Lincoln forwards nomination of Sen. William P. Fessenden (Maine) as secretary of treasury to Senate. Confirmed instantly. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Fessenden calls on Lincoln to suggest Comptroller of Currency Hugh McCulloch to replace Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Lincoln informs Fessenden that he has already sent Fessenden's name to the Senate for confirmation. Francis Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1907), 1:315-18.

At 10 P.M. Fessenden calls in person to deliver letter declining cabinet post; "but the President was in bed asleep." Francis Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1907), 1:320.

President confers with Cong. Julian (Ind.) on power of Congress to confiscate landed estates of Confederates. George W. Julian, Political Recollections 1840-1872 (Chicago: Jansen, McClurg, 1884), 245.

Former Sen. Fessenden (Maine), newly nominated secretary of treasury, has long interview with President at White House. Chicago Tribune, 3 July 1864.

President interviews Gen. Meigs regarding Fort Leavenworth, Kans. Diary, Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President and family begin summer residence at Soldiers' Home. Washington Chronicle, 3 July 1864.

President approves act granting lands to aid in construction of railroad and telegraph line from Lake Superior to Puget's Sound on Pacific coast. Stat. L., XIII, 365.

Mrs. Lincoln and Robert arrive home. Washington Chronicle, 3 July 1864.

President Lincoln writes to U.S. Supreme Court justice and friend David Davis and to federal judge Samuel H. Treat, of Springfield, Illinois, seeking each man's "summary of the evidence, with your impression, on the Coles County [Illinois] riot cases." On March 28, in Charleston, members of the 54th Illinois Infantry clashed with area Democrats and a riot ensued. Nine people died, including six soldiers and three citizens. Twelve people were wounded. Abraham Lincoln to David Davis, 2 July 1864, CW, 7:421-22; Abraham Lincoln to Samuel H. Treat, 2 July 1864, CW, 7:422-23; Robert D. Sampson, "'Pretty Damned Warm Times': The 1864 Charleston Riot and 'The Inalienable Right of Revolution'," Illinois Historical Journal 89, no. 2 (Summer 1996): 99-116.

Transmits to Senate information regarding African slave trade. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 2 July 1864, CW, 7:422.

In morning former Sen. Fessenden (Maine) calls again to deliver letter declining cabinet post, but President persuades him to accept it. Francis Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1907), 1:320.

President records agreement reached with newly appointed Sec. of Treasury William P. Fessenden: "I will keep no person in office in his department, against his express will, so long as I choose to continue him; . . . In Cabinet my view is that in questions affecting the whole country there should be full and frequent consultations." Memorandum of Interview with William P. Fessenden, 4 July 1864, CW, 7:423.

Lincoln works in President's Room at Capitol in morning, signing bills and conferring with members of Congress. Hay, Letters and Diary; Randall, Lincoln, 4:191.

In conference with Sen. Chandler (Mich.), Lincoln doubts legal right of Congress to act on "Wade-Davis Bill." Chandler angrily walks out. President pockets bill. John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History, 10 vols. (New York: Century, 1890), 9:120-21.

Congressional committee notifies President of adjournment unless he has further communications. Senate Journal, 752.

Cong. Arnold (Ill.) complains to President that John L. Scripps, postmaster at Chicago and candidate for Congress against him, is influencing votes of postal employees. Lincoln writes Scripps: "My wish therefore is, that you will do just as you think fit with your own suffrage in the case, and not constrain any of your subordinates to other than he thinks fit with his. This is precisely the rule I inculcated and adhered to on my part, when a certain other nomination now recently made, was being canvassed for." Abraham Lincoln to John L. Scripps, 4 July 1864, CW, 7:423-24.

President suspends writ of habeas corpus and establishes martial law in Kentucky. Proclamation Suspending Writ of Habeas Corpus, 5 July 1864, CW, 7:425-27.

Cabinet meets. Sec. Fessenden attends for first time. President more formal than usual. Welles, Diary.

Receives June salary warrant for $2,022.33. Pratt, Personal Finances, 183.

President interviews J. R. Gilmore regarding another effort to negotiate peace. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, [6 July 1864], CW, 7:429; James R. Gilmore, Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War (Boston: Page, 1898), 242-47.

Gen. Hitchcock confers with Lincoln about defense of Washington against approaching forces of Gen. Jubal A. Early (CSA). Ethan A. Hitchcock, Fifty Years in Camp and Field: Diary of Major-General Ethan Allen Hitchcock, U.S.A., edited by W. A. Croffut (New York: Putnam, 1909), 463-64.

President, in obedience to concurrent resolution of Congress, proclaims first Thursday of August next as day of national humiliation and prayer. Proclamation of a Day of Prayer, 7 July 1864, CW, 7:431-32; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 July 1864, 2d ed., Extra, 2:2.

Inquires of Sec. Stanton : "Please tell me what is there of the Maryland matter?" reported as infamous designs to "gobble up" money intended for Negro volunteers. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 7 July 1864, CW, 7:432-33.

Meets with Charles Kappes of the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry regarding his absence from his regiment. Lincoln writes a letter ordering Kappes to return to his regiment "free from arrest; and on condition that he faithfully serve until honorably discharged, or during his full term of enlistment, he is pardoned for any presumed desertion heretofore committed." Pardon of Charles Kappes, 7 July 1864, box 198, Record Group 94: General Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Entry 409: Correspondence, 1800-1947, Records of Divisions of the Adjutant General's Office, Enlisted Branch, 1848-1889, Letters Received, 1862-1889, National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

President, after failing to sign "Wade-Davis Bill," issues proclamation concerning reconstruction. Proclamation Concerning Reconstruction, 8 July 1864, CW, 7:433-34.

In evening discusses Baltimore Convention with F. B. Carpenter and John Hay. Cong. Kelley (Pa.) comes in later. Carpenter, Six Months, 162.

Reviews 35 court martial cases. CW, 8:546.

President Lincoln writes to New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley in response to Greeley's letter indicating that the Confederate President is ready to negotiate a peace settlement. Lincoln responds, "If you can find, any person anywhere professing to have any proposition of Jefferson Davis in writing, for peace, embracing the restoration of the Union and abandonment of slavery, what ever else it embraces . . . he may come to me with you, and that if he really brings such proposition, he shall . . . have safe conduct, with the paper . . . to the point where you shall have met him." Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley, 9 July 1864, CW, 7:435-36.

Lincoln deposits June salary warrant for $2,022.33 in Riggs Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 183.

Telegraphs J. W. Garrett: "What have you heard about a battle at Monococy [Monocacy] to-day? We have nothing about it here except what you say." Abraham Lincoln to John W. Garrett, 9 July 1864, CW, 7:434-35.

Gen. Rosecrans telegraphed President on July 8, 1864: "A telegram from Secretary of War says you direct the release of Dr. [James A.] Barrett [one of several purported leaders of Order of American Knights]. . . . I respectfully request a revision of the order." Lincoln replies: "When did the Sec. of War telegraph you to release Dr. Barrett? If it is an old thing, let it stand till you hear further." Abraham Lincoln to William S. Rosecrans, 9 July 1864, CW, 7:436.

Reviews 31 court martial cases. CW, 8:546.

President asks Gov. Curtin (Pa.) to come to Washington relative to 2d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. Abraham Lincoln to Andrew G. Curtin, 17 July 1864, CW, 7:444.

Assures Gen. Hunter that Gen. Grant wishes him to remain in command and no one is scapegoat. Abraham Lincoln to David Hunter, 17 July 1864, CW, 7:445.

Telegraphs Grant hope that desperate effort to get position "shall not be desparate [sic] in the sense of great loss of life." Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 17 July 1864, CW, 7:444-45.

President writes Sec. Usher: "I know nothing personally of Mr. Rohrer, but shall be very glad if the Sec. of Interior can oblige the gentlemen who write the within letter." Abraham Lincoln to John P. Usher, 24 July 1864, CW, 7:456.

President confers with Gen. Meigs relative to destroying fords across Potomac from Washington to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., by means of dams. Diary, Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

T. Shaffer interviews President regarding difficulty of getting cotton out of Military Division of West Mississippi. Abraham Lincoln to Edward R. S. Canby, 25 July 1864, CW, 7:457.

President writes Abram Wakeman, post-master at New York, that men from South recently at Niagara Falls, N.Y., were empowered to assist in selecting candidate and platform for Chicago convention. Next presidential contest will "be no other than a contest between a Union and a Disunion candidate." Abraham Lincoln to Abram Wakeman, 25 July 1864, CW, 7:461.

Thanks Loyal Ladies of Trenton for cane made from arch erected in 1789 on spot where Cornwallis was repulsed. [Presented on June 16, 1864 at Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia.] Abraham Lincoln to the Loyal Ladies of Trenton, New Jersey, 25 July 1864, CW, 7:458.

Writes William O. Snider, probably of Philadelphia: "The cane you did me the honor to present throough [sic] Gov. Curtin was duly placed in my hand by him. Please accept my thanks; and at the same time, pardon me for not having sooner found time to tender them." Abraham Lincoln to William O. Snider, 25 July 1864, CW, 7:460.

Cabinet meets. Secretaries Welles and Usher, Attorney General Bates, and Lincoln present. Welles, Diary.

President recognizes Francis A. Hoffmann as consul for Kingdom of Hanover at Chicago. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 29 July 1864, 2d ed., Extra, 2:3.

Col. Shaffer discusses Gen. Butler's position with President. Butler, Correspondence, 4:547-48.

In evening Sec. and Mrs. Welles visit for hour with Lincoln at Soldiers' Home. Welles, Diary.

President writes Gen. Sherman who complains about promotion of Gens. Alvin P. Hovey and Peter J. Osterhaus: "My recollection is that both Gen. Grant and yourself recommended both H & O. . . . I beg you to believe we do not act in a spirit disregarding merit. We expect to await your programme, for further changes and promotions in your army. My profoundest thanks to you and your whole Army for the present campaign so far." Abraham Lincoln to William T. Sherman, 26 July 1864, CW, 7:463-64.

President appoints Richard W. Thompson, of Indiana, commissioner to examine Union Pacific Railroads. Appointment of Richard W. Thompson as Commissioner to Examine Union Pacific Railroads, 27 July 1864, CW, 7:464-65.

Telegraphs Gen. Hunter at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.: "Please send any recent news you have—particularly as to movements of the enemy." Abraham Lincoln to David Hunter, 27 July 1864, CW, 7:465-66.

Promises Gov. Johnson (Tenn.) to look after matter of Gen. Alvan C. Gillem. As for Gen. Schurz, "I appreciate him certainly as highly as you do; but you can never know until you have the trial, how difficult it is to find a place for an officer of so high rank, when there is no place seeking him." Abraham Lincoln to Andrew Johnson, 27 July 1864, CW, 7:466.

Directs Sec. Stanton to examine petition of female workers in Philadelphia Arsenal and provide relief consistent with law and public service. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 27 July 1864, CW, 7:466-67.

President asks J. W. Forney and Morton McMichael, editor of Philadelphia "North American," to come to Washington tomorrow or Saturday. Abraham Lincoln to John W. Forney, 28 July 1864, CW, 7:469.

Telegraphs Gen. Grant to meet him at Fortress Monroe, Va., 8 P.M. Saturday, the 30th. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 28 July 1864, CW, 7:469-70.

President changes purpose and decides to meet Gen. Grant at Fortress Monroe, at 10 A.M. Sunday, the 31st. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 29 July 1864, CW, 7:470.

President Lincoln writes to Anne Williamson, of Edinburgh, Scotland, and thanks her for sending him a woolen wrap. The eighty-one-year-old Williamson wrote, "As one deeply interested in your present struggle, I trust the Lord will bless all your endeavors for the peace of your country and the freedom of the slave." Lincoln writes, "I thank you for that pretty and useful present, but still more for those good wishes to myself and our country which prompted you to present it." Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Anne Williamson, 29 July 1864, CW, 7:471; New York Daily Tribune, 3 August 1864, 4:5.

At 12 M. Sec. Seward escorts Chevalier Bertinatti to White House for presentation of credentials as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Italy. President replies to presentation. Reply to Joseph Bertinatti, 30 July 1864, CW, 7:473-74.

Lincoln appoints Maj. John A. Bingham, judge advocate of volunteers and former congressman (Ohio), to Court of Claims; appointment declined. Abraham Lincoln to John A. Bingham, 30 July 1864, CW, 7:472.

Leaves Washington in time to reach Fortress Monroe Sunday morning for meeting with Gen. Grant. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 29 July 1864, CW, 7:470.

Marine band gives regular Saturday evening concert on White House grounds. President probably did not attend. Washington Chronicle, 31 July 1864.

President approves treasury regulations governing commercial intercourse and directs military personnel to assist agents of Treasury Dept. in executing them. Approval of Treasury Regulations, 30 July 1864, CW, 7:471-72.

President at Fortress Monroe to confer with General Ulysses S. Grant. Welles, Diary, 1 August 1864.

Waits at wharf for Grant to come from Gen. Butler's house. Mrs. Butler does not see President or Mrs. Lincoln and ladies. Butler, Correspondence, 4:566.

Lincoln receives Grant aboard U.S.S. Baltimore at 10 A.M. for conference. Begins return trip to Washington at 3 P.M. Washington Chronicle, 2 August 1864.

Grant and members of staff accompany President to Norfolk, where they spend some time at the Navy Yard. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 1 August 1864, 3d ed., 2:1.