal Finances, 180.

President and Gen. Halleck spend day with Gen. Hooker and Army of Potomac. Washington Chronicle, 8 May 1863.

Telegraphs Sec. Stanton : "Have you any news? and if any what is it? I expect to be up to-night." Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 7 May 1863, CW, 6:201.

Lincoln back in Washington tonight from visit to Army of Potomac. Thinks "troops are none the worse for the campaign." Diary, Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; "Castine" [Noah Brooks], Washington, 8 May 1863, in Sacramento Union, 5 June 1863.

Mrs. Blair and friends visit Mrs. Lincoln. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President writes Hooker: "The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting its object. . . . What next? Have you already in your mind a plan wholly, or partially formed? If you have, prosecute it without interference from me. If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I may be, can try [to] assist in the formation of some plan for the Army." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, 7 May 1863, CW, 6:201.

President receives first-hand report on Wilderness campaign from H. E. Wing, who arrives about 2 A.M. on special locomotive. Bates, Telegraph Office, 246.

Recognizes Carlos E. Leland as consul and Jose H. Snyder as vice consul of Oriental Republic of Uruguay at New York. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 14 May 1864, 3d ed., Extra, 1:6.

Marine band, after long intermission, inaugurates series of concerts in White House grounds. President appears on portico and remarks: "In lieu of a speech, I propose that we give three cheers for Major General Grant and all the armies under his command." Evening Star (Washington, DC), 9 May 1864, 3d ed., Extra, 2:1; Remarks at Marine Band Concert, 7 May 1864, CW, 7:332.

Transmits to Senate opinion by attorney general on "rights of colored persons in the army or volunteer service." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 7 May 1864, CW, 7:332.