"We finished making & launching the boat in about 4 weeks; we loaded the boat with barrell pork; corn & live hogs, and left Sangamon twn." Interview of John Hanks by William H. Herndon, 1865-66, in Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis, eds., Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements about Abraham Lincoln (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998), 457.

Lincoln describes himself as "a strange[r], friendless, uneducated, penniless boy, working on a flat boat—at ten dollars per month."Abraham Lincoln to Martin S. Morris, 26 March 1843, CW, 1:319-21.

Lincoln, J. Rowan Herndon, George Close, and James H. Hornbuckle of the New Salem neighborhood serve on the jury in People v. Millrose, an indictment for larceny. The jury finds the defendant not guilty.Record.

The court grants Lincoln's change of venue request in Kellogg v. Crain.Record.

Lincoln, signing the firm name of "Logan & Lincoln," writes to client George W. Hawley of Lee County explaining what he has done in Hawley's bankruptcy case, In re Hawley. Lincoln explains how he spent $20 Hawley had forwarded Logan & Lincoln for expenses in the case.Logan & Lincoln to G. W. Hawley, 18 April 1842, CW, 1:285.

In Scott v. Davenport, Lincoln writes oath taken by three arbitrators, and writes affidavit of Bailey H. Coffey, justice of peace, that he has administered oath.Photocopy.

Cromwell and McNaughton v. Hewitt and Davenport is tried by court. Judgment is rendered plaintiff for $1,304.10. Leonard represents plaintiff, Lincoln and Jones defendant.Record.

Lincoln writes to fellow attorney Andrew Johnston, of Quincy, Illinois, and discusses their mutual appreciation for poetry. Lincoln encloses part of a poem he wrote after he visited Perry (now Spencer) County, Indiana, in the "fall of 1844." Lincoln explains that it is the place where he "was raised, [and] where my mother and only sister were buried." He adds, "That part of the country is . . . as unpoetical as any spot of the earth; but . . . seeing it and its objects and inhabitants aroused feelings in me which were certainly poetry; though whether my expression of those feelings is poetry is quite another question." Abraham Lincoln to Andrew Johnston, 18 April 1846, CW, 1:377-79.

Lincoln writes to Grant Goodrich, an attorney in Chicago with whom he is working on three related cases in the U.S. Circuit Court. Lincoln and Goodrich represent plaintiff William Anderson in the case of Anderson v. Lawrence, plaintiff William Dayton in the case of Dayton v. Lawrence, and plaintiff William R. Voce in the case of Voce v. Lawrence. In each case, the plaintiff is suing defendant Grove Lawrence in an action of assumpsit to recover damages for "fraud and misrepresentation in the sale of land." Lincoln writes that he has been tardy in replying to Goodrich's recent letter because he has been "so busy with our own court, [and] with preparations to go on the circuit." Lincoln agrees that Goodrich should "take no further testimony in New-York." Lincoln advises Goodrich to "Bring down with you to court, all the home testimony you can, on all points, and let the cases rest upon that." Grant Goodrich to William H. Herndon, 9 December 1866, Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Grant Goodrich (transcript printed), 18 April 1847, CW 10:9-10.

Lincoln buys $6.03 worth of paper and oilcloth shelf "bordering." Irwin Journal.

People v. Vandeventer is reopened. Defendant posts bond for appearance. Lincoln obtains divorce for complainant in Allin v. Allin. Record.

Noblitt v. Duck, action on covenant, before court May 17, 1852, is dismissed. Emerson and Steele represent plaintiff, Lincoln and Benedict defendant. Leave is granted to open depositions in Paddock v. Snyder, assumpsit suit in which Lincoln and Benedict are for defendant. Record.

Lincoln writes and signs amended declaration in Pike v. Shaffer. Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Champaign Circuit Court convenes for spring term.]

Lincoln hears eyewitness account of what Mr. Wiley of New York saw in Charleston Friday night, April 12, 1861. National Intelligencer, 18 April 1861.

Interviews New York "Tribune" correspondent, Bayard Taylor. N.Y. Tribune, 23 April 1861.

Quarters Jim Lane's "Frontier Guards" (600 Kansas men) in East Room of White House under Maj. Hunter. Dennett, Hay Diaries and Letters, 1.

F. P. Blair, Sr., allegedly at request of Lincoln, unofficially offers Col. Robert E. Lee command of Federal Army. Lee to Johnson, 25 February 1868, Robert E. Lee Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President confers with Sec. Welles and Gen. Scott on military protection of Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. Cabinet in evening meeting discusses fall of Harper's Ferry, Va., and possible attack on Navy Yard. Gideon Welles, "Fort Sumter, Facts in Relation to the Expedition Ordered by the Administration of President Lincoln for the Relief of the Garrison in Fort Sumter," Galaxy 10 (November 1870):117.

Lincoln retires early, but is awakened by John Hay, assistant secretary to President, bearing warning of possible plot against his life; merely grins. Margaret Leech, Reveille in Washington 1860-1865 (New York: Harper, 1941), 59.

President in conference room at Capitol consults with Sen. Browning (Ill.) about J. G. Berret's nomination. Browning, Diary.

Sec. Stanton at White House discusses with President morning dispatch from Gen. McClellan. Stanton to McClellan, 18 April 1862, George B. McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President transmits to Congress documentation relative to arrest of Simon Cameron, minister to St. Petersburg and former secretary of war. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 18 April 1862, CW, 5:193-94.

Calls Asst. Sec. Fox to White House. Mrs. Lincoln sends Mrs. Fox bouquet. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Irwin withdraws $17.33 from Springfield Marine Bank to pay taxes. Pratt, Personal Finances, 177.]

President authorizes Assistant Secretary Harrington to discharge duties of secretary of treasury in absence of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Appointment of George Harrington, 18 April 1863, CW, 6:179-80.

Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles discusses with President letter he wrote to Secretary of State William H. Seward on handling mails. Welles, Diary.

Surrenders confiscated mails to President under protest. Monaghan, Diplomat, 304.

President recognizes Johannes Schumacher as consul of Free Hanse City of Bremen at Boston. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 22 April 1863, 2d ed., 1:3.

General Heintzelman, with wife and daughter, spends evening at White House with Mrs. Lincoln, who tells Mrs. Heintzelman that Charles Heintzelman will go to West Point. Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln commutes courtmartial sentences of 20 prisoners sentenced to be shot to imprisonment at the Dry Tortugas. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 18 April 1864, 2d ed., 2:4.

Interviews Chippewa Indian chiefs in East Room of White House and conducts them on tour. Washington Chronicle, 19 April 1864.

Participates in program opening Maryland Sanitary Commission Fair. Gov. Bradford (Md.) delivers eloquent address before crowd of 6,000 to 8,000, followed by 15-minute speech by Lincoln. President refers to change in Union sentiment since 1861 in Baltimore. It "is part only of a far wider change. When the war began, three years ago, neither party, nor any man, expected it would last till now. . . . So true is it that man proposes, and God disposes." Comments on meaning of liberty and massacre reported at Fort Pillow, Tenn. Washington Chronicle, 19 April 1864; Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore, Maryland, 18 April 1864, CW, 7:301-3.

Mrs. Lincoln does not attend Baltimore fair. Ladies of Knitting Circle to Mrs. Lincoln, 19 April 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.