Sec. Seward sends President document headed: "Some thoughts for the President's consideration." It contains thoughts relating to office seekers, relief of forts, blockade, martial law, foreign affairs, war with European powers, and Lincoln's responsibilities. Lincoln insists: "I remark that if this must be done, I must do it." 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), 149; Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:316-18.

Seward, Capt. Meigs, and Lt. David D. Porter (USN) hasten to White House with plans prepared by them, without knowledge of Sec. Welles, for reinforcing Fort Pickens, Fla. President signs papers, directing that plans be approved by Gen. Scott, and USS Powhatan is withheld from Sumter expedition against President's wishes. West, Welles, 101-2; Monaghan, Diplomat, 54-58; Abraham Lincoln to Andrew H. Foote, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:313-14; Abraham Lincoln to Andrew H. Foote, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:314; Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Mercer, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:314; Abraham Lincoln to Officers of the Army and Navy, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:315; Abraham Lincoln to David D. Porter, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:315; Abraham Lincoln to David D. Porter, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:315.

Sec. Welles goes to White House to protest recent instructions for expedition to Vera Cruz, Mexico and Pensacola, Fla. Welles, Diary; Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:318-19.

President writes: "Would it impose too much labor on General Scott to make short, comprehensive daily reports to me of what occurs in his Department?" Abraham Lincoln to Winfield Scott, 1 April 1861, CW, 4:316.

President announces that visitors will be received between 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. National Intelligencer, 2 April 1861.

Presidential family pays unexpected visit to Navy Yard, spends two hours there, and receives 21-gun salute. National Intelligencer, 3 April 1861; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 3 April 1861, 3:1.

During afternoon drive Lincoln visits military barracks. N.Y. Herald, 3 April 1861.

[Irwin withdraws $42 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 176.]

Lincoln directs Sec. Seward to pay Capt. Meigs $10,000 "from the secret service fund" before Meigs leaves on expedition to reinforce Fort Pickens, Fla. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 2 April 1861, CW, 4:320.

Cabinet in session most of forenoon discussing Fort Sumter, S.C., situation. Baltimore Sun, 4 April 1861.

President attends wedding of Commandant Franklin Buchanan's (USN) daughter at Navy Yard, but arrives too late for ceremony. Bruce, Tools of War, 9, 15.

Confers with Allan B. Magruder and sends him to Richmond to arrange consultation between Lincoln and Virginia Unionist, preferably former Cong. George W. Summers (Va.). Randall, Lincoln, 1:325-26.

Col. Keyes interviewed by President, who signs blanket order authorizing him to organize expedition to Fort Pickens, Fla. Erasmus D. Keyes, Fifty Years' Observation of Men and Events, Civil and Military (New York: Scribner, 1884), 387; Abraham Lincoln to Erasmus D. Keyes, 3 April 1861, CW, 4:320.

[Irwin withdraws $9 for payment of interest on scholarship, Illinois State University. Pratt, Personal Finances, 176.]

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.

Former Cong. Botts (Va.) confers with Lincoln from 7 to 11 P.M. about problems and expedients to prevent Virginia from seceding. George S. Boutwell, Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, 2 vols. (New York: McClure, Phillips, 1902), 2:62-64; 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, 114.

Sec. Seward reads to President from London "Times" opinion that citizens of U.S. and Great Britain are of same descent and their ambitions for civilization will always be the same. Frederic Bancroft, The Life of William H. Seward, 2 vols. (New York: Harper, 1900), 2:162-63.

President holds public reception. Randall, Lincoln, 1:369.

Prominent New York Republicans George Opdyke, David Dudley Field, James Wadsworth, and Horace Greeley write to Lincoln and recommend that he name someone from their "wing of the party" to the post of Surveyor of the Port of New York. Lincoln had already chosen a Greeley-backed candidate to fill the Collector's position. On Greeley's envelope, Lincoln jots down a comment about the fractious New York Republicans: "Greely, Opdyke, Field & Wadsworth, in favor of having the two big puddings on the same side of the board." Horace Greeley and others to Abraham Lincoln, 8 April 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Cabinet discusses general matters in short session. Bates, Diary.

Lincoln appoints W. H. Lamon marshal for District of Columbia. National Intelligencer, 12 April 1861.

Receives unofficially Virginia commissioners: former Congressman William B. Preston (Va.), Alexander H. H. Stuart, and George W. Randolph. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 13 April 1861, 2:2.

Confides in Sen. Charles Sumner (Mass.) that Fort Sumter, S.C., will not be surrendered. Pierce, Sumner Memoir and Letters, 4:41.

President considers preventing Maryland Legislature from meeting and possibly arming people of that state against U.S. and concludes it would not be justifiable. Abraham Lincoln to Winfield Scott, 25 April 1861, CW, 4:344.

Secretary of the Interior Caleb B. Smith consults with Lincoln on readying Fortress Monroe, Va., preparatory to retaking Fort Sumter, S.C. Hay, Letters and Diary.

In early afternoon President, Secretary of State William H. Seward, and Secretary of War Simon Cameron review 7th New York Regiment. National Republican (Washington, DC), 26 April 1861, 3:1; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 25 April 1861, 3:1.

Labels clippings from New York "Times" of this date, "Villainous articles." Clippings, 25 April 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President authorizes suspension of writ of habeas corpus along line of troop movements between Philadelphia and Washington. National Intelligencer, 17 July 1861; Abraham Lincoln to Winfield Scott, 27 April 1861, CW, 4:347.

Extends blockade to ports of North Carolina and Virginia. Baltimore Sun, 30 April 1861; Proclamation of Blockade, 27 April 1861, CW, 4:346-47.

Seventh New York Regiment band serenades presidential family and friends on south lawn of Executive Mansion. National Republican (Washington, DC), 29 April 1861, 3:2; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 29 April 1861, 3:1.

Lincoln talks of war with Carl Schurz, whom he appoints minister to Spain. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Lincoln, Sec. Cameron, and Gen. Scott are in War Dept., in Chief Clerk John P. Sanderson's room, when David H. Bates reports there to serve in telegraph office. Bates, Telegraph Office, 25-26.

President, Sec. Seward, and other officials visit quarters of 7th New York Regiment in House Chamber of Capitol. William Swinton, History of Seventh Regiment, National Guard, State of New York, During the War of Rebellion (New York: Fields, Osgood, 1870), 134.

Congressman Charles H. Van Wyck (N.Y.) asks Lincoln for temporary active duty while awaiting arrival of regiment. Van Wyck to Nicolay, 29 April 1861, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

New York committee calls upon President to state "with great clearness that the people were absolutely determined on maintaining their Government." New-York Daily Tribune, 1 May 1861, 5:1; National Republican (Washington, DC), 30 April 1861, 2:3-4.

Mayor Berret (Washington) makes formal call at White House. National Intelligencer, 1 March 1861.

Lincoln has picture made on White House lawn with citizen-soldiers of Cassius M. Clay Battalion. LL, No. 1450.

Borrows from Library of Congress "Placier Times and Transcript, part 2, 1855." Borrowers' Ledger 1859-62, 350, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. [San Francisco, Daily Placer Times and Transcript, 16 June 1851-17 December 1855.]

Writes Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles: "You will please to have as strong a War Steamer as you can conveniently put on that duty, to cruise upon the Potomac, and to look in upon, and, if practicable, examine the Bluff and vicinity, at what is called the White House [Va.], once or twice per day." Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 29 April 1861, CW, 4:348-49.

President approves enrolling loyal citizens of St. Louis for maintaining authority of U.S. DNA—WR RG 94, Adjt. Gen. Off., Letters Received, Misc. Branch, XXXVII, pt. 2, 942.

Visits quarters of various regiments stationed near Washington. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 1 May 1861, 3:1; National Republican (Washington, DC), 1 May 1861, 3:2.

Three Potawatomi Indians call on their Great Father. Dennett, Hay Diaries and Letters, 14.

In the afternoon, President Lincoln meets with Rufus King and with Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a member of the Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Shaw recalls, "Mr. Lincoln was sitting at a desk perfectly covered with letters & papers of every description." Shaw concludes, "Though you can't judge of a man in a five minute conversation, we were very much pleased with what we did see of him." Russell Duncan, ed., Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1992), 90-91.

In evening Carl Schurz, Postmaster General Blair, and G. V. Fox interview Lincoln. Hay, Letters and Diary.