During this week, and mostly a secret occasion, the Lincoln's had a visit from Mary Lincoln's half sister, Emilie Todd Helm. What made the visit peculiar was the Emilie was the widow of Confederate General Benjamin Helm.
When Union general Daniel Sickles and New York Senator Ira Harris visited Mr. Lincoln and found out that there was an enemy among them, they were indignant. Senator Harris and Emilie had a confrontation in which the senator reminded her that in recent battles the Union army had chased the rebels out of Chattanooga and that they ran like "scared rabbits." With that, Mrs. Helms reminded the senator that the Union had set the tone in that same fashion at Bull Run.
General Sickles insisted that the Lincolns should not have a rebel in their house. But Mr. Lincoln stood firm, replying that it was up to him to decide who could or could not visit.
Mr. Lincolon attended Frod's Theater twice this week. The first time he attended with his two secretaries, John Hay and John Nicolay and long time friend, Leonard Swett, to see "Henry IV". His second visit with Mrs. Lincoln was to attend the performance of "Merry Wives of Windsor".
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