Lincoln represents Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Co. in three cases in U.S. Circuit Court on first day of term. Three different plaintiffs, Henry Hotchkiss, New Haven County Bank, and Brown et al. file declarations alleging debts of $50,000, $101,870 and $252,143.66 respectively. Lincoln files pleas on behalf of railroad. Record.

Lincoln appears in U.S. Circuit Court again in connection with railroad finances. This time Herndon files declaration of Bacon, plaintiff. Lincoln enters appearance of Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Co., defendant, and files their note and power of attorney to confess judgment. He then confesses indebtedness of $312,133.35 with interest of $256.54. Record.

Lincoln writes legal opinion on pre-emption question for Illinois Central. Opinion on Pre-emption of Public Land, 6 March 1856, CW, 2:333-35.

Lincoln, representing William Wilson, defendant, files demurrer in United States v. Wilson in U.S. Circuit Court. Beatty v. Linville, Lincoln for defendant, is decided by court against defendant and damages of $414.21 are assessed and $16.95 costs. Record.

Lincoln and William J. Allen, district attorney, argue demurrer in Wilson case. Court takes question under advisement. Record.

Lincoln has injunction case in U.S. Court, Doyle et al. v. Lewis et al. Lincoln and Logan for plaintiffs and Stuart and Edwards for defendants argue defendants' demurrer. Again court withholds its opinion. Record.

Court overrules Lincoln's demurrer in Wilson case and gives him permission to file pleas, which he does. Record.

In U.S. Circuit Court, juries award damages in three cases against Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad in which Lincoln appeared March 3, 1856. Hotchkiss is awarded $50,000 and damages of $1,496.55; the New Haven County Bank $101,873.40 and damages of $5,557.93; Brown et al. $252,145.73 and damages of $5,379.03. In United States v. Wilson, Lincoln and Allen argue plaintiff's demurrer. Record.

In U.S. Circuit Court Lincoln loses United States v. Wilson. Jury finds defendant indebted to plaintiff for $5,000 and damages of $5,000, but court orders debt discharged on payment of damages only. In Sangamon Circuit Court, Lincoln & Herndon have 19 cases. Three defendants default, and other cases are continued. Record.

Taylor v. Humphries, continued from July 10, 1855, is tried by jury in U.S. Circuit Court. Lincoln and Taylor represent plaintiff, Logan defendant. Verdict of jury, which Lincoln writes, finds plaintiff owner of premises in question and assesses his damages at one cent. Record; Files.

In Sangamon Circuit Court, Lincoln & Herndon obtain judgments in five cases. Record.