Lincoln presents road petition from Sangamon and Cass. It is referred to select committee of Lincoln, Walker of Morgan, and Elkin of Sangamon. He gives notice that he will soon introduce bill authorizing Rhoda Hart et al. to sell real estate.House Journal; Photocopy.

Springfield corporation bill, in Lincoln's hand, is introduced by Archer G. Herndon of Sangamon.Bill Introduced in Illinois Legislature to Extend Corporate Powers of the President and Trustees of the Town of Springfield, [12 July 1837], CW, 1:81-82.

[Fourth "Sampson's Ghost" letter is dated today.]

Drs. E. H. Merryman and W. S. Wallace give $1,000 bond to appear as witnesses in People v. Truett. In Wright et al. v. Adams, defendant files affidavit and moves court for change of venue to Schuyler County. Stuart & Lincoln have 17 other cases called. Record.

Lincoln writes and signs joinder in pleas in Anderson, Bell & Co. v. Gambrel.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Stuart & Lincoln have three cases called. On their motion, Edwards v. Rush is continued. In Andrew v. Taylor, appellant tenders bill of exceptions, which is made part of record. In Fisk v. Lott et al. they file replication, demurrer, and joinder to six pleas of defendant.Record.

Lincoln argues his motion to dismiss appeal in Maus v. Worthing for use of McCann. Court takes time to consider.Record.

B. S. Edwards appears for plaintiff and Lincoln for defendant in Mason v. Park (SC), appeal from Richland County. Plaintiff is ruled to file abstracts by tomorrow and case submitted without argument.Record.

Logan & Lincoln give notice they will take deposition of William Porter on July 22, 1842, in office of Justice of Peace Thomas Moffett.Photocopy.

Lincoln writes and files, for complainant, notice to take deposition in Wagoner v. Porter et al. He writes and signs bond for security in Blaine, Tompkins, & Barrett v. J. D. Allen & Co.Photocopy.

Lincoln is member of committee of arrangements for commemoration of death of Andrew Jackson. E. D. Baker delivers eulogy at afternoon meeting at state house.Sangamo Journal, n.d.

House debates amendments to appropriations bill. Many members are absent and it is impossible to get quorum. Fines are imposed on absentees and sergeant-at-arms is ordered to bring them before House in morning. Lincoln is present.Globe; Journal.

Hoyt trial.

Orville H. Browning records in his Diary: "Attending [U.S.] Court. Commenced trial of [William] Williamson, formerly Postmaster at Lacon who is indicated for robbing the mail. I am assisting Lincoln at his request." Lincoln pays $10 cash on his carriage account. Obed Lewis Account Books.

Federal Courts adjourn. Judge McLean left yesterday for Terre Haute by stage and Judge Drummond takes train for Chicago this morning. Most of business has been continued. Illinois Journal, Register, 13 July 1853.

Lincoln writes and files Calvin Stigleman's affidavit for continuance in Clark v. Stigleman et al.Files.

Arguments commence in Forsyth v. Peoria, Illinois. Browning, Diary.

Lincoln writes to Iowa Governor James W. Grimes, who asked Lincoln to campaign there on behalf of Republican candidates. Lincoln resists, and explains, "First I can hardly spare the time. Secondly, I am superstitious. I have scarcely known a party, preceding an election, to call in help from the neighboring states, but they lost the state. . . . It seems to stir up more enemies than friends. Have the enemy called in any foreign help. If they have a foreign champion there, I should have no objection to drive a nail in his track." Abraham Lincoln to James W. Grimes, 12 July 1856, CW, 2:348.

"Delightful day—Cool & pleasant," Browning records in his diary. "Lincoln & I took tea with Guerdon S. Hubbard." Browning, Diary.

Mrs. Lincoln buys box, 66 pounds of soap, wash bowl, and five kinds of cloth, hiring dray to deliver order. Pratt, Personal Finances, 158.

At 4 A.M. Col. Daniel Butterfield hands Lincoln telegram announcing victory of Union Army at Rich Mountain in "Western Virginia." Emanuel Hertz, ed., Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote (New York: Viking Press, 1939), 377.

[President's account charged $5.00 for two "fine flank netts." Lutz Account Book.]

In the White House, President Lincoln meets with Congressmen representing the border states, and urges, "Let the states which are in rebellion see . . . that, in no event, will the states you represent ever join their proposed Confederacy." Lincoln proposes that border-state slaveholders release their slaves in return for "substantial compensation" from the federal government. He reasons that the "friction and abrasion . . . [and] the mere incidents of the war" will erode "the institution [of slavery] . . . It will be gone, and you will have nothing valuable in lieu of it." Appeal to Border State Representatives to Favor Compensated Emancipation, 12 July 1862, CW, 5:317-19; New York Daily Tribune (NY), 19 July 1862, 12:1; National Republican (Washington, DC), 16 July 1862, 1:3.

Transmits to House of Representatives information regarding relations with foreign powers. Abraham Lincoln to the House of Representatives, 12 July 1862, CW, 5:319.

Signs bill creating national award for valor to be known as Congressional Medal of Honor. Stat. L., XII, 623.

Interviews Gen. Burnside who will leave in evening for Gen. McClellan's headquaters. Marcy to McClellan, 12 July 1862, George B. McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Directs Sec. Stanton to write authorization for Gen. Dix to negotiate general exchange of prisoners. U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Supplemental Report on the Conduct of the War, 2 vols., 38th Cong., 2d sess. (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1866), 2:Hitchcock Report, 3.

[Mrs. Lincoln and Robert leave New York for West Point, N.Y. N.Y. Tribune, 12 July 1862.]

Lincoln at telegraph office receives word of Gen. Meade's plan to attack tomorrow. Paces floor, wringing his hands and muttering, "Too late." Bates, Telegraph Office, 157.

Assures Gen. Schenck that Gen. Isaac R. Trimble (CSA) has not been imprisoned in Baltimore for fear traitorous associates will contact him. Abraham Lincoln to Robert C. Schenck, 12 July 1863, CW, 6:325.

President telegraphs Gen. Grant: "Vague rumors have been reaching us for two or three days that Longstreet's corps is also on its way this vicinity. Look out for it's absence from your front." Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 12 July 1864, CW, 7:438.

Cabinet meets. Discussion centers around Gen. Early's raid on Washington. Welles, Diary.

Each day of skirmishing President rides to suburbs and watches "the soldiers repulse the invaders." Francis F. Browne, The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Thompson, 1886), 661-62.

President, Mrs. Lincoln, and several members of Congress visit Fort Stevens, DC, at 4 P.M. and watch operations from parapet. Washington Chronicle, 13 July 1864.

Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward and father, Secretary of State William H. Seward, drive out to Fort Stevens with President. Frederick W. Seward, Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat, 1830-1915. By Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State during the Administrations of Lincoln, Johnson, and Hayes (New York: Putnam, 1916), 248.

President tours fortifications again. Under fire again at Fort Stevens. Man shot at his side. Hay, Letters and Diary.

General Wright tells Lincoln to get out of danger. Lincoln does not move. Young officer, Oliver Wendell Homes Jr., shouts: "Get down, you fool." President moves back. Monaghan, Diplomat, 378.

At night President and Mrs. Lincoln drive along line of city defenses and are greeted by soldiers. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 13 July 1864, 3d ed., Extra, 2:1.