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.

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.

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."

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.

Bill Established to Take the Jails out of my Control

A bill had been fashioned in the House to render helpless my overseeing of the federal jails in the District of Columbia to unofficially wrestle control from me and people they called my "negro-catching creatures." Fortunately for me, the bill laid upon the table and was never acted upon.
The president, meanwhile, gave me his unconditional support.
Mr. Lincoln toured the Naval Yard in Washington City and met with his cabinet.
He also wrote a letter introducing his new Superintendent of U.S. Army Nurses, Dorothea L. Dix.
Mrs. Lincoln entertained a few dozen family members visiting from Illinois.

Quaker Friends Society Recommend Peaceful Solution to the War

The president answered  Samuel B. Tobey, of the Society of Friends in New England (Quakers) suggestion that the war be resolved through peaceful "direct negotiation" by suggesting "how fully I appreciate the principles of peace . . . and I look forward hopefully to an early end of war, and return of peace."
Mrs. Lincoln has ventured out of her bedroom for the first time since the death of her son.
Mr. Lincoln sends a letter of support to Governor Peirpoint (VA) at the Wheeling Convention telling him to draw up a resolution for the new state and send it for him to look at.
Meanwhile, as Lincoln's bodyguard, I was notified that my complaint against Horace Greeley for defaming my name in his newspaper would be heard in court on April 8.

President Lincoln Proposes a Compensated Emancipation of the Slaves

President Lincoln explained his proposal in a letter to Senator James McDougal on March 14, 1862 saying that he estimated there were 432,622slaves at $400 each. Mr. Lincoln estimated the cost for the government to compensate slave owners for the loss of their property would cost $173 million. He also estimated at the same time that conducting the war for a period of 87 days actually was costing $174 million, and thus the compensation would shorten the war and actually save the country money. The Border States did not support the proposal and it died.
There was much excitement at the White House over last week's naval battle that took place near Fortress Monroe, Virginia last week. The two opposing ironclads, the Moniter and the Virginian fought in the harbor.