President and Mrs. Lincoln hold New Year's reception at Executive Mansion from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. Members of cabinet and families enter first, followed by gold-braided diplomatic corps, justices of Supreme Court, and officers of army and navy. At 12 noon gates are opened to public. The Marine Band plays "national airs in spirited style." Nicolay to Bates, 2 January 1862, 3 January 1862, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 1 January 1862, 2d ed., 3:6; National Republican (Washington, DC), 2 January 1862, 3:1.

Lincoln writes General Buell at Louisville, Ky.: "General McClellan should not yet be disturbed with business. I think you better get in concert with General Halleck at once. I write you to-night. I also telegraph and write Halleck." Abraham Lincoln to Don C. Buell, 1 January 1862, CW, 5:86.

Advises Halleck at St. Louis: "Gen. McClellan should not yet be disturbed with business. I think Gen. Buell and yourself should be in communication and concert at once. I write you to-night, and also Telegraph and write him." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 1 January 1861 [1862], CW, 5:87.

Informs Halleck: "General McClellan is not dangerously ill, as I hope, but would better not to be disturbed . . . I am very anxious that, in case of General Buell's moving toward Nashville, the enemy shall not be greatly re-enforced, and I think there is danger he will be from Columbus. It seems to me that a real or feigned attack upon Columbus from up-river at the same time would either prevent this or compensate for it by throwing Columbus into our hands." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 1 January 1862, CW, 5:87.

President Lincoln writes to General George B. McClellan regarding the general's "uneasiness" about "the doings" of Congress's Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Lincoln explains, "You may be entirely relieved . . . The gentlemen of the Committee were with me an hour and a half last night; and I found them in a perfectly good mood. As their investigation brings them acquainted with facts, they are rapidly coming to think of the whole case as all sensible men would." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 1 January 1862, CW, 5:88.