President Lincoln writes to Major General James Blunt, who is feuding with Kansas Governor Thomas Carney. Carney, whom Blunt called "a theif and a liar," informed Lincoln that Blunt allowed "Citizens" to "execut[e]" two men who had been accused of "robbery." Lincoln notes that he has been satisfied with Blunt's past performance, "[but] to take men charged with no offence against the military, out of the hands of the courts, to be turned over to a mob to be hanged, can find no precedent or principle to justify it." James G. Blunt to Abraham Lincoln, 31 July 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Abraham Lincoln to James G. Blunt, 18 August 1863, CW, 6:395-97; Thomas Carney to Abraham Lincoln, 25 June 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

In afternoon Lincoln and C. M. Spencer, accompanied by Robert and John Hay, leave White House and walk to Treasury Park, where they test Spencer rifle. Bruce, Tools of War, 262-63.

Lincoln buys loan certificate for $3,874.73 with July salary warrant for $2,022.33 and $1,852.40 in greenbacks. Pratt, Personal Finances, 127-28, 183.