President Lincoln writes to Lieut.-General Ulysses S. Grant regarding Robert Lincoln, the President's oldest son, who "wishes to see something of the war before it ends." Lincoln instructs Grant to respond with his honest opinion and without regard to Lincoln's position as President. Lincoln directs Grant to reserve "commission[s]" for more deserving candidates, and asks if Robert "could . . . without embarrassment to you, or detriment to the service," obtain "some nominal rank, I, and not the public, furnishing his necessary means?" Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 19 January 1865, CW, 8:223-24.

Interviews Col. John Coburn regarding exchange of prisoners. Abraham Lincoln to Ethan A. Hitchcock, 19 January 1865, CW, 8:224.

At 11:30 A.M. receives Baron Nicholas G. de Wetterstedt, minister plenipotentiary from Sweden. Seward to Lincoln, 18 January 1865, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Committee from Maryland Legislature asks President to remove H. W. Hoffman and appoint Sen. Hicks (Md.) to place. Frazier to Lincoln, 23 January 1865, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln attends ceremonies of U.S. Christian Commission in House of Representatives. LL, No. 450.

Directs Sec. Stanton to consider investigating appeals "made to us by persons claiming to have attempted to come through our lines with their effects to take the benefit of the Amnesty proclamation." Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 19 January 1865, CW, 8:225.

Notifies Sec. Usher that he will appoint Vital Jarrot of Illinois, Indian Agent of Sioux on the Platte, if there is no objection. Abraham Lincoln to John P. Usher, 19 January 1865, CW, 8:225-26.

Lincoln writes to Major General Edward O. C. Ord regarding Frank Judd, who currently assumes an alias. Judd is the son of Norman B. Judd, who managed Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign and who now serves as Minister to Prussia. Lincoln explains, "You have a man in arrest for desertion passing by the name of Stanley—William Stanley I think—but whose real name is different. He is the son of so close a friend of mine that I must not let him be executed. Please let me know what is his present and prospective condition." Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin F. Butler, 29 December 1864, CW, 8:189-190; Abraham Lincoln to Edward O. C. Ord, 19 January 1865, CW, 8:224.