President confers with former Cong. Stanton (Tenn.) and Henry T. Hulbert of Tennessee regarding taxes due city of Memphis, Tenn. Hulbert to Lincoln, 19 October 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Issues proclamation calling for 300,000 volunteers. Proclamation Calling for 300,000 Volunteers, 17 October 1863, CW, 6:523-24.

Recognizes G. H. Garlichs as consul of Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach for Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Washington Chronicle, 20 October 1863.

Declines offer of William B. Thomas, manufacturer and abolitionist of Philadelphia, to supply 10,000 men for 60 or 90 days to protect Washington. Abraham Lincoln to William B. Thomas, 17 October 1863, CW, 6:525.

Answers plea of John Williams and Nathaniel G. Taylor of Knoxville against withdrawal of U.S. forces from upper East Tennessee. "You do not estimate the holding of East Tennessee more highly than I do. There is no absolute purpose of withdrawing our forces from it; and only a contingent one to withdraw them temporarily, for the purpose of not losing the position permanently." Abraham Lincoln to John Williams and Nathaniel G. Taylor, 17 October 1863, CW, 6:525.

In the evening, President Lincoln, his wife Mary, their son Tad, and Lincoln's secretary William O. Stoddard attend a benefit performance of William Shakespeare's Macbeth at Grover's Theatre. Owner Leonard Grover stages the play, which stars James Wallack as Macbeth, Charlotte Cushman as Lady Macbeth, and Edward Davenport as Macduff. A newspaper reports that the Lincoln party "occupied the lower stage boxes to the right." The benefit garners $2,018 for the United States Sanitary Commission, whose members tend to the needs of the soldiers. The newspaper adds, "Mr. Grover. . . gave the use of the entire resources of his establishment for this benefit, (including the services of two stars at his own expense,) and Miss Cushman generously contributed her valuable aid to the same object." Evening Star (Washington, D. C.), 17 October 1863, 1:4, 3:1; 19 October 1863, 2:2; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 19 October 1863, 2d ed., 2:1.