Lincoln is busy at his desk. He writes eight brief letters. "Pardon me for not writing a longer letter," he tells Henry Whitney. "I have a great many letters to write." One is to B. C. Cook of Ottawa, warning against nominating extreme abolitionists as candidates for Congress and legislature in that district. Others go to Gillespie, J. T. Eccles, and J. F. Alexander regarding speeches in their towns. Abraham Lincoln to Henry C. Whitney, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:534-35; Abraham Lincoln to Burton C. Cook, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:532-33; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Gillespie, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:533; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph T. Eccles, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:533; Abraham Lincoln to Jediah F. Alexander, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:532; Abraham Lincoln to Abraham Jonas, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:533-34; Abraham Lincoln to C. W. Michael and William Proctor, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:534; Abraham Lincoln to Lyman Porter, 2 August 1858, CW, 2:534.

Lincoln answers request of W. H. Grigsby for position in his office. "My partner, Mr. Herndon, controls our office in this respect, and I have known of his declining at least a dozen applications like yours within the last three months." He writes Daniel S. Dickinson of New York regarding Alfred Hyde, convict he met in spring of 1857 while Hyde was being taken to penitentiary at Alton. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Grigsby, 3 August 1858, CW, 2:535-36; Abraham Lincoln to Daniel S. Dickinson, 3 August 1858, CW, 2:535.

Lincoln is in town for several hours. During evening he talks politics with John M. Palmer. Carlinville Free Democrat, 5 August 1858; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Palmer, 5 August 1858, CW, 2:536.

Lincoln writes Palmer, promising to speak in Carlinville August 31, 1858. He also writes Dummer at Beardstown that he does not understand Republican party to be committed to "no more slave states." All "prefer" that there be no more, but many feel under obligation to admit slave states from Texas should any present themselves. Carlinville Free Democrat, 5 August 1858; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Palmer, 5 August 1858, CW, 2:536; Abraham Lincoln to Henry E. Dummer, 5 August 1858, CW, 2:536.

Mrs. Lincoln buy yard goods. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.

Lincoln writes briefly to Joseph O. Glover, mayor of Ottawa, on politics. Abraham Lincoln to Joseph O. Glover, 9 August 1858, CW, 2:537.

He writes regrets to his friend D. A. Cheever of Tremont, that previous engagement prevents acceptance of speaking invitation and suggests S. C. Parks of Lincoln as speaker. IU—Original.

He buys 10¢ plaster at his drug store. Pratt, Personal Finances, 152.

A newspaper correspondent in Springfield comments on Lincoln's popularity: "The old Whigs are rallying under him, whom they know to be a true and tried standard bearer, and the able opponent of Douglas." The correspondent adds, "Mr. Lincoln leaves to morrow evening for Beardstown, where he will throw some of his hot shot into the Douglas camp, and charge home upon the doughface. It will be the work of Lincoln to show the people the truth and to paint the dodger as he is." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 12 August 1858, 2:3.

Lincoln writes a letter to Albert Parker and remarks, "As to politics I am doing what I can for the cause. They have a meeting at Tremont on Saturday the 14th and I wish you would go down and mingle with your old friends upon that occasion." Abraham Lincoln to Albert Parker, 10 August 1858, CW, 2:538.

Lincoln writes to Alexander Sympson of Carthage that he will be at Augusta on 25. "Things look reasonably well. Will tell you more fully when I see you." He tells Daniel A. Cheever of New Hampshire that his latest Springfield speech has been printed, and sends 250 copies. If more are needed, he can write to J. O. Johnson in Springfield. Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Sympson, 11 August 1858, CW, 2:538; Abraham Lincoln to Daniel A. Cheever, 11 August 1858, CW, 8:415.

In the Sangamon County Circuit Court case of Caldwell v. Caldwell, Lincoln's client, George M. Caldwell, requests a dismissal of the divorce proceedings. The Court approves Caldwell's request. Caldwell filed for a divorce from Laura S. Caldwell claiming that their marriage "became . . . uneasy . . . unpleasant and annoying on account of the irratable fire & powder disposition of . . . Laura. Every thing was hot & full of nettles where she was. . . . [I]t is a 'manifest destiny' that . . . [the couple] cannot live together as husband & wife." Bill for Divorce, filed 31 May 1858, Caldwell v. Caldwell, IHi, Springfield, IL; Decree, 11 August 1858, Caldwell v. Caldwell, Record R 1858-1859, 108, Sangamon County Circuit Court, Illinois State Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL.

On evening train Lincoln goes to Naples on Illinois River, whence he can easily reach Beardstown next morning.

Lincoln arrives in the morning in Beardstown "on board the steamer Sam Gaty" from Naples, Illinois. A "procession of three or four hundred citizens...meet and escort" him as he travels by carriage to the National Hotel. Sometime after two o'clock in the afternoon, Lincoln, in his bid for a Senate seat against Stephen Douglas, delivers a two-hour campaign speech in the "public square" before an audience of between 2,500 to 3,000 people. A newspaper reports that Lincoln is scheduled to travel to Havana the next day "and thence to Peoria." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 17 August 1858, 2:4-5; Speech at Beardstown, Illinois, 12 August 1858, CW, 2:538-41.

Beardstown citizens give Lincoln sendoff as he takes passage for Havana. Arriving there in afternoon while Douglas is speaking, he is met at wharf by crowd and escorted to residence of Francis Law. Illinois State Journal, 20 August 1858; Chicago Tribune, 20 August 1858.

Lincoln takes stand at 2 P.M. and speaks for two hours. William Kellogg, congressman from district, follows him. "The day has been extremely warm, but delegations from quite a distance are here." Delegation from Bath asks Lincoln to speak there Monday, and he accepts. Illinois State Journal, 20 August 1858; Chicago Tribune, 20 August 1858; Speech at Havana, Illinois, 14 August 1858, CW, 2:541-43.

Lincoln, in his speech, reminisces. He calls attention to presence on platform of several men who were in same company with him in Black Hawk War, and reminds audience that 22 years ago he staked out town of Bath, then a wooded wilderness. Chicago Tribune, 21 August 1858.

"A large crowd assembled here to hear Lincoln today, and all pronounce it a good day's work." Illinois State Journal, 21 August 1858; Speech at Bath, Illinois, 16 August 1858, CW, 2:543-44.

At nine o'clock in the morning, a contingent of "one hundred horsemen" ride out to meet Lincoln who is coming from Bath to Lewistown to deliver a speech. A large crowd, enough to fill the "whole space in front of the Court House, extending the length of an entire block," gathers in anticipation. At two o'clock in the afternoon, William Kellogg, a Republican member of Illinois's congressional delegation, introduces Lincoln. Lincoln speaks for two and one half hours, and includes extracts "from the speeches and letters of Henry Clay." Lincoln criticizes his opponent Stephen A. Douglas for refusing to state his opinion clearly on the morality of slavery. When Lincoln finishes his speech, the crowd gives him "three great cheers." One report deems his arguments "the most powerful...ever heard in Old Fulton." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 21 August 1858, 2:3-4; Speech at Lewistown, Illinois, 17 August 1858, CW, 2:544-47.

Democratic correspondent chronicles Lincoln's arrival: "Mr. Lincoln arrived this evening, and took rooms at the Peoria House—he looks jaded. I take it he has no hope—he is evidently disappointed in the feeling here—he is to reply to Senator Douglas on tomorrow afternoon." Register, 23 August 1858.

[Mrs. Lincoln buys yard of linen. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.]

In the morning, the Republican Party holds a nominating convention at the Presbyterian Church in Augusta. The convention adjourns, and an audience of approximately 1,200 people gathers at "a beautiful grove in the suburbs of the town" to hear Lincoln deliver a speech. Lincoln begins speaking at around two o'clock in the afternoon, focusing his remarks on the slavery issue. In spite of the rainy weather, most of the audience stays to listen to the two-hour speech, "even the ladies, of whom there were a large number present, kept their seats till the speech was finished." In the evening, Lincoln speaks to an audience that fills the Macomb courthouse. A newspaper reports that Lincoln delivers his remarks in a relaxed manner, and that "his speech was more like an earnest conversation with his Old Whig friends." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 28 August 1858, 1:2; The Augusta Eagle (IL), 8 December 1932, 1:1-2; The Plymouth Locomotive (IL), 28 August 1858, 2:1-2; Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Sympson (copy), 11 August 1858, copy files, IHi, Springfield, IL; Speech at Augusta, Illinois, 25 August 1858, CW, 3:37-38.

Lincoln checks out of Randolph Hotel at Macomb in morning. Randolph Hotel Room Book.

Before leaving town, T. P. Pearson, photographer, makes ambrotype of him. ISLA—Statement of Jacob Thompson.

In afternoon he goes to Amboy where he makes short speech and stays night. ISLA—Letter of Charles E. Ives, 7 February 1927.

John Hay has Lincoln staying the night in Mendota. An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln, 45—Conversation with Norman B. Judd, 28 February 1876.