The new Secretary of War, with his first official act, ordered the appointment of two commissioners who were to visit Richmond and other places where Union prisoners were held "to take what measures as may be needful, to provide for the wantsand contribute to the comfort of such prisoners at the expense of the United States..."  Methodist bishop Edward Ames and former senator Hamilton Fish were appointed the following week.  This order was not not well received in the Confederacy and was termed "impudent" in the Southern press. (By John Osborne)

Simon Cameron had resigned under a cloud several days before, with Edwin McMasters Stanton being named in his place.  President Lincoln sweetened the pill for Cameron with a nomination as minister to Russia and the Senate confirmed him on this day.  The vote clearly demonstrated the doubts over Cameron and his service; the vote was 24-14, with four more senators not voting. Seven Republicans voted against.  (By John Osborne) 

Edwin McMasters Stanton was President Lincoln's choice to succeed Simon Cameron as Secretary of War.  As a lifelong Democrat, Buchanan's Attorney General, and a strong opponent of secession, his appontment was generally welcomed as a cementing of Northern unity. His nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate 36-2, with only Republicans Samuel Pomeroy of Kansas and James Grimes of Iowa voting against.  Stanton served in that post until 1868.  (By John Osborne)

David Tod, an industrialist, state representative, former minister to Brazil, and lifelong Democrat, had run on the National Union ticket in Ohio against fellow Democrat Hugh Jewett and was elected with an eighty thousand vote majority in October 1861.  He was inaugurated at Columbus, Ohio on this date.  Though successful as a war governor, he was not re-nominated and served only a single term. (By John Osborne) 

Augustus Williamson Bradford, running on the Union ticket, had defeated Democrat Benjamin Chew Howard in the recent election and took office as the 32nd governor of Maryland at a noon ceremony in Annapolis.  Bradford was a strong Unionist, although he often clashed with military officials while trying to defend his state's autonomy.  He served until January 1866.  (By John Osborne) 

Private Michael Lanaham of Company A , Second U.S. Infantry Regiment, was convicted of murdering  a sergeant named Brenner who had hit him while he was in the guardhouse.  Lanaham had soon after the initial incident loaded his musket and shot the sergeant to death.  He was convicted of murder and hanged in northern Washington D.C. with units from five regiments of  the regular infantry watching on.  (By John Osborne)