President Lincoln writes to Major General Joseph Hooker, the new "head of the Army of the Potomac." Lincoln admires Hooker's bravery, "confidence," and "ambitio[n], which within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm." But, Lincoln chides the General with respect to Hooker's predecessor General Ambrose Burnside: "[Y]ou . . . thwarted him as much as you could [and in so doing] . . . you did a great wrong to the country, and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. . . . Neither you, nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army, while such a spirit prevails . . . Beware of rashness, but with energy, and sleepless vigilance, go forward, and give us victories." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, 26 January 1863, CW, 6:78-79.

Transmits to Senate documents respecting capture of British vessels having on board contraband of war. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 26 January 1863, CW, 6:79.

Tells O. H. Browning story of Gen. Burnside's resignation and Hooker's appointment. Browning, Diary.

Simon Cameron interviews President to protest sending Gen. Butler to New Orleans because Butler is likely candidate for next President and must be in Washington for political reasons. Butler, Correspondence, 2:590.

Presumably Mrs. Lincoln borrows from Library of Congress for use of Tad "Buckland Natural History." [Francis Trevelyan Buckland, Curiosities of Natural History, N.Y., 1859.] Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln thanks George E. Fawcett, music teacher of Muscatine, Iowa, "for your thoughtful courtesy in sending me a copy of your 'Emancipation March.' " Abraham Lincoln to George E. Fawcett, 26 January 1863, CW, 6:78.