Lincoln signs petition to Macon County Commissioner's Court asking change of polling place, with 44 other "qualified voters," although he is not yet qualified to vote.Petition to Macon County Commissioners' Court, 26 May 1830, CW, 1:2.

Gen. Whiteside's army arrives at Ottawa and mustering out begins. Regiment to which Lincoln's company is attached marches 20 miles and encamps two miles above mouth of Fox River.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; Taylor to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

At suggestion of Col. Taylor, Gov. Reynolds calls for re-enlistment of five or six companies to serve until new levies arrive. Taylor to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Reynolds to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Lincoln draws up a contingent fee agreement between John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan, Edward D. Baker, and himself with Mary Anderson and her son Richard. In Wright et al. v. Adams, a bill in chancery case, the Andersons along with Joel Wright sue James Adams in the Sangamon County Circuit Court. According to the agreement, the attorneys are to have one-half of a ten-acre tract if they successfully sue Adams. The case becomes the basis for a controversy involving Lincoln, Logan, and Adams that culminates with Logan's libel suit against Adams, Logan v. Adams.Photocopy.

Young v. Cox, action to collect on note, Lincoln for defendant, is lost when plaintiff is awarded $154.99, plus costs, after defendant withdraws pleas. Record.

In Ex parte Finley and Black, Hannah Finley and Jacob Black, Jr., the administrators of Alvin Finley, deceased, petition to sell real estate. Lincoln signs answer (written in another hand) as guardian ad litem of Mary Elizabeth Finley, infant heir of Alvin Finley, and the judge grants permission to the administrators to sell real estate. Photocopy.

[Ninth issue of The Old Soldier is published. Old Soldier (Springfield, IL), Issue 9, 26 May 1840.]

Lincoln writes affidavit for defendant in Vest v. Williams et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In the Coles County Circuit Court, Lincoln represents William B. White in Moore v. White. The plaintiff James V. Moore asks the court to continue the case until the next term, and the court grants the continuance. At Lincoln's request, the court orders Moore to provide a bond for costs. Order, 26 May 1842, Moore v. White, Court Record 1, 430, Coles County Circuit Court, Coles County Courthouse, Charleston, IL.

[Spring term of Moultrie Circuit Court begins.]

Lincoln learns from sheriff of Warren County that William Trailor left no property to be sold at auction to pay legal fee granted to Logan & Lincoln on November 19, 1845. Record.

[Lincoln's name does not appear on roll call.Globe.]

[Spring term of Moultrie Circuit Court begins.]

In the Shelby County Circuit Court, Lincoln files the affidavit of Marshall F. Elam in support of a motion for a continuance in the case of People v. Noland et al. Elam is one of twelve defendants indicted for rioting in conjunction with an assault on German Alderson. Affidavit of Marshall F. Elam, 26 May 1852, People v. Noland et al.; Indictment, May 1852, People v. Noland et al., case file, both in Shelby County Circuit Court, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL.

In evening Lincoln receives letter from G. B. Kinkead of Lexington, Ky., forwarded from Springfield by N. W. Edwards, which informs him that Oldham & Hemingway, surviving partners of Oldham, Todd & Co. of Lexington, have entered suit against Lincoln, Edwards, and Kinkead in Fayette Circuit Court, Ky. Their charge against Lincoln is that he failed to account for $472.54 he collected for them. Abraham Lincoln to George B. Kinkead, 27 May 1853, CW, 2:194-95.

Of 11 cases in which Lincoln & Lamon have been retained, one comes to trial, Abdill v. Maxwell, assumpsit, in which court finds against defendant, their client, ordering that plaintiff have judgment for amount of note sued on, and interest. Record.

Lincoln drafts four promissory notes in favor of John Villars and mortgage to secure them, which Peter R. Leonard signs. Photocopy.

He writes four notes to Villars, which Leonard signs. He writes, signs, and files defendant's plea in Foster v. Prather. Photocopy.

Lincoln has busy day in court. Three of his cases are tried before court, and every verdict is in favor of his clients. In fourth case defendant defaults, and Lincoln obtains judgment for $114.70. Three other cases are dismissed by agreement. Record.

Lincoln writes defendant's plea in Jones & Culbertson v. William Allen, signing "Lincoln & Lamon p.d." Photocopy.

[Someone has broken shaft on Lincoln's buggy at home, and new shaft is attached for $1.50. Obed Lewis Account Books.]

Court tries Parris v. Littler (Lincoln and Lamon for defendant) and awards plaintiff $35 and costs. Clapp v. Turner & Lamon, in which they represent defendant, is settled by agreement, plaintiff obtaining judgment for $216.14 and costs. In Selsor v. Lamon & Turner, they enter appearance of defendants but make no defense. Court awards plaintiffs damages of $324.67. Illinois State Journal, 26 May 1856.

Lincoln writes indictment in People v. Tucker, signing "Lamon atty pro tem." Original owned by King Hostick, Springfield, Ill.

Lincoln files declarations in three cases in U.S. Circuit Court: Anderson, Lamoureux & Co. v. Robinson (see June 23, 1858); Hamilton v. Cooper (see June 19, 1858); and S. C. Davis & Co. v. Monical & Son. Nonpayment of promissory notes and bill of exchange is alleged, and damages of $4,000, $3,000, and $1,200 respectively are sought. Files.

Lincoln & Herndon present Nicholas H. Ridgely with fee bill for $450—"to services in the Gas Light Works and in defending the same at Law vs. Gibson." "We may want to draw on you to get the money in a day or two." Photocopy.

Robert buys 10 pounds of sugar at Smith's. Pratt, Personal Finances, 157.

Lincoln writes letters in reply to congratulations. He is optimistic: "So far as I can learn, the nominations start well everywhere; and, if they get no back-set, it would seem as if they are going through." He writes briefly to Salmon P. Chase, Cassius M. Clay, Schuyler Colfax, Caleb B. Smith, Trumbull, and Washburne. He tells S. Wells Cone of Kansas that he expects "to be at home constantly for some weeks." More to the point, he writes Leonard Swett approving his activities in smoothing factional differences. He tells David Davis about Weed's visit, and drafts letter for Davis to write, sign, and send to Pennsylvania Republicans Davis dealt with at Chicago, as Lincoln's platform for campaign. Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:53; Abraham Lincoln to Cassius M. Clay, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:53-54; Abraham Lincoln to Schuyler Colfax, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:54; Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:55; Abraham Lincoln to Lyman Trumbull, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:55-56; Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:56; Abraham Lincoln to S. Wells Cone, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:54; Abraham Lincoln to Leonard Swett, 26 May 1860, CW, 4:55; Photocopy.

President directs Sec. Cameron to have Col. Max Einstein's 27th Pennsylvania Regiment mustered into service. Abraham Lincoln to Simon Cameron, 26 May 1861, CW, 4:386.

President remarks to Sen. Browning (Ill.) that Gen. Banks is over Potomac at Williamsport, Md., in good order. Browning, Diary.

Replies to resolution of censure by Congress. Exonerates former Sec. Cameron and states "that not only the President but all the other heads of departments were at least equally responsible with him for whatever error, wrong, or fault was committed in the premises." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 26 May 1862, CW, 5:240-43.

Takes military possession of all railroads in U.S. National Intelligencer, 26 May 1862.

"Library of the Executive Mansion" orders books from W. F. Richstein: "1 Pearls of Ord Island $1.25, 1 Agnes of Sorrento $1.25." [Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Pearl of Orr's Island, Boston, 1862; Agnes of Sorrento, Boston, 1862.] Pratt, Personal Finances, 180.

Lincoln reports to Gen. McClellan: "We have Genl Banks official report. He has saved his army & baggage & has made a safe retreat to the river & is probably safe at Williamsport. He reports the attacking force at fifteen thousand (15000)." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 26 May 1862, CW, 5:239.

Telegraphs McClellan: "Can you not cut the Acquia Creek Railroad also? What impression have you, as to intrenchments—works—for you to contend with in front of Richmond? Can you get near enough to throw shells into the city?" Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 26 May 1862, CW, 5:239-40.

President Lincoln writes to Illinois Congressman Isaac N. Arnold, who had criticized General Halleck Henry W. Halleck, who oversees the Union military. Arnold claimed that the public had "lost . . . confidence" in Halleck, and many believed that Halleck's "hostility" caused other generals to leave "public service." Lincoln replies, "I am compelled to take a more impartial and unprejudiced view of things. Without claiming to be your superior, which I do not, my position enables me to understand my duty in all these matters better than you possibly can, and I hope you do not yet doubt my integrity." Isaac N. Arnold to Abraham Lincoln, 18 May 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.; Abraham Lincoln to Isaac N. Arnold, 26 May 1863, CW, 6:230-31.

There seems to be a "kind of council of war" in session at White House. Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Cabinet discusses release of man condemned as spy. Welles, Diary.

President discusses pay of Negro chaplains with Attorney General Edward Bates and Senator Charles Sumner (Mass.). Bates, Diary.

Secretary of State William H. Seward arranges 11:30 A.M. appointment for Baron von Gerolt with President. Seward to Lincoln, 24 May 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President recognizes John Hitz as consul general of Swiss Confederation at Washington. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 30 May 1864, 2d ed., 1:5-6.