Sangamon Circuit Court begins three-week term. Logan & Lincoln appear for complainant, Susan Wallace, in Wallace v. Wallace, divorce case referred to master in chancery for his report.Record.

Lincoln writes declaration for Logan & Lincoln in Lewis v. Goodan.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Bledsoe and Lincoln win Dresser v. Miles when jury awards plaintiff $348.80. Appeal to Supreme Court is granted. Lincoln confesses judgment against George U. Miles and court awards plaintiff $103.37 in Chouteau & Valle v. Miles & McCoy.Record.

Logan & Lincoln obtain judgments in seven suits totaling $4,499.74. Four cases are dismissed, one continued, and in two they are ruled to plead tomorrow. On motion of Lincoln, Bledsoe is appointed guardian for infant heirs in Gardner v. Johnson et al., and defendant is ruled to answer tomorrow. On March 29, 1842, Hamlin Whitmore got judgment against Ervin Clark; on Lincoln's motion, writ to sell property is given.Record.

Lesure and Bliss v. County of Menard is argued before jury by Campbell for plaintiffs and Lincoln for defendant, whereupon plaintiffs take nonsuit and jury is discharged. Logan & Lincoln appear for defendants in People v. Klein and Hosey, and on their motion change of venue is granted to Menard County. Two cases are set for later hearing.Record.

Meeting is held to discuss Springfield and Alton Railroad. Judge Treat is chairman and Levi Davis secretary. Lincoln, Logan, Treat, Calhoun, and N. W. Edwards are among 13 delegates appointed to attend general meeting in Springfield in Dec.Register, 15 November 1845.

In People v. Smith, Lincoln wins bail ($500) for his client.Record.

"Mr. Lincoln returned to this city on Thursday evening last, from a journey of business to Kentucky, which occupied his time for some three or four weeks." Illinois Journal, 19 November 1849.

Lincoln writes and files bond for costs for plaintiff in Hill v. Whitley, slander. He also writes replication and plea. Photocopy; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

On Lincoln's motion Robert M. Evans of Indiana is admitted to practice in Macon Circuit Court. In Eckel v. Warnick, defendant, represented by Post and Lincoln, is enjoined from further proceedings in ejectment suit. King et al. v. Lee et al. is tried by Lincoln for complainants. Court takes it under advisement. Lincoln copies bond for execution of warranty deed and has clerk certify it. Lincoln wins Andrews v. House when jury is waived and case is tried by court by agreement. Court finds for plaintiff and assesses $116.48 damages. Record; Photocopy.

State's attorney enters nolle prosequi in three criminal cases in which Lincoln is attorney for defendants,— People v. Davis and People v. Chick, indictment for cutting timber, and People v. Brown, assault with deadly weapon. Lincoln loses two appeals—Long v. Duncan and Lloyd v. Ward. He files two pleas for defendant in Lemon v. Hargis. Record; Photocopy.

Lincoln obtains deposition of H. E. Dummer stating that R. S. Todd placed in his hands for collection debt of $134.21 owed by Robert Lindsey to Oldham, Todd & Co., that he sued and obtained judgment in Cass Circuit Court October 12, 1841, and finally in 1845 collected $50 on judgment, which he paid to Lincoln in 1846. R. S. Todd directed Lincoln to retain this "as his own." Faced with this evidence, Kentucky plaintiffs dismiss suit at next term of Fayette County Court. William H. Townsend, Abraham Lincoln, Defendant: Lincoln's Most Interesting Lawsuit (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1923), 33; Abraham Lincoln to George B. Kinkead, 31 March 1854, CW, 2:216-17.

In Cundiff et al. v. Illinois Central RR, jury finds for defendant. Court overrules motion for new trial. Record.

Lincoln acts with Moore for defense in Ryan v. Perce, Keith, and Clark, losing case. Photocopy.

Sangamon Circuit Court in People ex rel. Koerner et al. v. Ridgely et al. enters decree in favor of defendants. Appeal to Supreme Court is taken (see January 24, 1859). Lincoln has three other cases. He writes Judd, asking him to draw new apportionment bill and commence work for its passage. Otherwise Trumbull will be defeated. Record; Abraham Lincoln to Norman B. Judd, 15 November 1858, CW, 3:336-37.

Lincoln's secretary, John G. Nicolay, recalls a conversation between Lincoln and "two gentlemen" regarding the South's possible break from the Union. Nicolay notes that Lincoln's "impression is . . . that this government possesses both the authority and the power to maintain its own integrity." According to Nicolay, Lincoln adds, "'That however is not the ugly point of this matter. The ugly point is the necessity of keeping the government together by force, as ours should be a government of fraternity.'" Michael Burlingame, ed., With Lincoln in the White House: Letters, Memoranda, and Other Writings of John G. Nicolay, 1860-1865 (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2000), 10.

Interviews Gen. Charles P. Stone. New York Tribune, 16 November 1861.

Postmaster Gen. Blair and wife call on President. Blair confers with Lincoln about Trent affair involving removal by Capt. Charles Wilkes (USN) in command of USS San Jacinto, of former Sen. James M. Mason (Va.) and former Sen. John Slidell (La.) Confederate envoys, from British ship. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In afternoon President and several members of cabinet board steamer Mount Washington at Navy Yard for Alexandria, Va., to inspect USS Pensacola. Extracts from Dahlgren Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; New York Herald, 16 November 1861; National Republican (Washington, DC), 16 November 1861, 2:2.

President, with Secs. Seward and Chase, drives to Navy Yard for trial test of Hyde rocket. Capt. Dahlgren joins group. Defective rocket explodes; President miraculously escapes injury. Extracts from Dahlgren Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Bruce, Tools of War, 219.

Prescribes that Sunday labor in army and navy be reduced to measure of strict necessity. Order for Sabbath Observance, 15 November 1862, CW, 5:497-98.

John Hay writes: "Hell is to pay about Watt's affairs [John Watt, White House gardener and temporary steward, suspected of juggling government funds]. I think the Tycoon [President] begins to suspect him. . . . He [Watt] has got William and Carroll turned off, and has his eye peeled for a pop at me, because I won't let Madame [Mrs. Lincoln] have our stationery fund. They have gone to New York together." Dennett, Hay Diaries and Letters, 52.

[Mrs. Lincoln returns to New York from Boston and plans to stay at Metropolitan Hotel few days before going to Washington. Boston Transcript, 15 November 1862.]

President's bodyguard, Marshal Lamon, announces program for dedication of National Cemetery at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863. Washington Chronicle, 15 November 1863.

Lincoln, accompanied by Noah Brooks, visits Gardner's Gallery and poses for photographs. Brooks, Washington, 285.

Lincoln interviews Mrs. Gimber and directs her to Gen. Hitchcock. Abraham Lincoln to Ethan A. Hitchcock, 15 November 1864, CW, 8:110.

Attends Grover's Theatre to see E. L. Davenport in title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet. N.Y. Herald, 17 November 1864.

Asks governors to tell him exactly, or approximately, number of votes cast in their states in late election. Information needed for forthcoming Annual Message. Abraham Lincoln to Samuel A. Cony and Others, 15 November 1864, CW, 8:108-10.

Telegraphs chairman, Maryland State Central Committee of Union Party: "I shall be happy to receive the committee on Thursday morning (17th.) as you propose." Abraham Lincoln to William H. Purnell, 15 November 1864, CW, 8:111.

Asks Gen. Thomas how much force and artillery Gen. Gillem had, when attacked and routed near Morristown, Tenn., last night. Abraham Lincoln to George H. Thomas, 15 November 1864, CW, 8:111-12.