Cabinet meeting—"nothing proposed and nothing done of any moment." Salmon P. Chase, Diary and Correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Compiled by Samuel H. Dodson, American Historical Association, Annual Report for the Year 1902, vol. 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903).

President directs secretary of war to issue order for arrest of persons engaged in discouraging enlistments. Memorandum, 8 August 1862, Edwin M. Stanton Papers, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

Senator Dixon (Conn.) confers with Lincoln about Connecticut politics. Dixon to Lincoln, 11 August 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln assures Baron de Stoeckl that although enlistments are slow, two or three million men will respond in case of necessity. Albert A. Woldman, Lincoln and the Russians (Cleveland: World Publishing Co., 1952), 196.

Sends congratulations to Queen Victoria upon marriage of daughter. Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria, 8 August 1862, CW, 5:363.

In evening at Soldiers' Home Mrs. Heintzelman discusses with Lincoln her husband's opposition to withdrawal of Army of Potomac from peninsula. Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[John Hay is ill with ague fever. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 August 1862, 2d ed., 2:2.]

Lincoln thanks son of Henry Clay for snuffbox that belonged to "your great and patriotic father." Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clay, 9 August 1862, CW, 5:363-64.

Suggests to Sec. Stanton that "Rafael Repeater" be brought to attention of Ordnance Bureau. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 9 August 1862, CW, 5:365.

President Lincoln writes to the Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles regarding an age requirement affecting the appointment of William F. Hall. Lincoln writes, "It is said to be a mistake of a clerk that Midshipmen, when appointed must be between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, where-as Congress actually voted "between fourteen and eighteen." Lincoln approves Hall's appointment "with the understanding that I may require him to resign if Congress, at the next session does not correct this mistake." Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 9 August 1862, Private Collection.

In conference with President, Judge Wright offers to lead Negro regiments into battle. N.Y. Tribune, 11 August 1862.

President authorizes Gov. Stanly (N.C.) to order election of representatives in Congress for 1st and 2nd districts. N.Y. Tribune, 22 August 1862.

Announces names of seven candidates selected for admission to Naval Academy. Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 21 August 1862, CW, 5:387-88.

Refuses request of Mrs. Margaret Preston, probably to go through Union lines to see husband Gen. William C. Preston (CSA), but authorizes Gen. Jeremiah T. Boyle and James Guthrie, former secretary of treasury, to grant request at their discretion. Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Margaret Preston, 21 August 1862, CW, 5:386.

Archbishop Hughes attended by Secretary of State William H. Seward pays a morning visit to White House. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 23 August 1862, 2d ed., 2:1.

Lincoln answers Horace Greeley's editorial, "The Prayer of Twenty Millions": "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it." Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley, 22 August 1862, CW, 5:388-89; National Intelligencer, 23 August 1862; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 23 August 1862, 2d ed., 2:1.

Lincoln informs Secretary of State Gideon Welles that a record is kept of recruits answering late call. Over 18,000 reached Washington in one week. Welles, Diary.

Mrs. Gabriel R. Paul urges Lincoln to promote her husband to brigadier general. "She is a saucy woman and I am afraid she will keep tormenting till I may have to do it." Memorandum: Appointment of Gabriel R. Paul, 23 August 1862, CW, 5:390-91.

Gen. Stone applies to President for explanation of his arrest. Committee on Conduct of War, Report (1863), 2:500.

Dr. Orestes A. Brownson, editor of "Brownson's Review," discusses questions of emancipation and colonization with President. Lincoln selects Sen. Pomeroy (Kans.) for commissioner of African colonization. N.Y. Tribune, 25 August 1862.

President interviews Col. George Crook representing Irish regiment being organized in Pennsylvania. Stuart to Lincoln, 24 August 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Addresses two letters of congratulation to Queen Isabel II of Spain on births in family. Abraham Lincoln to Isabel II, 25 August 1862, CW, 5:392; Abraham Lincoln to Isabel II, 25 August 1862, CW, 5:393.

At cabinet meeting "general feeling over public affairs was decidedly more hopeful than for some time past." Boston Advertiser, 28 August 1862.

Lincoln makes several trips to telegraph office during day, and after supper goes prepared to stay all night for latest news from Gen. Pope at front and Gen. McClellan at Alexandria, Va. Bates, Telegraph Office, 118.

Personally pays $124.25 of White House bills for books amounting to $250. Pratt, Personal Finances, 181; Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin B. French, 26 August 1862, CW, 5:394.

Congs. Lovejoy (Ill.) and Frederick A. Conkling (N.Y.) confer with Lincoln on patronage. Memorandum: Appointment of Marshall B. Blake, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:396; Memorandum: Appointment of John B. Colton, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:396.

President declares intention to enforce recent acts of Congress relative to confiscation and emancipation. National Intelligencer, 27 August 1862.

Exchanges communications with military officers on active duty at Falmouth, Manassas, and Alexandria, Va. Abraham Lincoln to Ambrose E. Burnside, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:395; Abraham Lincoln to Herman Haupt, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:395; Abraham Lincoln to Herman Haupt, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:395; Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 27 August 1862, CW, 5:396.

Lincoln summons Secs. Chase and Stanton to White House for early morning conference. Boston Advertiser, 30 August 1862.

Chase calls on President in morning to get furlough for friend. Official Records—Armies 455.

Ministers of Central American governments protest colonization of Negroes on Isthmus of Chiriqui. N.Y. Tribune, 29 August 1862.

Delegation submits proposition to Lincoln to divide 4th District, New York City. White to Chase, 29 August 1862, Salmon P. Chase Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln confers with Gen. Halleck on troop movements in Virginia. Boston Advertiser, 30 August 1862.

President and cabinet discuss Chiriqui colonization project and decide to abandon it. Philadelphia News, 2 September 1862.

Lincoln maintains close contact with military developments in vicinity of Manassas, Va. Abraham Lincoln to Ambrose E. Burnside, 29 August 1862, CW, 5:398-99; Abraham Lincoln to Herman Haupt, 29 August 1862, CW, 5:399; Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 29 August 1862, CW, 5:399.

Mrs. Lincoln visits soldiers in Odd Fellows' Hall Hospital. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 29 August 1862, 2d ed., 3:1.

Lincoln continues to collect latest news about fighting in neighborhood of Bull Run. David H. Bates, Lincoln Stories Told by him in the Military Office in the War Department during the Civil War (New York: Rudge, 1926), 34; Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel P. Banks, 30 August 1862, CW, 5:400; Abraham Lincoln to Herman Haupt, 30 August 1862, CW, 5:400-1; Abraham Lincoln to Herman Haupt, 30 August 1862, CW, 5:401.

Reveals peculiarities of Gen. Halleck to John Hay while riding to White House from Soldiers' Home. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Dismisses 12 officers of 71st Ohio Regiment who advised Col. Rodney Mason to surrender Clarksville, Tenn. N.Y. Tribune, 30 August 1862.

Considers at length indictment of Gen. McClellan prepared by Sec. Stanton and signed by Secs. Chase and Smith and Atty. Gen. Bates. Decides not to relieve McClellan of command under accusations. Flower, Stanton, 176-79.

"The President is very outspoken in regard to McClellan's present conduct. He said it really seemed to him that McClellan wanted Pope defeated." Hay, Letters and Diary.

President Lincoln is staying at his cottage at the Soldier's Home, outside of Washington, D.C. At approximately 8 a.m., he confers with his secretary John Hay about the ongoing Second Battle of Bull Run. Hay recalled that Lincoln remarked, "'Well John we are whipped again, I am afraid. The enemy reinforced on [General John] Pope and drove back his left wing and he has retired to Centerville [Virginia] where he says he will be able to hold his men. I dont like that expression. I dont like to hear him admit that his men need holding.'" Michael Burlingame and John R. Turner Ettlinger, eds., Inside Lincoln's White House: The Complete Civil War Diary of John Hay (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1997), 36-38; John Pope to Henry W. Halleck, 30 August 1862, 9:45 p.m., The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1885; reprint, Gettysburg, PA: National Historical Society, 1972), volume 12, part 2: 78-79.

Sunday morning Cabinet meets to discuss outcome of Second Manassas (Bull Run). Boston Advertiser, 5 September 1862.

Sec. Chase interviews President regarding appointments. Official Records—Armies 456.