Mrs. Elizabeth J. Platt of New Jersey calls and asks for son's discharge. [Lincoln orders it five days later.] Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 16 October 1863, CW, 6:520.

At cabinet meeting President reads his answer to petition from Missouri and Kansas delegation. Bates, Diary.

Also reads to cabinet confidential dispatch to Gen. Meade urging him to fight Gen. R. E. Lee. Welles, Diary.

Writes Gen. Halleck: "If Gen. Meade can now attack him [Lee] on a field no worse than equal for us, and will do so with all the skill and courage, which he, his officers and men possess, the honor will be his if he succeeds, and the blame may be mine if he fails." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 16 October 1863, CW, 6:518-19.

On behalf of Mrs. Elizabeth E. Hutter, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lincoln writes a letter of introduction to Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs. Lincoln explains, "Please see Mrs. Hutter, who has given most of her time to the soldiers, during the war, and who wishes to present an invention of hers for the soldier's comfort, which she would like to have introduced into the service . . . I certainly would prefer having it over my ears in cold weather, to their being naked." Abraham Lincoln to Montgomery C. Meigs, 16 October 1863, CW, 6:519.

Writes T. W. Sweney: "Tad is teasing me to have you forward his pistol to him." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas W. Sweney, 16 October 1863, CW, 6:520-21.

Receives from Capt. Diller a further report on gunpowder. Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 16 October 1863, CW, 6:521.