Lincoln, en route to Clinton leaves Springfield at 9 P.M. for Decatur to take Illinois Central for Clinton. He forgets his promise to wake Horace White, "Tribune" reporter, at Decatur, and White is carried to Indiana line. Lincoln is much amused when White appears in Clinton after meeting is over. Herndon & Weik, II, 111.

Coming up from Decatur on morning train, Lincoln is forced by citizens of Clinton to go on to Wapella so they can escort him back to Clinton with procession. Bloomington Pantagraph calls Clinton meeting "one of the largest and most enthusiastic political gatherings that we have seen since the days of 'Tippecanoe and Tyler too.'" Chicago Tribune, 6 September 1858; Illinois State Journal, 7 September 1858; Speeches at Clinton, Illinois, 2 September 1858, CW, 3:81-84.

Lincoln writes to Dr. William Fithian to inform him that he is scheduled to deliver a speech in the doctor's hometown of Danville on September 22. Lincoln explains that Stephen A. Douglas will speak in Danville on September 21, which provides Lincoln with an opportunity: "My recent experience shows that speaking at the same place the next day after D. is the very thing—it is, in fact, a concluding speech on him." Lincoln ends the letter by asking Fithian to "Give full notice to all surrounding counties" about his upcoming visit to Danville. Abraham Lincoln to William Fithian, 3 September 1858, CW, 3:84-85.

In Bloomington, Lincoln is the guest of Judge David Davis. Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 7 September 1858, 2:3.

At 2 court house bell rings, procession forms, proceeds to Davis home, and escorts Lincoln to town square. He addresses large crowd. Illinois State Journal, 7 September 1858; Speech at Bloomington, Illinois, 4 September 1858, CW, 3:85-90; Sherman D. Wakefield, How Lincoln Became President: The Part Played by Bloomington, Illinois, and Certain of Its Citizens in Preparing Him for the Presidency and Securing his Nomination and Election (New York: Wilson-Erickson, 1936), 87-91.

Returning to Springfield, he stops off in Lincoln and attends Douglas meeting, but does not speak. Lawrence B. Stringer, ed., History of Logan County, 2 vols. (Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1911), 1:223-24.

Lincoln enjoys day of rest, except for talking politics with callers. CW, 3:90.****

Lincoln writes to John C. Bagby, of Rushville, Illinois, who is running as a Republican for a seat in the Illinois Senate. Lincoln notes that he has heard that Bagby is "discouraged" about his chances of winning. Lincoln offers Bagby some encouragement: "That wont do. You must be elected." Lincoln advises Bagby to let the "committee at Chicago" know "the amount and nature of the help you can make available, and I expect they will furnish it." Lincoln admonishes Bagby not to "say 'if I can'," but, instead to "say 'I will.'" Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Schuyler County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing, 1908), 31; The Schuyler Citizen (Rushville, IL), 8 September 1858, 2:1; Abraham Lincoln to John C. Bagby, 6 September 1858, CW, 3:90.

Crowds of people gathered to hear Lincoln speak in Monticello, march to meet him "on the Bement road one mile." There they encounter Lincoln along with "a delegation of 300 persons who had come from Decatur by a special train." The marchers then proceed "through town to an adjacent grove." After eating a dinner there, Lincoln speaks to a crowd of approximately 3,000 "for nearly three hours." A newspaper reports on Lincoln's comments about the growing popularity of the Republican party: "Two years ago the American party was against us here, and...his procession consisted of one man carrying a large flag, and himself and his audience consisted of 30 persons. But all is changed now. The Americans...Whigs and Republicans are firmly united." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 9 September 1858, 1:2.

In morning Lincoln speaks to audience of 1,000. He proceeds to Paris by train, arriving at 3 and speaking until 5 P.M. Owen Lovejoy addresses meeting in evening. Chicago Tribune, 8 September 1858, 11 September 1858; Herndon & Weik, II, 112; Speech at Paris, Illinois, 7 September 1858, CW, 3:90-91.

Lincoln travels by train, on the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, to Hillsboro. En route, the train makes a stop at the Shelbyville station where some recognize Lincoln and give him "three cheers." He arrives in Hillsboro in the evening, and proceeds to the home of Joseph T. Eccles, a local merchant and justice of the peace. Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 14 September 1858, 2:3.

During morning Lincoln receives "constant stream of old friends" at Eccles home. In afternoon he speaks for two hours under circus tent after circus performance. His platform is circus wagon, and he talks above rain drumming on canvas. Chicago Tribune, 14 September 1858; Register, 10 September 1858; IHi—Journal. XIII, 229.

Republicans escort Lincoln to station and send him on his way "with three rousing cheers." He spends night at Alton. Chicago Tribune, 14 September 1858.

Lincoln speaks at Edwardsville at 1 P.M., after morning trip from Alton. Horace White, reporter, is impressed by "the quiet autumn day in the quaint old town; the serious people clustered around the platform; Joseph Gillespie officiating as chairman," as by few other meetings of campaign. Herndon & Weik (1892 ed.), II, 114.

Lincoln speaks at Highland in evening. Chicago Tribune, 15 September 1858; Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois, 11 September 1858, CW, 3:91-96; IHi—Transcript of statement of Joseph Gillespie.

[Mrs. Lincoln buys five pounds of coffee. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.]

Lincoln travels from Highland to Greenville, "where unusual preparations have been made to receive him." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 15 September 1858, 2:3.

Lincoln delivers a two-hour speech beginning at one o'clock in the afternoon at Colcord's Grove, an area located on the west end of Greenville. Afterward, he and others go to the grounds of the "old Presbyterian parsonage...for refreshments." The Greenville Advocate (IL), 13 February 1928, 3:1-6, 4:1; Speech at Greenville, Illinois, 13 September 1858, CW, 3:96.

Lincoln arrives during evening. Donati's comet, appearance of which causes much excitement, is plainly visible. "Mr. Lincoln greatly admired this strange visitor, and he and I sat for an hour or more in front of the hotel looking at it," wrote Horace White. Herndon & Weik, II, 119; Chicago Tribune, 17 September 1858.

Third joint debate takes place. Douglas comes up from Cairo with several carloads of supporters. Audience is smallest of series. White wrote: "The country people came into the little town with ox teams mostly, and a very stunted breed of oxen, too. Their wagons were old-fashioned and looked as though they were ready to fall in pieces." Herndon & Weik, II, 118; Third Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Jonesboro, Illinois, 15 September 1858, CW, 3:102-44.

State Fair is in progress. Lincoln arrives at noon and stops at Centralia House. Douglas is also in town. Neither speaks, but crowds gather when they appear at fair grounds. Lincoln takes refuge in Illinois Central superintendent's office and writes three letters. He asks Washburne if, as Douglas charged at Jonesboro, Washburne has been opposing admission of new slave states. He tells Martin P. Sweet that, at Jonesboro, in a long, involved sentence, he found himself saying something about Sweet that might sound disparaging in the hands of "those villainous reporters Douglas has with him. . . . I write this to assure you that nothing can be farther from me than to feel, much less, intentionally say anything disrespectful to you." He writes Joseph Gillespie urging action to unite Republicans and "Americans" in Madison County. Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne, 16 September 1858, CW, 3:144-45; Abraham Lincoln to Martin P. Sweet, 16 September 1858, CW, 3:144; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Gillespie, 16 September 1858, CW, 8:416.

Lincoln takes evening northbound train on his way to Charleston for fourth debate. Herndon & Weik, II, 118; Chicago Tribune, 20 September 1858; Greenville Advocate, 23 September 1858.

Lincoln arrives at 6 A.M. Both he and Douglas spend day and night in Mattoon. Henry C. Whitney, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln (Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1892), 464-65; Chicago Tribune, 21 September 1858.

Fourth joint debate takes place. Giant processions escort both principals from Mattoon to Charleston. Lincoln is taken to Capitol House, where H. P. H. Bromwell makes reception speech. Lincoln responds. Thousands crowd city, among them several carloads from Indiana. Lincoln opens debate at 2:45. Henry C. Whitney, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln (Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1892), 464-65; Chicago Tribune, 21 September 1858; Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston, Illinois, 18 September 1858, CW, 3:145-201.

Lincoln visits Coles County relatives and friends, spending night with A. H. Chapman, son-in-law of Dennis Hanks. Charles H. Coleman, Abraham Lincoln and Coles County, Illinois (New Brunswick, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1955), 185-86.

Finding that Douglas is to speak at 1 P.M., Lincoln postpones his meeting from 2 to 3, and writes note in pencil to Douglas. Lincoln's supporters, escorting him to rally, interrupt Douglas, and brawl is narrowly averted. Register, 23 September 1858; Abraham Lincoln to Stephen A. Douglas, [20 September 1858], CW, 3:201-2.

Lincoln arrives on the "six o'clock train from the West" in preparation for a speech he is scheduled to give the next day. "A large crowd" accompanies Lincoln as he makes his way by carriage from the depot to the home of Dr. William Fithian. In response to the prompts of the crowd, numbering around two thousand, Lincoln makes a few remarks to them from Dr. Fithian's balcony. Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 24 September 1858, 2:3; Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 27 September 1858, 2:3.

Lincoln speaks. "We had a fine and altogether satisfactory meeting," he writes next day. Abraham Lincoln to Norman B. Judd, 23 September 1858, CW, 3:202.

Before leaving town, Lincoln writes Judd suggesting German speaker be sent to Vermilion County. "I believe we have got the gentleman, unless they overcome us by fraudulent voting. . . . How can we prevent it?" Abraham Lincoln to Norman B. Judd, 23 September 1858, CW, 3:202.

He reaches Urbana about 3, while Douglas is speaking, and is escorted to "the private mansion of old Mr. Bradley," where many visit him. "As I write," correspondent says, "the Danville band and the Urbana band are giving him a fine serenade, and hundreds of Republicans, many of them old Henry Clay and Webster Whigs, are in procession." Illinois State Journal, 27 September 1858, 2:3.

Lincoln is one of the speakers for the evening at an event held at the Evart House in East Urbana. He "occupied about twenty minutes in explaining 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.'" William Bross, one of the owners of the Chicago Daily Press and Tribune, follows Lincoln on the program. Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 28 September 1858, 2:4.

Lincoln returns Saturday evening. Learning of his arrival, Republican Clay Club serenades him. Lincoln appears and thanks his friends "for this renewed manifestation of their regard for the principles he defends." He retires amid "deafening cheers," followed by an old friend, Henry Chew, who tells him of his need for furniture to begin housekeeping and lack of money. Lincoln writes note saying that if anyone will give Chew $25 worth of furniture, and Chew does not pay by January 1, 1858, Lincoln will. He is obliged to do so in February 1859. Illinois State Journal, 27 September 1858; Response to a Serenade at Springfield, Illinois, 25 September 1858, CW, 2:203; Statement Concerning Henry Chew, 25 September 1858, CW, 3:202-3.

[Mrs. Lincoln buys five pounds of coffee ($1). Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.]

At 7 A.M. procession forms on town square and escorts Lincoln to Great Western station. Train reaches Jacksonville at 11. Besides Springfield delegation, many are present from Cass and Scott counties. In afternoon, following F. P. Blair Jr. of St. Louis, Lincoln speaks. Illinois State Journal, 28 September 1858, 29 September 1858; Chicago Tribune, 1 October 1858; Jacksonville Sentinel, 1 October 1858.

Lincoln finds time to write defendants' answer in Mershon v. Oliver & Milner, Logan County case. He signs "Lincoln & Parks p.d.," and evidently mails document to Samuel Parks. Photocopy.

Large delegation goes from Jacksonville to Winchester. Lincoln is late, but overtakes escort. "His horses were white with sweat and he and his friends were black with dust." Lincoln speaks at meeting west of town, and barbecue follows. Illinois State Journal, 2 October 1858; ISLA—Statement of E. F. Lomelino, Ms.

Lincoln writes a few lines of poetry in Rosaline Haggard's album. Rosaline's father, Robert E. Haggard, operates a Winchester hotel. Lincoln writes, "To Rosa—You are young, and I am older; You are hopeful, I am not—Enjoy life, ere it grow colder—Pluck the roses ere they rot. Teach your beau to heed the lay—That sunshine soon is lost in shade—That now's as good as any day—To take thee, Rosa, ere she fade." Verses: To Rosa Haggard, 28 September 1858, CW, 3:203.

Lincoln spends day in office of John Moses, going over several volumes of "Congressional Globe" which Moses has indexed. In evening he speaks at court house. ISLA—Moses, "Lincoln at Winchester," Ms. Chicago Tribune, 5 October 1858.

Before leaving hotel Lincoln composes verse for Linnie Haggard and writes it in her autograph album. Winchester Republicans escort him to Florence on Illinois River, where party from Pittsfield meets him. He is taken to residence of Col. Ross, east of town, where he spends night. Verses: To Linnie Haggard, 30 September 1858, CW, 3:204; ISLA—Statement of W. C. Dickson, 5 August 1928, Ms.