President in cabinet meeting. Attorney General Bates complains of "lack of system in running government." Cabinet meets almost daily with Generals Scott and McClellan in regular attendance. Bates, Diary; N.Y. Times, 13 October 1861.

Lincoln is reading Moncure D. Conway's book, The Rejected Stone: or Insurrection vs. Resurrection in America, sent to him by Senator Charles Sumner (Mass.). Moncure D. Conway, Autobiography, Memoirs, and Experiences of Moncure Daniel Conway, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1904), 1:341.

Prepares memorandum for plan of campaign, to be conducted simultaneously with movement against Carolina coast, "to seize and hold a point on the Railroad connecting Virginia and Tennesse, [sic] near the Mountain pass called Cumberland Gap." Memorandum for a Plan of Campaign, [c. 1 October 1861], CW, 4:544-45.

President sympathizes with Abd ul Aziz Khan, Padischah of Empire of Ottoman Family, on death of brother and congratulates him on accession to throne. Abraham Lincoln to Padischah Abd ul Aziz Khan, 2 October 1861, CW, 4:546.

At noon attends military funeral of Gen. George Gibson. N.Y. Tribune, 3 October 1861.

In conversation with John G. Nicolay, refers to despair of Sec. Chase, unpopularity of Sec. Cameron, military and financial confusion in West. Nicolay, Lincoln's Secretary, 125.

Approves bill for $598.39 from Perry and Brother, dry goods, Penn. Ave. and 9th St. for purchases made by Mrs. Lincoln for refurnishing Executive Mansion. DNA—RG 217, General Accounting Office, 141-774.

Approves payment of $264.00 to Daniel Appleton and Co., New York, for books purchased for Executive Mansion library. [See September 5, 1861.] DNA—RG 217, General Accounting Office, 141-793.

Lincoln inscribes photograph for Mrs. Lucy G. Speed, mother of Joshua F. Speed, "from whose pious hand I accepted the present of an Oxford Bible twenty years ago." Inscription on Photograph Given to Mrs. Lucy G. Speed, 3 October 1861, CW, 4:546.

Sends letter of condolence to Isabel II, Queen of Spain, on death of Infanta Maria de Regla. Abraham Lincoln to Isabel II, 3 October 1861, CW, 4:547.

Orders Uintah Valley in Utah set apart as Indian reservation. Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, 3 October 1861, CW, 4:548.

With Mrs. Lincoln and public officials attends flag presentation ceremonies for 7th New Jersey Regiment. N.Y. Herald, 6 October 1861.

Mrs. Lincoln borrows "Oeuvres de Victor Hugo, Vol. 13" from Library of Congress. Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln confers with Secretary of War Simon Cameron and Generals Wool and Scott concerning Dept. of West. New York Tribune, 5 October 1861.

Observes balloon ascension of John LaMountain from Gen. William B. Franklin's headquarters. Balloon passes over Washington and lands 12 miles away in Maryland. New York Herald, 6 October 1861.

Sec. Welles, Asst. Sec. Fox, and naval experts discuss plans for ironclad warships with President and decide to construct three, one being USS Monitor. J. Duane Squires, "Some Enduring Achievements of the Lincoln Administration, 1861-65," Abraham Lincoln Quarterly 5 (December 1848):203.

Lincoln signs proclamation relative to treaty made with Delaware Indians at Leavenworth City, Kans., July 2, 1861. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 28 September 1861, CW, 4:540.

Writes Cameron: "The writer of this [letter from Nathan M. Knapp of Winchester, Ill.] is a very dear friend of mine, whom I would much wish to oblige." Abraham Lincoln to Simon Cameron, 4 October 1861, CW, 4:548.

Issues general order: "Flag Officers of the United States Navy, authorized to wear a square flag at the mizzen-mast head, will take rank with Major Generals of the United States Army." General Order Concerning Flag Officers, 4 October 1861, CW, 4:548.

Requests Sec. Seward to see Samuel J. Walker, son-in-law of Charles S. Morehead, former governor of Kentucky: "I understand the Kentucky arrests were not made by special direction from here, and I am willing if you are that any of the parties may be released when James Guthrie and James Speed [lawyer of Louisville, former member of Kentucky Legislature, and brother of Joshua F. Speed] think they should be." Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 4 October 1861, CW, 4:549.

Lincoln receives request from Dr. Gurley to send Rev. Henry Hopkins of Massachusetts as chaplain to Alexandria, Va. Gurley to Lincoln, 5 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sec. Welles hands Lincoln resolution by Chicago church adopting national fast day. Welles to Patton, 7 October 1861, Gideon Welles Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President receives September salary warrant for $2,083.33. Pratt, Personal Finances, 182.

Representatives of late Col. Ellsworth's Chicago Zouaves ask that stand of his colors be placed at disposal of President. Thomas and others to Lincoln, 6 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President, Sec. Seward, and Gen. McClellan consult with Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks at camp of 19th New York Regiment near Rockville, Md. N.Y. Times, 9 October 1861.

President asks Gen. Samuel R. Curtis to answer question: "Ought Gen. Fremont to be relieved from, or retained in his present command?" Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 7 October 1861, CW, 4:549-50.

Calls special meeting composed of several cabinet members and asst. secretaries of war and navy. N.Y. Times, 8 October 1861.

In afternoon confers with Secs. Seward and Cameron. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 7 October 1861, CW, 4:551.

Presidential party, including Mrs. Lincoln, attends Gen. McClellan's review of artillery and cavalry on plain east of Capitol. N.Y. Tribune, 9 October 1861; Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

John Hay returns to Washington after absence of several weeks in Illinois to improve his health. National Republican (Washington, DC), 9 October 1861, 2:2.

Cabinet meets in special session tonight to hear report by Gen. McClellan. Seward to Lincoln, 9 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In morning Lincoln reviews Colonel John F. Farnsworth's 8th Illinois Cavalry regiment in front of the portico of the Executive Mansion, each company "cheering heartily" as they pass before the President. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 18 October 1861, 3:6.

At cabinet meeting President reads draft of letter to General Winfield Scott acceding to Scott's retirement. Bates, Diary.

President converses at length with B. Rush Plumley, "a scatter-brained zealot that teaches negros in Loua.," whom he regards as "one of the rascals around Fremont." Plumley to Chase, 19 October 1861, Salmon P. Chase Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Bates, Diary, 30 July 1864.

Lincoln orders that one hundred workmen continue work to place iron castings in place for United States Capitol dome; all other work on the extension of the Capitol ceases. National Republican (Washington, DC), 19 October 1861, 3:1.

Writes Gen. Thomas W. Sherman: "Your dispatch of yesterday received and shown to General McClellan. I have promised him to not break his army here without his consent." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas W. Sherman, 18 October 1861, CW, 4:557.

In mid-afternoon, President and Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by General Robert Anderson, travel to the encampment of the Second and Fourth Rhode Island regiments, where Lincoln participates in the presentation of flags from California to the regiments. National Republican (Washington, DC), 19 October 1861, 2:3.

President Lincoln and his wife, Mary, attend the funeral of Colonel Edward D. Baker, who died on October 21, during the Battle of Ball's Bluff, located near Leesburg, Virginia. At the time of his death, Baker served as a U.S. Senator from Oregon. Previously, he practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, where he became acquainted with Lincoln. Lincoln named his second son, Edward Baker Lincoln, in Baker's honor. New York Times, 24 October 1861, 1:3-5; 25 October, 1861, 1:1-2.

Lincoln sends Leonard Swett with letter containing order for Gen. Fremont's removal to Gen. Curtis for delivery. Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 24 October 1861, CW, 4:562-63.

Writes Gen. Hunter: "The command of the Department of the West having devolved upon you, I propose to offer you a few suggestions . . . give up the pursuit [of Gen. Sterling Price (CSA)], halt your main army, divide it into two corps of observation, one occupying Sedalia, and the other Rolla . . . then recruit the condition of both corps." Abraham Lincoln to David Hunter, 24 October 1861, CW, 5:1-2.

President does not hold stated cabinet meeting. N.Y. Times, 26 October 1861.

In evening father, son, and nephew of late Colonel Edward D. Baker call on Lincoln who is in conference with Thurlow Weed. National Republican (Washington, DC), 31 October 1861, 2:1; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 16 November 1861.

Receives telegram from San Francisco, over newly completed telegraph to California. National Republican (Washington, DC), 26 October 1861, 2:3.

President receives numerous messages over Pacific and Atlantic telegraph opened yesterday, including one from Governor-elect Leland Stanford: "Today California is but a second's distance from the national Capital." New York Tribune, 28 October 1861; Leland Stanford to Abraham Lincoln, 25 October 1861, Record Group 107: Records of the Secretary of War; Entry 34: Telegrams Sent and Received by the War Department Central Telegraph Office, 1861-1882, National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

Visits Navy Yard in evening. New York Times, 28 October 1861.

Later, with John Hay, visits Gen. McClellan's headquarters to converse about "Jacobin Club." Hay, Letters and Diary.

Informs McClellan: "A battery of repeating guns, on wheels, can be seen at the arsenal any hour to-day. Could you, without inconvenience, see them at 3. or 4. o clock—please answer." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 26 October 1861, CW, 5:4-5.

President and John Hay, at Sec. Seward's house in evening meet Sens. Chandler (Mich.), Benjamin F. Wade (Ohio), and Wilson (Mass.). Hay, Letters and Diary.

President authorizes propeller Pembroke, owned by R. B. Forbes of Boston, "to take any vessel or boat . . . employed in the commission of any piratical aggression." Authorization for the Pembroke, [28 October 1861], CW, 5:5-6.

Directs appointment of commission consisting of Judge David Davis, Joseph Holt, and Hugh Campbell of St. Louis, Mo., to examine and report upon all unsettled claims against Dept. of West which may have originated prior to appointment of Gen. Fremont. N.Y. Times, 28 October 1861.

With group of military and scientific men witnesses demonstration of Union gun at Arsenal in afternoon. N.Y. Herald, 29 October 1861.

Writes Secretary of War Simon Cameron: "I have not sufficient time to study and mature an opinion on this plan [for managing military telegraph]. If the Secretary of War has confidence in it, and is satisfied to adopt it, I have no objections." Abraham Lincoln to Simon Cameron, 28 October 1861, CW, 5:6.

Asks Gen. Curtis to read and forward document, "half letter, half order." [probably letter to Commander of Dept. of West, Gen. Hunter, dated October 24, 1861]. Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 28 October 1861, CW, 5:7.

Endorses communication from United Presbyterian Synod of New York and New Jersey: "To be presented to the Cabinet next Tuesday. Pres. Genl. Ass." Memorandum: Resolutions of United Presbyterian Synod, 28 October 1861, CW, 5:7.

At cabinet meeting President presents resolutions of Presbyterian Synod relating to slavery and war. Memorandum, 29 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President and Gen. McClellan discuss future of Army of Potomac. McClellan to Cameron, 30 October 1861, George B. McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Gen. McClellan at White House for conference. McClellan to Lincoln, 31 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Willie Lincoln writes poem eulogizing late Colonel Edward D. Baker. National Republican (Washington, DC), 4 November 1861, 1:1.

"Believing there is no law conferring the power upon me to appoint" chaplains at hospitals, Lincoln thinks fit to write Rev. F. M. Magrath, "that if you will voluntarily enter upon, and perform the appropriate duties of such position, I will recommend that Congress make compensation therefor at the same rate as Chaplains in the army are compensated." Abraham Lincoln to F. M. Magrath, 30 October 1861, CW, 5:8-9.

Sec. Cameron lays before President Gen. Scott's letter requesting retired officer status. Frank Moore, ed., The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, 11 vols. & 1 supplemental vol. (New York: Van Nostrand, 1861-68), 3:Documents, 266.

Gen. McClellan requests President's permission to have purchase of arms made through his staff. McClellan to Lincoln, 31 October 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.