Meeting held to discuss Fugitive Slave law

President Lincoln hosted a meeting at the White House on the evening of June 11 with myself, General Wadsworth and Senator Browning. The topic a controversy over the Fugitive Slave Law. Fugitive slaves were handled through the marshal's office that I operated. Mr. Lincoln suggested each slave be held twenty-four hours. If it was determined the slave was the property of a rebel owner, he would be released to my charge and given military protection.

The president announced that the Marine band concerts, held weekly on the White House lawn, were to be suspended. The reason for Mr. Lincoln's decision was because the family was still mourning the death of their son, Willie. The elite of Washington were not happy with the decision.

Mrs. Lincoln spent time visiting the military hospitals in the area. And then she prepare her family for a move to the cottage at the Soldier's Home for the summer.

President Lincoln pardons man indicted of treason

As a promise to Kentucky's Congressional delegation, Mr. Lincoln pardoned Herman Franks who had been indicted for treason. Charles Sumner of the congressional Committee on Government Relations had recommended a bill to appoint commissioners to the Negro governments of both Liberia and Haiti. This week Mr. Lincoln signed that bill. These were the first Negro governments  recognized by Congress. Recognition of Haiti had been denied since the administration of President of Thomas Jefferson in 1804 when Haiti became an independent country. Mr. Lincoln met with Maryland Governor Augustus W. Bradford and Colonel John R. Kenly. Kenly had been captured at the battle of Front Royal on May 23. He was allowed to be paroled in order to arrange for exchanges for his men still incarcerated.

Mr. Lincoln supports my efforts as U. S. District Marshal

In spite of continued criticism from the radicals in Congress, Mr. Lincoln continued to support my position. He sent me a memo this week, dated May 28, saying "The bearer of this, W. H. Lamon, is Marshal of the District of Columbia and my particular friend."

New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley who was indicted for criminal libel for publishing false editorials about me, continues to seek resolution without going to trial. He asked that I be allowed to select any member of Congress from Greeley's own party to negotiate a settlement, with both of us agreeing beforehand to abide by their decision.

Mr. Lincoln ordered that the military take possession of all railroad transportation in the country.

Mr. and Mrs Lincoln attended a concert by opera star Clara Louise Kellogg held on  Tuesday night at the Ford's Theater in Washington City.

Mr. Lincoln voids General Hunter's Order No. 11 -- freeing the slaves

President Lincoln acted swiftly in nullifying the May 9 orders of General Hunter's order to fee the slaves in his department. Mr. Lincoln said "neither General Hunter, nor any other commander, or person, has been authorized by the government of the United States, to make proclamations declaring the slaves of any state free."

The president. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and Commander Dahlgren inspected the camps and soldiers at Fredericksburg, Virginia. There was great excitement among the troops to have Mr. Lincoln visit them. Upon his return, he spent much of his time at the telegraph office monitoring messages concerning the troubling movements of General Banks.

The president was happy to learn from Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase that General McDowell had begun movement of his 20,000 as ordered.

President Lincoln establishes the Department of Agriculture

Mr. Lincoln signed the bill this week establishing a non-Cabinet level Department of Agriculture. Prior to this week, the agriculture division was under the Secretary of the Interior.

As for myself, I was embroiled in a disagreement that ended in a libel suit I filed earlier this year against New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley. Greeley had printed editorials criticizing my work as federal marshal of the District of Columbia. Greeley had been indicted by the grand jury in March, hearings had been scheduled and postponed. Greeley was trying to settle the matter out of court, claiming the editorials were written in his absence and that he had not read hem until after they appeared in his newspaper.

President Lincoln travels to Fortress Monroe

The president, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and Secretary of the Treasury Samuel Chase left for Fortress Monroe. Upon arrival, arrangements were made for the president to tour the ironclad ship, the Moniter.

The President was unhappy that General George McClellan had not captured Norfolk. So he sent General Wool instead. Wool talked of going in through Willoughby Point. The president and Secretary Stanton went out in a boat and scouted for other possible invasion sites closer to the target. Mr. Lincoln even went ashore to check it out further. General Wool, who had earlier promised the president he would take Norfolk within 48 hours, lived up to his promise by taking Norfolk with no fight at all -- the Confederates had abandoned the city prior to his arrival. The "victory" preserved the naval yard for the Union.

James Holenshade demonstrates a breech loading cannon

President Lincoln and others were at the Naval Yard yesterday to watch Mr. James C. C. Holenshade of Cincinnati, Ohio demonstrate his invention, a breech loading cannon. Mary Lincoln and several others witnessed the trials of the gun which was reported in the New York Herald as having "proceeded in a satisfactory manner."

Earlier in the week, the president had criticized General George McClellan, telling his military leader "your call for Parrott guns from Washington alarms me -- chiefly because it argues indefinite procrastination. Is anything to be done?"

Today he received news that Yorktown, Virginia had been abandoned by the Confederates.