President directs land and naval forces to assist Gen. Sickles on official tour from Washington by way of Cairo, Ill., and New Orleans. [See February 15, 1864, February 25, 1864.] Abraham Lincoln to Whom It May Concern, 15 March 1864, CW, 7:250.

Notifies Gov. Hahn (La.): "You are hereby invested with the powers exercised hitherto by the Military Governor of Louisiana." Abraham Lincoln to Michael Hahn, 15 March 1864, CW, 7:248.

Interviews "gallant drummer boy," Robert H. Hendershot, who rendered meritorious service at Battle of Fredericksburg, and gives him letter to Sec. Stanton. Bell I. Wiley, "Boys in Blue," Abraham Lincoln Quarterly 6 (September 1951):429; Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 15 March 1864, CW, 7:249.

Receives Gen. G. R. Davis upon introduction by Sen. Harris (N.Y.). Harris to Lincoln, 15 March 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Cabinet meets and discusses issuance of proclamation calling for draft of 200,000 men. Welles, Diary.

President Lincoln annotates a letter from Elijah Guion, Thomas Sloo, and John B. Morison, who represent St. Paul's Church, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The men object to the military's effort to take the "Church keys and property." Lincoln writes, "[T]he U.S. should not appoint trustees for or in any way take charge of any church as such. If the building is needed for military purposes, take it; if it is not so needed, let its church people have it, dealing with any disloyal people among them, as you deal with other disloyal people." John B. Morison, Elijah Guion, and Thomas Sloo to Abraham Lincoln, 5 March 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Endorsement Concerning Churches in New Orleans, 15 March 1864, CW, 7:247-48.