[Abraham's sister Sarah is received into membership in Pigeon Baptist Church.Pigeon Church Record.]

Lincoln writes to Levi Davis, auditor, concerning status of quarter section south of Gladstone in Henderson County which Williamson Trent has deeded to Michael McDierman.Abraham Lincoln to Levi Davis, 4 April 1836, CW, 1:47-48.

[The Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk files the bond in Lincoln's hand, in Kennedy & Julian v. Hawley.Photocopy.

Stuart and Douglas attend the spring court sessions of the first judicial circuit. They debate this week during meeting of the Greene County Circuit Court at Carrollton. R. W. English, Usher F. Linder, Edward D. Baker, and Stephen T. Logan are among the other attorneys attending court.Sangamo Journal, 21 April 1838.]

Lincoln writes on margin of Sangamon County mortgage record: "We do hereby enter full satisfaction on the within mortgage this 4th April 1839 Stuart & Lincoln attorneys for the administrator of Nicholas Sintz, deceased." St. Clair Chrisman gave mortgage to Nicholas Sintz April 5, 1836, in consideration of $1,200.Deed Book I, 473.

[President William H. Harrison dies in Washington. This ends Lincoln's chance to be appointed chargé at Bogota, or to any other federal post, for new President is John Tyler of Virginia, anti-Jackson Democrat.]

Logan & Lincoln participate in four cases in the Sangamon County Circuit Court. In the slander case of Thurman v. Taylor, the court permits Logan & Lincoln, as attorneys for plaintiff Charles Thurman, to amend a previously filed declaration. The court convenes a jury to hear the evidence in the case, and Logan & Lincoln call four witnesses before the jury retires to deliberate. In the case of Trailor & Myer v. Saunders, the court orders the garnishment to proceed. Logan & Lincoln represent plaintiffs Archibald Trailor and Friedrick Myer. Order, 4 April 1842, Thurman v. Taylor, Record G, 343, 345; Fee Book Entry, March Term 1842, Thurman v. Taylor, Fee Book I, 456; Order, 4 April 1842, Trailor & Myer v. Saunders, Record G, 344, all in Sangamon County Circuit Court, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois at Springfield.

[In the evening, the Whigs of the Springfield Precinct meet at the Sangamo Journal newspaper reading room and elect delegates to the county convention. Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 8 April 1842, 3:1.]

Cromwell and McNaughton v. Hewitt and Davenport is continued with alias summons against Davenport to county of Woodford. Leonard appears for plaintiff and Lincoln for defendant. Defendants default in May v. Greene and Loose and court declares patent issued to them null and void. Logan & Lincoln appear for plaintiff.Record.

[Tazewell Circuit Court opens its session at Tremont.]

[In Pekin, court rules in Perkins v. Hall that defendant plead April 8, 1850. Lincoln and Jones represent defendant. Record.]

Thomas (Tad), fourth child of Abraham and Mary Lincoln, is born. Family Record in Abraham Lincoln's Bible, 4 November 1842 - 4 April 1853, CW, 1:304.

[Logan Circuit Court convenes at Mt. Pulaski.]

[While no record of Lincoln's presence in Springfield on this day exists, he is doubtless home voting in city election in which his partner, William H. Herndon, is elected mayor.]

Swett speaks all morning. Lincoln, making concluding argument for prosecution, commences at one o'clock and does not finish until six, when case is given to jury. Shortly after midnight jury returns verdict of acquittal. Bloomington Pantagraph, 15 April 1857; Sherman D. Wakefield, How Lincoln Became President: The Part Played by Bloomington, Illinois, and Certain of Its Citizens in Preparing Him for the Presidency and Securing his Nomination and Election (New York: Wilson-Erickson, 1936), 74-78.

Lincoln makes $50 bank deposit. Marine Bank Ledger.

With two Bloomington lawyers, he signs letter to Gov. Bissell recommending Charles J. Beattie of Livingston County as 20th Judicial Circuit prosecuting attorney. John M. Scott, W. H. Hanna, and Abraham Lincoln to William H. Bissell, 4 April 1859, CW, 3:374.

Lincoln's account is charged 38¢ for "Flannel for Gun Cover," which Robert buys at John Williams' store. He purchases four dozen eggs at Smith's. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149, 155.

Johnston v. Jones & Marsh ends. Jury retires at 1 P.M. and five hours later brings in verdict for defendants, Lincoln's clients. Chicago Tribune, 5 April 1860.

He collects $350 "fee in case of Johnston v. Jones," and signs receipt. Photocopy.

Comdr. John A. Dahlgren (USN) on duty at Navy Yard, calls on Lincoln regarding howitzers to be sent to New York. Extracts from Dahlgren Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

At 11 A.M. President holds secret meeting with John B. Baldwin, Virginia Unionist, regarding secession. Considers idea of yielding Fort Sumter, S.C., in exchange for loyal pledge from Virginia, but rejects it. U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on Reconstruction, Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, 39th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1866), pt. 2, 102-3.

Informs G. V. Fox that decision has been made to let expedition go to Fort Sumter. John S. Tilley, Lincoln Takes Command (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1941), 205.

Writes instructions for Sec. Cameron to send to Maj. Anderson at Fort Sumter: "Hoping still that you will be able to sustain yourself till the 11th. or 12th. inst. the expedition will go forward." Abraham Lincoln to Robert Anderson, 4 April 1861, CW, 4:321-22.

President receives Sen. Wade (Ohio) and makes appointment to meet with Committee on Conduct of War in evening. Committee on Conduct of War, Report (1863), 1:93.

Sen. Browning (Ill.) has interview at night with President. Browning, Diary.

Mrs. Lincoln instructs John Hay to pay to her the White House steward's salary. Dennett, Hay Diaries and Letters, 40.

Lincoln pays $21.25 on harness bill. Lutz Account Book.

Writes check to John Hay for $1,002.19. CW, 8:489.

President receives several members of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 4 April 1863, 2d ed., 2:2.

Recognizes George Papendick as consul of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Schwerin. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 April 1863, 2d ed., 2:4.

Confers with Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and Assistant Secretary Fox about granting letters of marque to applicant. Gideon Welles, Lincoln and Seward: Remarks upon the Memorial Address of Chas. Francis Adams, on the Late Wm. H. Seward (New York: Sheldon, 1874), 163-64.

Congratulates Isabel II, Queen of Spain, on birth of son to Infanta Maria Christina. Abraham Lincoln to Isabel II, 4 April 1863, CW, 6:162.

Interviews Miss Davis who asks for appointment of her brother, John M. K. Davis, to West Point. Memorandum: Appointment of John M. K. Davis, 4 April 1863, CW, 6:162.

President and party consisting of Mrs. Lincoln and Tad, Noah Brooks, California journalist, Dr. Henry, Attorney General Bates, and Captain Medorem Crawford of Oregon leave Navy Yard about 5 P.M. aboard steamer Carrie Martin. Snowstorm forces them to stop for night in cove on Potomac River opposite Indian Head, Md. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 6 April 1863, 2d ed., 2:1; Bates, Diary.

"Castine" [Noah Brooks], Washington, April 12, 1863, in Sacramento Union, May 8, 1863. Lincoln writes memorandum on harbor defenses: "I have a single idea of my own about harbor defences. It is a Steam-ram, built so as to sacrifice nearly all capacity for carrying, to those of speed and strength. . . . her business would be to guard a particular harbour, as a Bull-dog guards his master's door." Memorandum Concerning Harbor Defenses, 4 April 1863, CW, 6:163.

President sends congratulations to Isabel II, Queen of Spain, on birth of daughter. Abraham Lincoln to Isabel II, 4 April 1864, CW, 7:283.

Lays before Senate treaty with Nez Percé Indians in Washington Territory. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 4 April 1864, CW, 7:284.

Discusses French-Mexican situation with Sec. Seward. Administration supports neither country. House of Representatives passes resolution disapproving French occupation of Mexico. Monaghan, Diplomat, 358.

Lincoln interviews Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who is introduced by Gen. Halleck. Philip H. Sheridan, Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, 2 vols. (New York: C. L. Webster, 1888), 1:347.

With Mrs. Lincoln visits Grover's Theatre for performance of Carl Von Weber's Der Freischütz. Hay, Letters and Diary; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 4 April 1864, 2d ed., 1:4, 2:4.

Lincoln puts in writing substance of interview with A. G. Hodges, Gov. Bramlette (Ky.), and former Sen. Dixon (Ky.): "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel. . . . I have done no official act in mere deference to my abstract judgment and feeling on slavery. . . . I felt that measures, otherwise unconstitutional, might become lawful, by becoming indispensible to the preservation of the constitution, through the preservation of the nation. Right or wrong, I assumed this ground, and now avow it. . . . I made earnest, and successive appeals to the border states to favor compensated emancipation, . . . They declined the proposition; and I was, in my best judgment, driven to the alternative of either surrendering the Union, and with it, the Constitution, or of laying strong hand upon the colored element. I chose the latter. . . . It shows a gain of quite a hundred and thirty thousand soldiers, seamen, and laborers. . . . I add a word which was not in the verbal conversation. In telling this tale I attempt no compliment to my own sagacity. I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me." Abraham Lincoln to Albert G. Hodges, 4 April 1864, CW, 7:281-83.

Offers suggestions to Gen. Rosecrans regarding: 1. Order No. 61 concerning oaths of allegiance;2. Reported assassinations of returned Confederates; 3. Enlistment of Negroes not conducted in orderly manner. Abraham Lincoln to William S. Rosecrans, 4 April 1864, CW, 7:283-84.

At 8 A.M. President orders Samuel A. Beckwith, cipher operator at General Grant's headquarters, to accompany him to Richmond. Bates, Telegraph Office, 353-54.

Presidential party travels on River Queen to meet Rear Admiral Porter's fleet. Transfers to flagship USS Malvern for trip to Richmond. Abandons Malvern for Captain's gig manned by 12 sailors. With President are Porter, Captain Penrose, Tad Lincoln (celebrating his twelfth birthday), and William H. Crook. Party lands around 3:00 PM at point called Rocketts on edge of town, 100 or more yards back of Libby Prison. With six sailors in front of President and six in rear, with Porter and Penrose on one side and Tad and Crook on other, party proceeds on foot to General Godfrey Weitzel's headquarters, the house recently occupied by President Jefferson Davis. Daily National Republican, 8 April 1865, 2d ed., Extra, 2:2; William H. Crook, "Lincoln's Last Day: New Facts Now Told for the First Time. Compiled and written down by Margarita S. Gerry," Harper's Monthly Magazine 115 (September 1907):520-22.

At Davis house is shown into room used for office. Sits and remarks, "This must have been President Davis's chair." Inspects house accompanied by aide to General Weitzel. Thomas Thatcher Graves, in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate Officers, 4 vols. (1884-1887; reprint, with a new introduction by Roy F. Nichols, New York: T. Yoseloff, 1956), 4:728.

Lunches with Generals Weitzel and Shepley; rides around in ambulance through crowded streets to various points of interest, stopping only at Capitol, before returning to Malvern for night. Among visitors to see President is Duff Green, diplomat and journalist. William H. Crook, "Lincoln's Last Day: New Facts Now Told for the First Time. Compiled and written down by Margarita S. Gerry," Harper's Monthly Magazine 115 (September 1907):520-22; Barnes, "With Lincoln," 746-49; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 April 1865, 2d ed., Extra, 1:5-6.

Interviews former Assoc. Justice Campbell on subject of peace. Washington Chronicle, 9 April 1865; Official Records—Armies 1, XLVI, pt. 3, 723.

Lincoln's reception at Richmond is described by Weitzel as "enthusiastic in the extreme." Official Records—Armies 1, XLVI, pt. 3, 574-75.