President Lincoln writes to Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt regarding Major Alexander Montgomery's dismissal from the Army. Montgomery allegedly remarked that "President Lincoln ought to have his dam'd black heart cut out for issuing his proclamation of Emancipation." Lincoln writes, "As the principal charge, can be given the appearance at least of being merely personally offensive to me, and as [Montgomery] denies it, I think he should have a Court-Martial, rather than to abide my arbitrary dismissal. Please give him the Court-Martial if he desires it." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Holt, 13 August 1863, CW, 6:385; John S. Cosgrove to Alexander Montgomery, 17 October 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Group of Republican leaders including Sen. Harris (N.Y.) and Gov. David Tod (Ohio) confers at White House with President. N.Y. Herald, 14 August 1863.

Lincoln and John Hay visit Capitol to see progress of rebuilding program. Hay, Letters and Diary.

President interviews Silas M. Hamilton of Baltimore, who has a plan for bringing North Carolina "once more into terms of harmony with the mother government of these States." Hamilton to Lincoln, 15 August 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.