May 15, 1862
During President Lincoln’s administration, the Cabinet consisted of the Departments of Interior, Navy, State and War plus the Postmaster General and the Attorney General. Today, President Lincoln authorizes a new Department of Agriculture, but without cabinet status.
President Lincoln writes General George B. McClellan near Richmond regarding their continuing dispute over the resources available to McClellan: “Your long despatch of yesterday is just received. I will answer more fully soon. Will say now that all your despatches to the Secretary of War have been promptly shown to me. Have done, and shall do, all I could and can to sustain you–hoped that the opening of James River, and putting Wool and Burnside in communication, with an open road to Richmond, or to you, had effected something in that direction. I am still unwilling to take all our force off the direct line between Richmond and here.”
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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