Lincoln Ami's SOA Today's Date in Lincoln's Life

September 29, 1862

Washington D.C.

J. W. Forney interviews Lincoln on probable effects of Emancipation Proclamation and suspension of writ of habeas corpus.
In afternoon at White House Lincoln reviews 145th New York Regiment.
Congratulates Gov. Stanly (N.C.) on conduct as military governor and expresses wish that "North Carolina may again govern herself conformably to the constitution of the United States."
Submits to Sec. Stanton subject of collision in ministering among Negroes about Port Royal. "A real christian charity, and forbearance on the part of all might obviate it."
 
September 30, 1859

Milwaukee, Wisc.

Lincoln is introduced to his audience by president of Wisconsin Agricultural Society. He delivers address which newspapers call "dignified and impressive."
 
Wednesday October 1, 1862

Harpers Ferry, Virginia


At 6 A.M. President and party leave on special train to visit headquarters of Army of Potomac and battlefields in vicinity of Antietam, Md. Party consists of Gen. McClernand, Capt. Wright Rives of McClernand's staff, Marshal Lamon, Ozias M. Hatch, Illinois politician, John W. Garrett, president of B. & O. Railroad, and others. Arrives Harper's Ferry at noon. Maj. Lawrence Kip and Capt. Samuel S. Sumner escort President to Gen. Sumner's headquarters. In afternoon Gen. McClellan arrives from camp and with President reviews troops at Bolivar Heights. Lincoln spends night in Harper's Ferry.
 
Thursday October 2, 1862

General McClellan's Headquarters

In morning President and Gen. Sumner review troops at Loudoun Heights and Maryland Heights. President leaves Harper's Ferry at noon. Arrives headquarters, Army of Potomac, too late in day to review troops. Occupies tent for night next to Gen. McClellan's headquarters. Second Cavalry band serenades President.
Lincoln tabulates union troops at Antietam, Md., for total of 88,095.

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Friday October 3, 1862

McClellan's Headquarters

At sunrise President and O. M. Hatch walk to nearby hilltop. Surveying army camp, Lincoln comments: "This is General McClellan's bodyguard." During morning reviews Gen. Burnside's corps and cavalry near Antietam battleground. At midday President and McClellan ride in ambulances three miles to Bakersville, Maryland, for review of cavalry and troops of Gen. Fitz John Porter's and Gen. Franklin's corps. On three-mile ride Marshal Lamon sings several comic ballads [which later result in much public criticism of President]. Lincoln poses for half-dozen group pictures. Again sleeps in tent next to McClellan's headquarters.
Asks Gen. Halleck if cartel to prevent use of paroled prisoners prohibits using them for fighting Indians. Paroled prisoner may not discharge any duties of a soldier.
During the course of the week, Mrs. Lincoln distributes more than one thousand pounds of grapes to the wounded and sick in hospitals in Washington.
 
Saturday October 4, 1862

McClellan's Hq

President and Gen. McClellan visit wounded in vicinity of headquarters. At Sharpsburg, Md., (Antietam) Lincoln visits "Fighting Dick" (Gen. Israel B.) Richardson who lies mortally wounded in farmhouse. At noon they ride to South Mountain battleground and conclude their survey.
Enthusiastic reception with signal guns and parade welcomes President to Frederick about 4:45 P.M. He goes to residence of Mrs. Ramsey to see Gen. George L. Hartsuff who is ill from wounds received at Antietam.
Addresses brief remarks to crowd assembled in front of house. About five minutes later speaks to crowd at railway station. At 10 P.M. special train bearing Presidential party arrives in Washington.
 
Tuesday October 5, 1858

Peoria,IL.

Lincoln leaves Peoria on steamer Nile at 10 A.M. and arrive at Pekin at 11. Procession escorts them to residence of J. Wagonseller. In afternoon Lincoln is escorted to town square. Introduced by Judge Bush, he speaks most of afternoon. Kellogg speaks in evening while Lincoln travels. He returns to Peoria on steamer Minnesota, which stopped at Pekin so Capt. Detweiller and crew could hear speech. Learning that Lincoln is bound for Peoria, captain insists on taking him. "The steamer had no sooner left the dock than Lincoln was up on the hurricane deck with him, where they had a long and pleasant chat all the way to Peoria." At Peoria House Lincoln is serenaded by Sushisky's Apollo Band.
 
Monday October 6, 1862

Washington D.C.

Gov. Morton (Ind.) and Sec. Chase request President to furlough Indiana soldiers home to vote.
President instructs Gen. Halleck to telegraph Gen. McClellan to "cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy or drive him south."
Lincoln receives September salary warrant for $2,022.33 which is $61 under previous warrant as result of 3 per cent income tax deduction.
 
Thursday October 7, 1858

Galesburg, IL.


Lincoln arrives around noon for his fifth debate with Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas. He proceeds to Henry R. Sanderson's home, where attorney Thomas Gold Frost delivers a speech welcoming Lincoln to Galesburg. Miss Anna Hurd presents Lincoln with a banner "prepared by the ladies of Galesburg" to commemorate his visit. At two o'clock in the afternoon, "the military and a large body of citizens on horseback and on foot" escort Lincoln and Douglas, riding separately in "two four horse carriages driven abreast," to the Knox College campus, the site of the debate.
 
Sunday October 8, 1864

Washington D.C.

President, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and Major General Henry W. Halleck attend funeral in Georgetown of Lt. John R. Meigs, son of Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs.
Lincoln receives request from proprietors of Baltimore Evening Post to rescind General Lew Wallace's order suppressing paper.
 
Sunday October 9, 1859

Springfield, IL.

In a letter to Thomas Corwin, a Republican congressman from Ohio, Lincoln clarifies his stance on slavery and expresses his thoughts on the political platform that should be adopted by Republican candidates running for office in Illinois. Lincoln writes, "Do you understand me as saying Illinois must have an extreme antislavery candidate? I do not so mean. We must have, though, a man who recognizes the Slavery issue as being the living issue of the day; who does not hesitate to declare slavery a wrong, nor to deal with it as such; who believes in the power, and duty of Congress to prevent the spread of it."
 
Friday October 10, 1862

Washington D.C.


Cabinet meeting on subject of trade at Norfolk.
Directs Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to admit persons from Southern states found in Mississippi into organization of brigade of Union volunteers in northern Mississippi.
 
Monday October 11, 1858

Monmouth, IL.

Lincoln arrives in the morning by a "train from the west." A group of about two hundred people plan to meet Lincoln "on the Oquawka Road," but rain curtails "arrangements for a grand display" to welcome him prior to his scheduled speech. "[T]wo or three Republican friends" escort Lincoln to the Baldwin House, where a local newspaper reports that he is "received in silence." At approximately one in the afternoon, an audience makes its way to "Henry's board yard," the setting for the speech. A newspaper reports that there are "as many as the Douglasites had last week, and that they were mostly voters, while full half of theirs were women and children." Dr. A.V.T. Gilbert, a former state representative, delivers a speech prior to Lincoln's oration. The Monmouth Republican Glee Club performs a song, and Philo E. Reed, "a very modest, unassuming young man," introduces Lincoln, who speaks for "three hours." The Democratic and Republican newspapers differ in their accounts as to the effectiveness of Lincoln's remarks. The local Democratic newspaper describes Lincoln's speech as "a personal attack on Douglas and Democrats." It accuses Lincoln of "dodg[ing] the issues before the people." A Republican newspaper in Chicago reports his remarks as "elaborate, full and perfect." This account also describes the audience as "perfectly wrapt in attention," while the local Democratic newspaper reports that Lincoln "was coldly received by the small crowd present."
 
Wednesday October 12, 1864

Washington D.C.

President receives notice that cost of his substitute recruit [J. S. Staples] is $750. [See September 30, 1864.]
Answers Gen. Grant's inquiry about election and adds: "Send us what you may know of your army vote."
 
Thursday October 13, 1864

Washington D.C.

Lincoln again at War Dept. telegraph office for reports on state elections.
Sec. Welles reports President happy over election returns.
Estimates electoral vote in November election as 120 "Union Vote, for President" and 114 "Supposed Copperhead Vote."
Informs John Hay that he is in no hurry to replace Chief Justice Taney, who died last night.
Answers request of Gov. Morton (Ind.) that troops on furlough not return until after Presidential election: "I said [to Gen. Sherman] that any soldiers he could spare for October need not to remain for November."
 
Monday October 14, 1861

Washington D.C.

President authorizes Gen. Scott to suspend writ of habeas corpus in any place between Bangor, Maine, and Washington.
Lincoln directs Chief of Ordnance to order 25,000 Marsh breechloaders.
 
Friday October 15, 1858

Alton, IL.

Seventh ( and final ) joint debate takes place. Steamer White Cloud brings up several hundred from St. Louis, and many come from Springfield and Carlinville on special train. Among them is Mrs. Lincoln, who stays with Lincoln at Franklin House. Debate takes place in afternoon at south front of City Hall.

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Saturday October 16, 1858

Lincoln, IL.

Lincoln travels by train to Lincoln, Illinois. A newspaper reports that the train's cars "were completely filled inside, and covered with passengers on top, before reaching Lincoln." Lincoln arrives at about noon and "partak[es] of some refreshments." At approximately two o'clock, after local attorney Samuel C. Parks introduces him, Lincoln begins a two-hour speech. He delivers the remarks from "the stand, erected near the west front of the Court House" before approximately 5,000 people. A newspaper reports, "Mr. Lincoln made an eloquent speech, and showed up [Stephen A.] Douglas' inconsistencies in fine style."
 
Saturday October 17, 1863

Washington D.C.

Lincoln issues proclamation calling for 300,000 volunteers.
Declines offer of William B. Thomas, manufacturer and abolitionist of Philadelphia, to supply 10,000 men for 60 or 90 days to protect Washington.
In the evening, President Lincoln, his wife Mary, their son Tad, and Lincoln's secretary William O. Stoddard attend a benefit performance of William Shakespeare's Macbeth at Grover's Theatre. Owner Leonard Grover stages the play, which stars James Wallack as Macbeth, Charlotte Cushman as Lady Macbeth, and Edward Davenport as Macduff. A newspaper reports that the Lincoln party "occupied the lower stage boxes to the right." The benefit garners $2,018 for the United States Sanitary Commission, whose members tend to the needs of the soldiers. The newspaper adds, "Mr. Grover. . . gave the use of the entire resources of his establishment for this benefit, (including the services of two stars at his own expense,) and Miss Cushman generously contributed her valuable aid to the same object."
 
Monday October 18, 1858

Springfield, IL.

Before resuming his travels, Lincoln writes to James N. Brown, Sangamon County politician, explaining his position on race question. Alighting from train at Naples, he meets "about fifteen Celtic gentlemen, with black carpet-sacks in their hands." This worries him. He fears Democrats may secure enough fraudulent votes to carry doubtful districts. He inquires where they are going, but can learn nothing definite. He speaks at Naples in afternoon, and at nearby Meredosia after dark, remarking about Irishmen probably imported to vote against him.
 
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