May 15, 1864
“The President is cheerful and hopeful — not unduly elated, but seeming confident,” writes presidential aide John G. Nicolay to his fiancee. “If my own anxiety is so great, what must be his solicitude, after waiting through three long, weary years of doubt and disaster, for such a consummation, to see the signs of final and complete victory every day growing so bright and auspicious.”
President Lincoln continues to counsel generals against military control of churches. He orders: “While I leave this case to the discretion of Gen. [Nathaniel] Banks, my view is, that the U.S. should not appoint trustees for on in any way take charge of church as such. If the building is needed for military purposes, take it; if it not so needed, let its church people have it, dealing with any disloyal people among them, as you deal with other disloyal people.
President Lincoln writes an endorsement on the request of Allison C. Poorman to “trade within the lines”: “The writer of the within is a family connection of mine, & a worthy man; and I shall be obliged if he be allowed what he requests, so far as the rules and exigencies of the public service will permit.” In a second trading application, Lincoln writes forWilliam F. Shriver: “The writer of this is personally unknown to me, though married to a young relative of mine. I shall be obliged if he be allowed what he requests so far as the rules and exigencies of the public service will permit.”
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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