Tad Gets Permission for a Gun

October 14, 1862

President Lincoln writes Captain John A. Dahlgren, the commandant of the Navy Yard in Washington: “Capt. Dahlgren may let ‘Tad’’ have a little gun that he can not hurt himself with.” Dahlgren apparently gives Tad a miniature cannon.

President Lincoln issues an “Order to Remove Bakeries from the Capitol” in order to return the Capitol to its legislative purposes and its reconstruction to continue: “Whereas by a provision of the civil appropriation act approved July 11, 1862, which provision is in the words following towit: For the purpose of enabling the commissioner of public buildings and grounds to remove the army bakery from the basement floor of the Capitol, and to repair the damage caused by said bakery, the sum of eight thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary,” is appropriated, and the intention of congress is manifested, that said commissioner shall remove said bakery and repair said damage; and whereas said commissioner represents to me that he apprehends some collision or difficulty with the military authorities in attempting to execute his duty in this respect,

It is therefore ordered that the military authorities, and all other United States authorities in any way connected with the matter, forbear to hinder, and give all reasonable co-operation to the said commissioner, in the performance of said duty.

President Lincoln also concerns himself with the reconstruction of Louisiana: “Major General Butler, Governor Shepley, & and [sic] all having military and naval authority under the United States within the S[t]ate of Louisiana.

The bearer of this, Hon. John E. Bouligny, a citizen of Louisiana, goes to that State seeking to have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the unsatisfactory prospect before them, and to have peace again upon the old terms under the constitution of the United States, to manifest such desire by elections of members to the Congress of the United States particularly, and perhaps a legislature, State officers, and United States Senators friendly to their object. I shall be glad for you and each of you, to aid him and all others acting for this object, as much as possible. In all available ways give the people a chance to express their wishes at these elections. Follow forms of law as far as convenient, but at all events get the expression of the largest number of the people possible. All see how such action will connect with, and affect the proclamation of September 22nd. Of course the men elected should be gentlemen of character, willing to swear support to the constitution, as of old, and known to be above reasonable suspicion of duplicity.