President in regular cabinet meeting reviews problems facing administration, particularly emancipation. Rice, 521-22.

President Lincoln writes to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles regarding "Lieutenant Commanding James W. A. Nicholson, now commanding the [ship] Isaac Smith." Lincoln notes, "[Nicholson] wishes to be married, and from evidence now before me, I believe there is a young lady who sympathizes with him in that wish." Lincoln writes, "Under these circumstances, please allow him the requisite leave of absence, if the public service can safely endure it." Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 2 August 1862, CW, 10:145.

In compliance with recent act of Congress, pardons approximately 90 soldiers imprisoned by courts martial. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 2 August 1862, 2d ed., 3:6.