President decides to call into military service 300,000 volunteers and urges governors of 17 states and military board of Kentucky to furnish their quotas. Call for 300,000 Volunteers, 1 July 1862, CW, 5:296-97.

After breakfast discusses confiscation bills with Sen. Browning (Ill.) at White House. Browning, Diary.

Approves act providing for internal revenue tax of 3 per cent on incomes in excess of $600 for support of government and payment of interest on public debt. Stat. L., XII, 432.

[Irwin withdraws $2 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 177.]

President Lincoln writes to Major General George B. McClellan, who, the day prior, wrote to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and requested "very large reinforcements." Lincoln responds, "It is impossible to re-inforce you for your present emergency. If we had a million of men we could not get them to you in time. . . . If you are not strong enough to face the enemy you must find a place of security, and wait, rest, and repair. Maintain your ground if you can; but save the Army at all events." George B. McClellan to Edwin M. Stanton, 30 June 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 1 July 1862, CW, 5:298.

Proclaims real estate taxes plus penalty of 50 per cent to be lien on property in rebellious states. Proclamation Concerning Taxes in Rebellious States, 1 July 1862, CW, 5:298-99.

Recommends to Congress that Capt. Andrew H. Foote (USN) receive vote of thanks. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 1 July 1862, CW, 5:299.

President announces signing of treaty of commerce with Ottoman Empire. National Intelligencer, 6 August 1862.

Cong. George W. Julian (Ind.) discusses military outlook with President. Rice, 54.

In conference with Sec. Stanton on subject of fugitive Negroes President decides that by law they cannot be sent back to masters, should not be allowed to starve, should be given work and paid reasonable wages. Butler, Correspondence, 2:41-42.

Signs number of important bills; among them, Act to Prohibit Polygamy in Utah, and Pacific Railroad Act. Boston Advertiser, 21 July 1862; N.Y. Tribune, 3 July 1862.

Reads Gen. McClellan's dispatches to Sen. Browning (Ill.) at White House. Browning, Diary.

Approves Morrill Land Grant College Act donating public lands to states and territories providing colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts. Stat. L., XII, 503.

Again writes Gen. Halleck that reinforcements would be welcome but not at cost of delaying Chattanooga expedition. Asks if Halleck could "make me a flying visit." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 2 July 1862, CW, 5:300-1.

Informs McClellan that "the idea of sending you fifty thousand, or any other considerable force promptly, is simply absurd. . . . Save the Army, . . . and I will strengthen it for the offensive again, as fast as I can." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 2 July 1862, CW, 5:301-2.

Returns to Senate unapproved bill for additional medical officers because it is superseded by approved bill. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 2 July 1862, CW, 5:302.

President telegraphs governors of loyal states: "If I had fifty thousand additional troops here now, I believe I could substantially close the war in two weeks." Abraham Lincoln to Union Governors, 3 July 1862, CW, 5:304.

Telegraphs Gen. McClellan: "All accounts say better fighting was never done. Ten thousand thanks for it." Help should come soon from Gens. Burnside and Hunter, but not from Gen. Halleck. Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 3 July 1862, CW, 5:303-4.

General Marcy interviews President and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to press General George B. McClellan's plea for reinforcements. Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 4 July 1862, CW, 5:305-6.

Soldiers of War of 1812 assemble in Post Office Dept. at 11 A.M. and march to White House to pay their respects. Lincoln replies to remarks of Col. William W. Seaton, president of Association of Surviving Soldiers of War of 1812 and editor of Washington Intelligencer. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 5 July 1862, 2d ed., 3:1; N.Y. Tribune, 7 July 1862.

Asks General Henry W. Halleck at Corinth, Miss., to send 10,000 infantry if it can be done without changing any plans. "Some part of the Corinth Army is certainly fighting McClellan in front of Richmond. Prisoners are in our hands from the late Corinth Army." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 4 July 1862, CW, 5:305.

Meets train of ambulances on road to Soldiers' Home and rides along some distance talking to casualties from peninsular campaign. N.Y. Tribune, 8 July 1862.

At Soldiers' Home in evening reviews recent military actions around Richmond with General Meigs and Henry H. Sibley, former governor of Minnesota. Extracts from Meigs Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President and military party leave Washington aboard U.S.S. "Ariel" at early hour to visit Gen. McClellan with Army of Potomac at Harrison's Landing, Va. Nicolay to Bates, 13 July 1862, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; N.Y. Tribune, 10 July 1862.

Senators Lyman Trumbull (Ill.) and James R. Doolittle (Wis.) interview Lincoln regarding appointments. Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln, 18 July 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase, 18 July 1862, CW, 5:332.

[Mrs. Lincoln, Robert, and Tad return to Washington from their northern tour. National Republican (Washington, DC), 21 July 1862, 2:2.]

Delegation of Senators waits upon President and full cabinet and endorses policy of subsisting troops on enemy, using slaves indiscriminately, and pushing war forward without delay, negotiation, or parley. N.Y. Tribune, 21 July 1862.

Gen. Dix, invited by President to take charge of exchange of prisoners, arrives in evening and leaves following day. Stanton to McClellan, 20 July 1862, George B. McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

At morning cabinet meeting President discusses proposed military action and slavery. 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).

Lincoln telegraphs Gen. McClellan: "This is Monday, I hope to be able to tell you on Thursday, what is to be done with Burnside." Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 21 July 1862, CW, 5:334.

Orders that subjects of foreign powers "cannot be required to take an oath of allegiance to this Government, . . . All such obligations heretofore taken are, therefore, remitted and annulled." Order Concerning Subjects of Foreign Powers, 21 July 1862, CW, 5:334-35.

Directs Sec. Welles to investigate dismissal of Asst. Prof. William R. Hopkins from naval school, and to restore him to his place if he is loyal. Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, 21 July 1862, CW, 5:335-36.

Cabinet in session. Discussion of previous day on slavery continues. President reads first draft of Emancipation Proclamation, to become effective January 1, 1863, and at Secretary of State William H. Seward's suggestion agrees to withhold announcement until a military victory is obtained. 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); Randall, Lincoln, 2:155; Emancipation Proclamation—First Draft, [22 July 1862], CW, 5:336-38.

Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton favors decisive blow to slavery as an all-important war measure over opposition to Lincoln and cabinet. Flower, Stanton, 185.

The efficiency of Gen. McClellan is talked over in cabinet. Flower, Stanton, 172.

Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase consults with President and urges McClellan's removal. Note, 22 July 1862, George B. McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

General Randolph B. Marcy confers with President and Secretary of War Stanton before returning to James River camp. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 23 July 1862, 2d ed., 2:2.

By order of President, Secretary of War Stanton issues Executive Order providing: 1. Military commanders may seize and use real or personal property in rebel States for military purposes. 2. Military and naval commanders may employ as laborers persons of African descent, giving them reasonable wages for their labors. 3. Accounts of property of all kinds taken from owners shall be kept as basis for proper compensation. National Intelligencer, 16 August 1862.

President grants Secretary of War Stanton "liberty to take the proper steps" to enroll militia of the several states and to draft men therefrom to fill old regiments. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 22 July 1862, CW, 5:338-39.

President, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and General Henry W. Halleck hold extended conference in War Department. Generals John Pope and Ambrose E. Burnside attend part of meeting. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 23 July 1862, 2d ed., 2:2.

Borrows from Library of Congress "Longfellow's Hiawatha, Shakespeare, IV., Neills Minnesota." [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, Boston, 1855; Edward Duffield Neill, The History of Minnesota; from the Earliest French Explorers to the Present Time, Philadelphia, 1858.] Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sen. Browning (Ill.) at White House in morning studies maps with Lincoln, who points out importance of having Mississippi River opened. Sec. Seward comes in. Browning, Diary.

President interviews Bronson Murray of Connecticut (formerly of Illinois) relative to appointment. Abraham Lincoln to James Dixon, 24 July 1862, CW, 5:339.

Tells some two dozen persons waiting to see him in the hall outside his office, "You all want to see me on business; it is a matter of no importance to me whether I spend my time with half a dozen or with the whole of you, but it is of importance to you. Therefore, when you come in, please don't stay long." Evening Star (Washington, DC), 25 July 1862, 3d ed., 2:1.

Attends school program at Smithsonian Institution and hands out awards. Allen C. Clark, Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital (Washington, DC: W. F. Roberts Co., 1925), 40-41.

Receives word of former President Martin Van Buren's death. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 24 July 1862, 2d ed., 3:5.

President at War Dept. in morning discusses opening of Mississippi River with Sec. Stanton. Sec. Chase drops in during meeting. Stanton recommends sending Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel to clear the river. Warden, Chase, 441.

President proclaims "An act to suppress insurrection . . .," approved July 17, 1862. National Intelligencer, 26 July 1862; Proclamation of the Act to Suppres Insurrection, 25 July 1862, CW, 5:341-42.

President Lincoln addresses the approximately twenty-five people who line up outside of his office. Lincoln advises, "You all want to see me on business; it is a matter of no importance to me whether I spend my time with half a dozen or with the whole of you, but it is of importance to you. Therefore, when you come in, please don't stay long." Evening Star (Washington, DC), 25 July 1862, 2:1.

President Lincoln orders the "Executive Mansion and the several Executive Departments, excepting those of War and the Navy, be immediately placed in mourning, and all business be suspended during to morrow." Lincoln issues the order as "a mark of respect for" former President Martin Van Buren, who died on July 24, at Kinderhook, New York. Order for Observance of Death of Martin Van Buren, 25 July 1862, CW, 5:340-41; Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), 26 July 1862, 3:3.

Discusses with Mitchel plans for opening Mississippi. Warden, Chase, 441.

In evening at Soldiers' Home has conversation with Sen. Browning (Ill.) on public affairs. Browning, Diary.

Sen. Browning (Ill.) visits White House in morning to say goodbye to President. Browning, Diary.

Lincoln writes to Maryland's U.S. Senator Reverdy Johnson, who is monitoring Louisiana's situation. Johnson reported that Louisiana residents resent Union General John Phelps's attempts to organize black troops. Lincoln responds, "[I]t is their own fault . . . that they are annoyed by the presence of . . . Phelps. . . . They . . . know the way to avert all this is simply to take their place in the Union upon the old terms. . . . I am a patient man—always willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance . . . Still I must save this government if possible. . . . I shall not surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed." Reverdy Johnson to Abraham Lincoln, 16 July 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Reverdy Johnson, 26 July 1862, CW, 5:342-44; Benjamin F. Butler, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, 5 vols., (Norwood, MA: Plimpton Press, 1917), 2:145.

Gen. Mitchel reports to President his plans for opening Mississippi River. Official Records—Armies 441.

Sec. Chase in conference with Lincoln discusses financial reasons for removing Gen. McClellan, hopes Gen. Halleck will approve sending Gen. Mitchel to open Mississippi River, suggests giving sculptor Thomas D. Jones consulate in Italy, and comments on draft of letter addressed to Cuthbert Bullitt, Louisiana Unionist. Official Records—Armies 442.

President at War Dept. for 10 A.M. conference with Gens. Halleck and Burnside. They consider recommendation of Gen. Keyes that Army of Potomac be withdrawn from James River base unless it is reinforced by 100,000 men. Browning, Diary; Diary, Montgomery C. Meigs Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln discloses attitude toward prosecuting war in letter to C. Bullitt: "What would you do in my position? Would you drop the war where it is? Or, would you prosecute it in future, with elder-stalk squirts, charged with rose water? . . . I am in no boastful mood. I shall not do more than I can, and I shall do all I can to save the government, which is my sworn duty as well as my personal inclination. I shall do nothing in malice. What I deal with is too vast for malicious dealing." Abraham Lincoln to Cuthbert Bullitt, 28 July 1862, CW, 5:344-46.

Announces signing of treaty with Ottawa Indians of Kansas. National Intelligencer, 31 July 1862.

Appoints Chief Clerk Charles E. Mix to be acting commissioner of Indian affairs during absence of Commissioner Dole. Appointment of Charles E. Mix, 28 July 1862, CW, 5:346.

Writes Gov. Gamble (Mo.): "You ask four Regiments for Gen. Schofield, and he asks the same of the Sec. of War. Please raise them for me, as I have them not, nor can have, till some governor gives them to me." Abraham Lincoln to Hamilton R. Gamble, 28 July 1862, CW, 5:347.

Sends note to Sec. Stanton: "Sec. of War, please put Bob [Lincoln] on the way to find where John Reed of Co. C, 11 Mass. may be found." Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 28 July 1862, CW, 5:347.

President answers suggestion in letter addressed to August Belmont, New York financier, that "Mr. Lincoln must take a decisive course" as to restoration of Union. Lincoln writes that such a course is declared "in the inaugural, in each of two regular messages to Congress, and in many, if not all, the minor documents issued by the Executive since the inauguration." Those in rebellious states "must understand that they cannot experiment for ten years trying to destroy the government, and if they fail still come back into the Union unhurt. If they expect . . . to ever have the Union as it was, I join with the writer in saying 'Now is the time'." Abraham Lincoln to August Belmont, 31 July 1862, CW, 5:350-51.