Friday, April 27, 2012

News Reaches Washington City of the Capture of New Orleans

The president and his cabinet were excited to receive the notification that Navel Officer David G. Farragut had captured the city of New Orleans.
Mr. Lincoln was honored as the first American president to board a foreign ship as he visited the Naval Yard and was taken to board the French frigate "Gassendi". While on board he received a twenty-one gun salute.
My wife Sally continued to fix up our rental property in Washington, adding to the livability of the house and raising the appearance higher on her social registry.

Friday, April 20, 2012

The President Works to End Slavery in the District of Columbia

Senator Browning of Illinois met with President Lincoln at the White House to discuss a bill to end slavery in District of Columbia. Senator Browning also wanted to appoint a successor for my father-in-law, my wife Sally's father Judge Stephen T. Logan, on commission to examine into claims at Cairo, Illinois.
The president appointed J. G. Berret, former Ohio Congressman Samuel F. Vinton, and North Carolinean Daniel R. Goodloe commissioners to act for abolition of slavery in District of Columbia. It was a process Mr. Lincoln had favored since his days in the House of Representatives.

Friday, April 13, 2012

My Testimony against Newspaper Editor Horace Greeley

During my testimony, I counter attacked Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune who had been indicted for attacking me personally in editorials that I deemed libelous. Greeley claimed the editorial was written without his knowledge by a staff writer. The editor was in the process of trying to settle the matter out of court.
Mrs. Lincoln received the dreadful news that her half brother, Samuel Todd, was mortally wounded at fighting at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee.
At the same time, Mr. Lincoln continues to have difficulties dealing with General George McClellan. In a letter he tells his general  "The country will not fail to note — is now noting — that the present hesitation to move upon an entrenched enemy, is but the story of Manassas repeated." The president affirms his support for the general, but warns him, "But you must act."

Friday, April 6, 2012

The President Meets the Builders of the Moniter

President Lincoln hosts a meeting with engineers John Ericsson and A. C. Stimers, the men who designed and helped build the ironclad "Monitor."
The president travels with Commander Dahlgren to visit General McClellan at Alexandria, Virginia. He also meets with the Committee on the Conduct of War.
I spent much of the week preparing for my appearance in court coming up on April 8.