President directs Sec. Stanton to have transport sent to Negro colony established on Ile à Vache and to bring back all who wish to return. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 1 February 1864, CW, 7:164-65.

Orders that draft for 500,000 men, to serve for three years or during war, be made on March 10, 1864 next. Order for Draft of 500,000 Men, 1 February 1864, CW, 7:164.

Interviews Capt. Ulric Dahlgren, who has waited from 11 A.M. until 4 P.M. They discuss personal and military matters while Lincoln is being shaved. Dahlgren to Dahlgren, 1 February 1864, John A. Dahlgren Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President devotes morning to courtmartial cases. Receives public at 1 P.M. Carpenter, Six Months, 39.

Delegation of 18 gentlemen from convention at Allegheny City, Pa., calls on President to discuss amending Constitution in favor of freedom. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 12 February 1864, 3:1; Washington Chronicle, 15 February 1864.

President's private stables, brick building between Executive Mansion and Treasury Dept., "took fire and burned down" at 8:30 P.M. Nicolay to Hay, 10 February 1864, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In the evening, a fire destroys President Lincoln's "private stables." A newspaper reports, "[Mr.] Cooper, the President's private coachman, left the stable to get his supper about 8 o'clock, and he was first notified of the fire by the President himself, who discovered the smoke . . . The building . . . contained . . . six horses, all of which were burned to death . . . One of these ponies was all the more highly prized, in consequence of having once been the property of Willie, the deceased son of Mr. and Mrs. President Lincoln." Robert W. McBride, Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1926), 44-46; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 11 February 1864, 3:1.

President's two horses, John Nicolay's two horses, and Tad's two ponies are lost. Washington Chronicle, 11 February 1864.

Hours later, "Lincoln and others were standing in the East Room looking at the still burning stables. Lincoln was weeping. Tad explained it was because Willie's pony was there." Robert W. McBride, Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1926), 44-45.

Mrs. Lincoln continues to send flowers to Sanitary Fair. Washington Chronicle, 10 February 1864.

President interviews G. A. Van Duyn of Springfield, Ill., regarding permit to trade South. Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 11 February 1864, CW, 7:178.

Endorses recommendation that $800,000 be appropriated by Congress to reimburse Pennsylvania for cost of militia in U.S. service. Endorsement Concerning Pennsylvania Militia, 11 February 1864, CW, 7:178.

Confers with Commissioner French relative to rebuilding White House stables. Globe, 595.

Interviews George Marshall of St. Louis on business, following introduction by Cong. William R. Morrison (Ill.). Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 16 February 1864, CW, 7:189; Morrison to Lincoln, 11 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Robert consults his father on point of law. Two unidentified Kentucky gentlemen visit Lincoln. Carpenter, Six Months, 45.

Committee from Synod of Reformed Presbyterian Church solicits support of President for amendment to Constitution extending freedom. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 12 February 1864, 3:1.

Patterson McGee, dismissed as President's coachman on day White House stables burned, is arrested on charge of having started fire. Washington Chronicle, 12 February 1864.

President inquires of Sec. Stanton what is to be done about War Dept. order giving Bishop Edward R. Ames control and possession of all Methodist churches in certain southern military departments. "'I will not have control of any church on any side.'" Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 11 February 1864, CW, 7:178-80.

"Little of particular importance in the Cabinet meeting." Welles, Diary.

President writes Sec. Chase: "I have felt considerable anxiety concerning the Custom House at New York. . . . I am convinced that he [Hiram Barney] has ceased to be master of his position. . . . I propose sending Mr. Barney Minister to Portugal, as evidence of my continued confidence in him." J. F. Bailey, special agent of Treasury, assumes to be collector. Public interest will suffer in his hands. Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, [12 February] 1864, CW, 7:181.

Lincoln interviews General Judson Kilpatrick from Army of Potomac. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 13 February 1864, 2d ed., 2:1; Sedgwick to Lincoln, 11 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Atty. Gen. Bates calls on Lincoln to discuss presidential election. Bates, Diary.

President gets new stables to replace those destroyed by fire. Congress appropriates $12,000. Stat. L., XIII, 3.

President attends afternoon reception but is unwell. Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 13 February 1864, CW, 7:182.

Mrs. Lincoln's Saturday afternoon reception draws large crowd, including General Sickles and member of staff. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 13 February 1864, 2d ed., 2:4.

Lincoln calls at Treasury Dept. to discuss replacement for Hiram Barney as collector of customs at New York. Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 15 February 1864, CW, 7:184.

Requests Gen. Sickles to make tour for observation and information from Cairo, Ill., to New Orleans and return by sea. Abraham Lincoln to Daniel E. Sickles, 15 February 1864, CW, 7:185.

Does not approve bill to guarantee republican form of government to states in rebellion. Albert G. Riddle, Recollections of War Times: Reminiscences of Men and Events in Washington, 1860-1865 (New York: Putnam, 1895), 298.

Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by Robert and Harvard friends, attends evening tableaux at Willard's. Performance by amateurs of élite of Washington for benefit of Sanitary Commission. Washington Chronicle, 16 February 1864; Washington National Republican, 16 February 1864.

Confers with Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt on courtmartial cases. CW, 8:532.

Requests, through Nicolay, that James E. Murdoch read enclosed poem, "Am I For Peace? Yes!," at benefit for U.S. Sanitary Commission this evening. CW, 8:532.

"No matters of much moment at the Cabinet." Welles, Diary.

President forwards to House of Representatives documentation touching arrest of [J. R. Giddings] U.S. consul general to British North American Provinces. Abraham Lincoln to the House of Representatives, 16 February 1864, CW, 7:187-88.

Transmits to Congress information about claim of owners of French ship "La Manche." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 16 February 1864, CW, 7:188.

Receives copy of Gen. Blair's speech on confiscated property through Postmaster Gen. Blair. Blair to Lincoln, 16 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President of Washington Lecture Association calls on Lincoln and invites him to attend lecture on "The Nation after the Ordeal of Battle." Invitation, 17 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln explains to William M. Fishback, of Little Rock, Ark., that Gen. Steele, commanding the military, must be master of situation leading to formation of state government; "but that it will probably be best for him to merely help the convention on it's own plan." Abraham Lincoln to William M. Fishback, 17 February 1864, CW, 7:189-90.

Instructs Steele to fix day for election; but it "is probably best that you merely assist the convention on their own plan." Abraham Lincoln to Frederick Steele, 17 February 1864, CW, 7:190-91.

Lincoln receives endorsement of Republican National Committee by majority of four to one. Thomas Harry Williams, Lincoln and the Radicals (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1941), 311.

Approves act of Congress creating office of lieutenant general and nominates Gen. Grant for honor. Arnold, 518.

Discusses Missouri politics with Atty. Gen. Bates in afternoon. Bates, Diary.

At 7:30 P.M., with Mrs. Lincoln and Robert, takes part in opening of Patent Office Fair for benefit of Christian Commission and families of District volunteers. Following speech by Lucius E. Chittenden and poem by Commissioner Benjamin B. French, Lincoln makes impromptu speech, which Mrs. Lincoln describes as "the worst speech I ever listened to in my life." Evening Star (Washington, DC), 23 February 1864, 2d ed., 2:5; Sidney Kramer, "Lincoln at the Fair," Abraham Lincoln Quarterly, 3 (September 1945):340-41; Remarks at Opening of Patent Office Fair, 22 February 1864, CW, 7:197-98.

Lincoln, presumably, drafts letter to Cong. Benjamin F. Loan (Mo.) for signature of Sec. Stanton : "The President's wish is that no objection shall be made to any paper respectfully expressing it's preference for the nomination of any candidate; but that the patronage of the government shall be given to none which engages in cultivating a sentiment to oppose the election of any when he shall have been fairly nominated by the regular Union National Convention." Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin F. Loan, 22 February 1864, CW, 7:197.

Transmits to Congress copy of correspondence regarding presentation of watch to master of American schooner "Highlander" by Lords of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Trade. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 22 February 1864, CW, 7:198-99.

Telegraphs Gen. Steele: "Your conferrence [sic] with citizens [Arkansas] approved. Let the election be on the fourteenth of March, as they agreed." Abraham Lincoln to Frederick Steele, 22 February 1864, CW, 7:199.

Lincoln promises to write Sec. Chase further about "paper issued by Senator Pomeroy," [printed circular opposing renomination of Lincoln and advocating nomination of Chase.] Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 23 February 1864, CW, 7:200-1; Official Records—Armies 573-75.

Receives information that Indianapolis, Ind., convention unanimously instructed delegates for Lincoln. Thompson to Usher, 23 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Interviews Hugh McCulloch, comptroller of currency, on money matters. McCulloch to Lincoln, 24 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Cabinet meets without Chase and two other members. Welles, Diary.

Judge Henniker of Pennsylvania calls on President with note from Congressman Thaddeus Stevens (Pa.). Stevens to Lincoln, 23 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President confers with William H. Schofield, who is interested in Baker University at Baldwin, Kans. Schofield to Lincoln, 24 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

"The reception at the Presidential Mansion last evening was undoubtedly the largest that has taken place this winter." Among the visitors are Surgeon Alexander T. Augusta and Assistant Surgeon Anderson R. Abbott, both African Americans, of the 7th United States Colored Troops regiment, who are "kindly received" by the President. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 24 February 1864, 2d ed., 2:1.

President Lincoln writes to young Willie Smith, whom Lincoln has learned from "Your friend, Leroy C. Driggs...[that] you are a very earnest friend of mine." Lincoln thanks Smith for his friendship, and he encourages the boy to continue to "take so lively an interest in what just now so deeply concerns us." Smith, Lincoln writes, is a member of the generation that will one day "take charge of this country when we older ones shall have gone." Abraham Lincoln to Willie Smith, 23 February 1864, CW, 7:202.