Illinois Friends Visit the White House

January 18, 1862

Senator and Mrs. Orville Browning visited the White House “At night Mrs Lincoln on whom we had called during the day, sent her carriage and I went up there and staid till 10 O’clock,” wrote Browning in his diary. “I spent an hour or two in the Presidents room in conversation with him upon public affairs. He expressed great confidence in Genl. McClelland [sic]. Adj’t Genl [Lorenzo] Thomas was spoken of, he having been assailed in executive session the day before and charged with disloyalty. The President said he did not believe there was a more loyal man in the Nation. Mr. Seward had told me the same thing in the morning. Garrett Davis Senator from Kentucky came in whilst I was with the President and in conversation upon the subject of slavery said that to save the Union he was willing, if necessary, to see slavery wiped out. Still he is very sensitive upon the subject.”