President Lincoln calls in more troops

President Lincoln sent a call out to the governors of 17 states asking them to fill their quotas. Mr. Lincoln estimated that the call for troops would bring in an estimated 300,000 more soldiers for the Union Army.

On the subject of fugitive blacks, Mr. Lincoln recommended to Secretary Stanton that they not be sent back to their masters. The president said instead they should be given work and paid a reasonable wage.

He also approved the Morrill Land Grant Act providing for public lands to be donated to states for use as colleges to teach agriculture and mechanical arts.

He also spent time with military casualties being transported to the Soldier's Home following their action in the Peninsula Campaign.

Mr. Lincoln travels to West Point to meet with General Scott

General Pope and President Lincoln traveled by train to West Point, New York to confer with Major General Winfield Scott. On the trip Mr. Lincoln also attended a rifled cannon being produced at Parrott's Cold Spring Foundry. He returned to Washington City on June 25.

The president issued orders calling for General Fremont to be relieved of his command.

The president verbalized his resolve for the war effort in a letter to Secretary Seward that he wanted Mr. Seward to use at a conference of Union governors meeting in New York. It was to be used along with the president's request for more troops. His message said, "I expect to maintain this contest until successful, or till I die, or am conquered, or y term expires, or Congress of the country forsakes me."

  

Robert E. Lee's house, "Arlington" becomes a hospital

Mr. Lincoln officially ordered that the Lee mansion "Arlington", which was located directly across the river from Washington City, be converted into a hospital.

Mr. Lincoln spent the evening of June 18 at the Soldier's Home with Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin. After dinner Mr. Lincoln read his draft of what he called the Emancipation Proclamation. When the president returned, I offered to ride alongside on his future trips to the cottage. He had no comment to me.

The Senate chose the Honorable Solomon Foot President pro tempore of the Senate. That made him third in the line of succession behind Mr. Lincoln and Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin.

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.