Capt. Robert Lincoln arrives in Washington from scene of Gen. R. E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Va., in time for 8 A.M. breakfast with President. Helm, Mary, 259; Francis F. Browne, The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Thompson, 1886), 701-2.

During morning Lincoln confers at length with Cong. Colfax (Ind.), who is preparing to visit West Coast. Willard H. Smith, Schuyler Colfax: The Changing Fortunes of a Political Idol (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Collections, 1952), 207.

Interviews former Sen. Hale (N.H.), newly appointed minister to Spain, and goes for short drive with Gen. Grant, in town for cabinet meeting. Receives many members of Congress who call to congratulate him on successful conclusion of war. Francis F. Browne, The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Thompson, 1886), 701-2.

Interviews William A. Howard, Detroit lawyer. James A. Bishop, The Day Lincoln was Shot (New York: Harper, 1955), 115.

Writes Gen. Van Alen: "I thank you for the assurance you give me that I shall be supported by conservative men like yourself, in the efforts I may make to restore the Union, so as to make it, to use your language, a Union of hearts and hands as well as of States." Abraham Lincoln to James H. Van Alen, 14 April 1865, CW, 8:413.

Visits cipher room of War Dept., tells Gen. Thomas T. Eckert of plans to attend theater, and invites him to come along. Bates, Telegraph Office, 367.

About 10 A.M. Gov. Swann (Md:) and Sen. Creswell (Md.) present memorandum concerning Maryland appointments. Memorandum Concerning Maryland Appointments, 14 April 1865, CW, 8:411.

At 11 A.M. cabinet meets. Welles, Diary.

Grant reports to cabinet on surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox, and Sec. Stanton presents draft of plan for reestablishing authority in Confederate States. Flower, Stanton, 301.

President tells several cabinet members about his recurring dream of ship "moving with great rapidity toward a dark and indefinite shore," that presages Union victories. David J. Harkness, "Lincoln and Byron, Lovers of Liberty," Lincoln Herald 43 (December 1941):9; Lamon, Recollections, 118-19; Frederick W. Seward, Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat, 1830-1915. By Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State during the Administrations of Lincoln, Johnson, and Hayes (New York: Putnam, 1916), 255.

President Lincoln writes and signs an endorsement allowing an unknown prisoner to take the oath of December 8, 1873. Endorsement of Abraham Lincoln to Unknown, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Cabinet meeting lasts from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. Informal discussion relative to what should be done about President Davis and other leaders of Confederacy. Frederick W. Seward, Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat, 1830-1915. By Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State during the Administrations of Lincoln, Johnson, and Hayes (New York: Putnam, 1916), 254-57; Lamon, Recollections, 248.

Between 2 and 3 P.M. President lunches with Mrs. Lincoln in private parlor. Francis F. Browne, The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Thompson, 1886), 703-4.

Edward D. Neill, White House employee, sees President about signed commission. Rufus R. Wilson, ed., Intimate Memories of Lincoln (Elmira, NY: Primavera Press, 1942), 610.

Lincoln interviews Vice President Johnson at 3 P.M. Mrs. Nancy Bushrod, Negro woman, pushes by guards and sees President regarding husband's pay. James A. Bishop, The Day Lincoln was Shot (New York: Harper, 1955), 152.

Cong. Samuel Shellabarger (Ohio) calls on President at approximately 4 P.M. to discuss appointments. James A. Bishop, The Day Lincoln was Shot (New York: Harper, 1955), 162.

Asst. Sec. Dana reports to President at 4:30 P.M. that Jacob Thompson, Confederate agent in Canada, is now in U.S. making ready to sail for Europe. Should he be allowed to leave country? President is willing for him to leave. Charles A. Dana, Recollections of the Civil War. With the Leaders at Washington and in the Field in the Sixties (New York: Appleton, 1902), 172.

Sec. Hugh McCulloch makes friendly call on President. Hugh McCulloch, Men and Measures of Half a Century: Sketches and Comments (New York: Scribner, 1888), 222.

Around 5 P.M. Cong. Edward H. Rollins (N.H.) calls on President to get petition endorsed. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 14 April 1865, CW, 8:413.

In late afternoon President and Mrs. Lincoln go for drive. They stop at Navy Yard to view three monitors, damaged in Fort Fisher, N.C., engagement. President talks of time when they can return to Illinois and live quietly. Pratt, Personal Finances, 124; Rufus R. Wilson, ed., Intimate Memories of Lincoln (Elmira, NY: Primavera Press, 1942), 430.

Between 6 and 7 P.M. President and Mrs. Lincoln return from drive and find Governor Richard J. Oglesby (Ill.) with other Illinois friends at White House. Reads four chapters of Petroleum V. Nasby's book [David R. Locke, The Nasby Papers: Letters and Sermons Containing the Views on the Topics of the Day of Petroleum V. Nasby, Indianapolis, 1864.] to Oglesby and General Isham N. Haynie. Edwin C. Haynie, "At the Death-bed of Lincoln," Century Magazine 51 (April 1896):954; Helm, Mary, 255.

After supper President interviews Cong. Colfax (Ind.) relative to special session of Congress and order of Gen. Weitzel. Former Cong. Cornelius Cole (Calif.) accompanies Colfax. Willard H. Smith, Schuyler Colfax: The Changing Fortunes of a Political Idol (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Collections, 1952), 207-8; Henry B. Rankin, Intimate Character Sketches of Abraham Lincoln (Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1924), 282.

At 8 P.M. former Cong. Ashmun (Mass.) sees President regarding cotton claim against government. President gives him appointment as follows: "Allow Mr. Ashmun &friend to come in at 9 A.M. to-morrow." [Ashmun considered this Lincoln's last autograph.] Card of Admission for George Ashmun, 14 April 1865, CW, 8:413.

President exchanges few words with former Cong. Arnold (Ill.) while getting in carriage to go to theater. Arnold, 431.

At approximately 8:30 P.M. President and Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by Clara Harris and Major Henry R. Rathbone, enter Ford's Theatre for performance of Our American Cousin featuring Laura Keene. Washington Chronicle, 16 April 1865; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 14 April 1865, 2d ed., 1:6.

[Exact time of assassination is not agreed upon. After extensive research Otto Eisenschiml wrote:] "It is therefore safe to say that Booth fired his shot at or close to 13 minutes past 10 P.M." Otto Eisenschiml, In the Shadow of Lincoln's Death (New York: Funk, 1940), 353.

Shortly afterward President, completely insensible, is moved across street to house of William Petersen, 453 10th St. NW., and placed upon bed in small room at rear of hall on ground floor. Mrs. Lincoln stays near her husband. Robert Lincoln and John Hay come from White House. Dr. Stone tells Robert there is no hope. Family and others whose official or private relations to President give them right to be present begin their long night wait for death to overtake him. John G. Nicolay, A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln: Condensed from Nicolay & Hay's Abraham Lincoln: A History (New York: Century, 1923), 539-40; Arnold, 433.