Lincoln writes and signs a note certifying that William Hohimer was "a private in the company which I had the honor to command" during the Black Hawk War. Lincoln adds that Hohimer "received a wound in the body while in said service which at the time and for some days afterward was considered mortal." Thomas Moffett, Justice of the Peace, witnesses and signs the document. Certificate of Military Service, 20 April 1833, Record Group 15, National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

[Memorial service for Gen. James D. Henry (1797-1834), hero of Black Hawk War who died in New Orleans March 5, 1834, is held in court house. Lincoln and other candidates doubtless attend.Sangamo Journal, 25 April 1834.]

Lincoln gives quit claim deed to Lot 6 in Block 1 in Springfield to Josephus Hewett and Edward D. Baker for $75. This is one of two lots he purchased March 24, 1836. Sangamon County Deed Book K, 616-17, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois Springfield.

Lincoln writes a contingent fee agreement and promissory note for their client James M. Crain in Crain v. Crain et al., a conveyance case before the Tazewell County Circuit Court. Crain signs both the agreement and the note. The fee agreement pays Stuart & Lincoln a $500 fee, if they obtain Crain's full claim in the case, or $300 if they obtain a partial claim. The promissory note was for $25, payable by Crain to Stuart & Lincoln in six months.Privately owned.

Lincoln also writes and files with the court Crain's replication in the case.Photocopy.

[Lincoln probably leaves Springfield for Carthage to attend opening of spring term of Hancock Circuit Court on Monday. He is attorney for defendant, William Fraim, in People v. Fraim.]

In evening Lincoln attends last meeting of Springfield board of trustees. Poll-books of election held during day are examined and following Whigs are declared elected: mayor, B. S. Clement; aldermen, James R. Gray, Joseph Klein, Washington Iles, and William Prentiss. Journal of the Board of Trustees.

McLean Circuit Court opens four-day term. Lincoln's attendance is proved by statement in his letter to James Berdan on April 26, 1846: "I thank you for the promptness with which you answered my letter written from Bloomington."Abraham Lincoln to James Berdan, 26 April 1846, CW, 1:380.

Lincoln negotiates agreement in McDuffee v. Ward to drop case at cost of plaintiff on surrender of notes by defendant. Lincoln signs petition for pardon of Jacob Hoffman. Record; Photocopy.

In compliance with request from Benjamin Kellogg, Lincoln visits Patent Office. He leaves Kellogg's letter with request for information desired. It is returned to him in evening with pencilled notations. Lincoln writes secretary of war nominating Hezekiah H. Garber of Petersburg to West Point.Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin Kellogg, Jr., 21 April 1848, CW, 1:466-67; Abraham Lincoln to William L. Marcy, 20 April 1848, CW, 1:466.

Lincoln writes to W. B. Preston, secretary of the navy, that most government advertising in Illinois goes to Democratic papers. Taylor will probably "not go the doctrine of removals very strongly," but when job is not already in Democratic hands it should be given to Whig. "And if still less than this is done for our friends, I think they will have just cause to complain." Abraham Lincoln to William B. Preston, 20 April 1849, CW, 2:42-43.

In the McLean County Circuit Court, Lincoln defends Samuel Beaver in a suit of trespass on the case in Lash v. Beaver. Plaintiff Isaac Lash is suing Beaver for $300 in damages. Both sides present their arguments to the jury. The jury finds in favor of Lash but awards him only $2.20 in damages. The court also orders Beaver to pay the court costs. Lincoln files pleas for his clients Benjamin Martin and Wilder Gurnsey in the case of Flagg & Ewing v. Martin and Gurnsey. William F. Flagg and John W. Ewing of the firm of Flagg & Ewing are suing Martin and Gurnsey for $300 in damages for a debt involving the purchase of a reaper. In the ejectment suit of Fell v. McIntire, Lincoln represents plaintiff Kersey H. Fell. The parties agree to continue the case until the next term, and the court allows the continuance. Judgment, 20 April 1852, Lash v. Beaver, Common Law Record 4, 259, McLean County Circuit Court, McLean County Courthouse, Bloomington, IL; Plea, filed 20 April 1852, Flagg & Ewing v. Martin and Gurnsey, Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Order, 20 April, Fell v. McIntire, Common Law Record 4, 258, McLean County Circuit Court, McLean County Courthouse, Bloomington, IL.

In James v. Redmon et al., and Burwell v. Dickerson, Lincoln secures rules on defendants to plead by tomorrow. He writes court order continuing Davidson v. Bailey. Record.

One of Lincoln's "great variety of little business" is Bishop v. Illinois Central RR, trespass. Jury returns verdict for plaintiff and assesses his damages at $583. Holmes, Lincoln, and Stuart are for plaintiff. Record.

Lincoln receives letter from Chicago charging that Elihu B. Washburne is urging re-election of Douglas. Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne, 26 April 1858, CW, 2:443-44.

Six cases in ejectment, in which Lincoln and firm of Coler, Sims, & Sheldon represent plaintiffs, are dismissed on motion of plaintiffs and at their costs. Record.

President confers with Gen. Scott at 8 A.M. about troops passing through Baltimore. Nicolay Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Calls Gov. Hicks (Md.) and Mayor Brown (Baltimore) to Washington for conference "relative to preserving the peace of Maryland." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas H. Hicks and George W. Brown, 20 April 1861, CW, 4:340-41; Abraham Lincoln to Thomas H. Hicks and George W. Brown, 20 April 1861, CW, 4:341.

Interviews Sen. Anthony Kennedy (Md.) and former Cong. J. Morrison Harris (Md.) relative to movement of troops through Maryland. N.Y. Times, 27 April 1861.

Gen. McDowell meets President early in morning and accompanies him to Washington. Party arrives at 2:30 P.M. and dines at Comdr. Dahlgren's. Drive from Navy Yard to White House interrupted when excited horses immobilize President's carriage. Trip completed in another carriage. National Intelligencer, 21 April 1862; Extracts from Dahlgren Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In evening Lincoln discusses Yorktown, Va., and Corinth, Miss., with Sen. Browning (Ill.). Browning, Diary.

President promises Mrs. James E. Dunawin that application for pardon of husband will have attention of attorney general. Abraham Lincoln to Edward Bates, 20 April 1863, CW, 6:180.

Issues proclamation admitting West Virginia into Union. Proclamation Admitting West Virginia into the Union, 20 April 1863, CW, 6:181; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 21 April 1863, 2d ed., 2:3.

Delphy Carlin, of St. Louis, sees President and asks that son be so employed as to avoid facing in battle his brother in Confederate army. Carlin to Lincoln, 21 April 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President Lincoln gives a "full and unconditional pardon" to John Cunningham, who is serving eight years in prison after a Washington, D. C. court "convicted [him] on two indictments for assault with intent to kill." Lincoln notes that Cunningham "was but eighteen" when he committed the crime, and "his widowed mother is in distress for want of his supporting care." Further, "the inspectors of the penitentiary, the Mayor of Washington, and other citizens have petitioned me in his behalf." Pardon of John Cunningham, 20 April 1863, The Lincoln Museum, Ft. Wayne, IN.

President empowers Gen. Meade to commute death sentences by courtmartial to imprisonment on Dry Tortugas, Fla., for duration of war. War Dept. Special Order, 20 April 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Order Commuting Sentence of Deserters, 26 February 1864, CW, 7:208; Abraham Lincoln to George G. Meade, 21 April 1864, CW, 7:307.

Congressman Joseph Bailey (Pa.) confers with President on undisclosed matter. Bailey to Lincoln, 20 April 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Thomas H. Ford, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio under Governor Salmon P. Chase, and Captain Jasper K. Herbert converse with Lincoln for hour. Butler, Correspondence, 4:104.

President poses in White House office for photographs requested by Francis B. Carpenter. Frederick H. Meserve and Carl Sandburg, The Photographs of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1944), 20 April 1864.

Confers in afternoon with Gen. Grant, who returns to Army of Potomac tomorrow. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 21 April 1864, 2d ed., 2:4; Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, 2 vols. (London: Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1886), 2:141.