Cabinet accepts resignation of General Winfield Scott and decides upon appointment of General George B. McClellan as successor. President orders Bvt. Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott placed on list of retired officers of Army of U.S. Later calls at Scott's residence with members of cabinet. Order Retiring Winfield Scott from Command, 1 November 1861, CW, 5:10-11; National Republican (Washington, DC), 2 November 1861, 2:2.

Informs McClellan: "I have designated you to command the whole army." McClellan, War for Union, 200; Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 1 November 1861, CW, 5:9-10.

In evening, with John Hay, visits McClellan and Sec. Seward at their homes. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Capt. McKinney (Thomas J. McKenny?) delivers President's order dated October 24, 1861 relieving Gen. Fremont of command of Dept. of West. Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 24 October 1861, CW, 4:562-63.

President's order removing Gen. Fremont from command of Dept. of West is delivered. Curtis to Lincoln, 6 November 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President writes Sec. Cameron: "I think any officer who has been dismissed on suspicion of disloyalty, but does not go over to the enemy, continuing to protest his loyalty, entitles himself to a hearing." Abraham Lincoln to Simon Cameron, 2 November 1861, CW, 5:11.

Writes Gen. Joseph G. Totten, Chief of Engineers: "If Genl Totten & myself are both alive, and in place in June 1862, & he Genl T. will remind me of it, I then wish to give a Cadetship to a son of Professor [Dennis H.] Mahan." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph G. Totten, 2 November 1861, CW, 5:13.

President telegraphs Gen. William K. Strong at St. Louis: "Gen. McClellan is in command of substantially the whole Army, including the Department of the West." Abraham Lincoln to William K. Strong, 3 November 1861, CW, 5:13.

Cabinet votes to acquire two steam fire engines for Washington. N.Y. Tribune, 6 November 1861.

Gen. Halleck arrives in Washington and goes to White House with Gen. McClellan to meet President and cabinet. N.Y. Times, 6 November 1861.

President interviews Massachusetts delegation consisting of James Lawrence, Dr. Ira Russell, Army surgeon, and Dwight Foster, attorney general of Massachusetts, regarding promotion of Col. Charles Devens. Memorandum: Appointment of Charles Devens, 5 November 1861, CW, 5:15.

Receives October salary warrant for $2,083.33. [Irwin withdraws $12.50 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 182, 176.]

Fifteenth New York Regiment in presence of Lincoln gives exhibition of skill in throwing pontoon bridge across eastern branch of Potomac. N.Y. Times, 22 November 1861.

President writes Gen. McClellan: "If General McClellan and General Halleck deem it necessary to declare and maintain martial law at St. Louis the same is hereby authorized." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 21 November 1861, CW, 5:27.

Asks Sec. Smith: "Can you, by any possibility, find some place for Judge Taft? I shall be greatly obliged if you can & will." [Taft's children were playmates of Willie and Tad Lincoln.] Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, 21 November 1861, CW, 5:28.

Cabinet considers granting clearances to reconquered Southern ports. N.Y. Times, 24 November 1861.

President recognizes Oscar Malmborg as vice consul of Norway and Sweden at Chicago. National Intelligencer, 25 November 1861.

Following books sent to White House from Library of Congress: "U.S. Constitution 1783, U.S. Constitution 1856, Mormonism in all ages, Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, Works of Jefferson, vols. 4, 7, 8, 9." [Possibly first title is in error for one of several 1787 printings of Constitution; second is likely Declaration of Independence, and Constitution of the United States of America, with its Amendments. Census of 1850, Boston, 1856; third volume is unidentified; fourth is Henry Mayhew, The Mormons; or Latter-Day Saints. With Memoirs of the Life and Death of Joseph Smith . . ., London, 1856; fifth, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, New York, 1861.] Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President calls conference on "Trent" affair at War Dept. with members of cabinet and several senators. Bates, Telegraph Office, 98.

Consults with Cong. Isaac N. Arnold (Ill.) about conditions in Northwest and what Federal government should do for that section. Arnold to Lincoln, 25 November 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In evening Lincoln visits home of Asst. Sec. Fox. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In afternoon Mrs. Lincoln visits 65th Infantry Regiment (U.S. Chausseurs), commanded by Colonel John Cochrane, former congressman from New York, encamped near Glenwood Cemetery, north of Capitol. National Republican (Washington, DC), 26 November 1861, 3:2; National Intelligencer, 27 November 1861.

[Irwin deposits $175 in Springfield Marine Bank, rent received from Lucian A. Tilton, president of Great Western Railroad living in Lincoln's house. Pratt, Personal Finances, 164.]