President's General Orders No. 98: 1. Gen. Halleck is relieved as General in Chief of Army, and Lt. Gen. Grant is assigned to command Armies of United States. 2. Gen. Halleck is assigned to duty in Washington as Chief of Staff. 3. Gen. Sherman is assigned to command of Military Division of Mississippi. 4. Gen. James B. McPherson is assigned to command of Department and Army of Tennessee. General Orders No. 98, 12 March 1864, CW, 7:239-40.

President communicates to Senate report and papers relative to colonization of persons of African descent. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 12 March 1864, CW, 7:241.

Confers with Gov. James Y. Smith (R.I.) about consolidating 1st and 3d Cavalry. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 12 March 1864, CW, 7:241.

Receives evidence that Knights of Pythias are not a treasonable organization and dismisses their representatives. LL, No. 1005.

Attends regular Saturday afternoon reception between 1 and 3 P.M. Marine Band provides music. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 12 March 1864, 2d ed., 2:4.

Invites Gen. Lewis Wallace to Executive Mansion for dinner with "some other General officers" at 6:45 P.M. Abraham Lincoln to Lewis Wallace, 12 March 1864, CW, 7:241.

Entertains party of about 15 military men at White House banquet. Guests include Generals Meade, Wool (retd.), Hunter, Sickles, Doubleday, and McCook. Grant accepted invitation, but is out of town. Washington Chronicle, 15 March 1864; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 14 March 1864, 2d ed., 2:4.

[Irwin deposits in Springfield Marine Bank $185, balance of principal and interest on J. K. and T. Lewis note. Pratt, Personal Finances, 165.]