President Lincoln writes to Tennessee's military governor, Andrew Johnson, and urges him to "rais[e] a negro military force." The move would inspire Unionists because, Lincoln explains, Johnson is an "eminent citizen of a slave-state, and himself a slave-holder." Lincoln adds, "The colored population is the great available and yet unavailed of, force for restoring the Union. The bare sight of fifty thousand armed, and drilled black soldiers on the banks of the Mississippi, would end the rebellion at once." Abraham Lincoln to Andrew Johnson, 26 March 1863, CW, 6:149-50.

Interviews Eli Parker of New York regarding appointment. Abraham Lincoln to Montgomery C. Meigs, 26 March 1863, CW, 6:150.

"The President is in excellent spirits to-day." N.Y. Herald, 27 March 1863.

Mary F. Carpenter visits President. Mary F. Carpenter to Abraham Lincoln, 27 March 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln shakes hands with Mr. Fowler, old Shaker friend of Secretary of State Seward. William H. Seward to Abraham Lincoln, 26 March 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.