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of thirty days, and the same volunteers may re-enlist. I shall enlist for the war, whether it is thirty days or thirty months." Abraham meant just what he said, as the sequel will show.

"Clary Grove Boys" were now the fast friends of Abraham, and all were eager to enlist with him. Other young men, and older men, also, were ready for the war. In consequence of the general interest awakened, Abraham said,

"We can raise a company in New Salem."

"True as you live," answered Herndon.

"We must be about it in a hurry if we are goin' to do it," remarked Green.

The whole town became fired with military ardour in consequence of Abraham's leadership, and the result was that a recruiting office was opened in New Salem. Within a few days the company was full, Abraham being the first to enlist, and the choice of officers became the exciting topic. However, the officers were not elected at New Salem; but the volunteers marched to Bushville, in Schuyler County, where the election took place.

There were only two candidates for captain, Abraham and Fitzpatrick, the owner of the saw-mill at Spring Creek. He sawed the lumber for Abraham when he built the boat for Offutt, and treated his customer rudely. Fitzpatrick was a popular man, but there was a small show for him in a race with Abraham.

The method of electing captain was peculiar-perhaps the best method for that place, under the circumstances. The two candidates were required to take their positions opposite each other, at a suitable distance; and, at a given signal, each volunteer went to the one whom he desired for his captain. Three-fourths of the whole number at once took their stand with Abraham; and, when those who first went to Fitzpatrick saw the over

whelming majority for Abraham, one by one they left the former and joined the latter, until but one or two stood with Fitzpatrick.

"I felt bad for Fitzpatrick," said Green; "he was the most lonesome-looking fellow I ever saw."

"He might have known that we shouldn't vote for him when Abe is about," remarked Herndon. "He was too anxious to serve his country."

These, and kindred remarks, were bandied about after the company had indulged in vociferous cheering, that Black Hawk might have heard if he had been within a reasonable distance.

"A speech from the captain," was the imperative call from the company; and Abraham promptly accommodated them to one of his best efforts, in which he thanked them for the honour conferred, maintained that their choice might have fallen upon one much better qualified for the position than himself, and promised that he would do the best he could to prove himself worthy of their confidence.

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Captain Lincoln !" exclaimed William Green, addressing Abraham facetiously, and tipping his hat; and, henceforth, "Captain Lincoln" was alone the soubriquet by which he was known.

One incident occurred before the organization of this company which should be rehearsed. It illustrates his temperance principles, at the same time that it shows his marvellous strength. Green said to a stranger who happened to be in New Salem,—

"Abe Lincoln is the strongest man in Illinois."

"I deny it," answered the stranger, immediately naming a stronger party.

"How much can he lift?" asked Green.

"He'll lift a barrel of flour as easily as I can a peck of potatoes."

'Abe can lift two barrels if he could get hold of them." "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the man. "You can tell a greater story than I can."

"Great story or not, I will bet that Abe will lift a barrel of whiskey, and drink out of the bunghole."

"Worse yet," replied the man. "I'll bet he can't do any such thing."

What will you bet?"

"I'll bet a good hat; and we'll have him try right off, if he will."

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'Agreed," said Green. The truth was he had seen Abraham do this very thing, minus the drinking part, so that he knew he should win.

Without delay they sought Abraham, and proceeded to the store, where the whiskey was found.

"I don't think much of the betting part," said Abraham, "but I guess I'll help William out of the scrape, though he won't have much chance to wear the hat yet awhile, if he is going to war with me."

Well, if you can do what he says you can, I want to see it," said the man.

"You shall have the privilege," answered Abraham. At once he proceeded to perform the feat, and accomplished it with seeming ease. The barrel was raised, and a quantity of liquor taken from the bung-hole.

"There it is!" exclaimed Green. "But that is the first dram I ever saw you drink in my life, Abe," he added, turning to Abraham.

The words had scarcely escaped his lips before Abraham set down the barrel, and spirted the whiskey that was in his mouth upon the floor, at the same time replying, "And I haven't drunk that, you see."

Green burst into a hearty laugh at this turn of the affair, and added, "You are bound to let whiskey alone, Abe."

And this same Green writes to us: "That was the only drink of intoxicating liquor I ever saw him take, and that he spirted on the floor."

The stranger was satisfied, as well as astonished. He had never seen the like before, and he doubted whether he ever should again. He did not know that the whole life-discipline through which Abraham had passed was suited to develope muscular strength. Probably he did not care, since there was the actual deed.

We are interested in it mostly for the determination it showed to reject whiskey. The act was in keeping with all his previous temperance habits.

On the evening after this affair Abraham was alone with his friend William Green, who won the aforesaid hat, and he said to him, "William, are you in the habit of betting?"

"No; I never bet before in my life, never."

"Well, I never would again, if I were you. It is what unprincipled men will do, and I would set my face against it."

"I didn't see anything very bad in that bet," said William.

"All bets are alike," answered Abraham, "though you may not have any bad motives in doing it."

"I only wanted to convince the man that you could lift the barrel."

"I know it; but I want you should promise me that you will never bet again. It is a species of gambling, and nothing is meaner than that."

"I don't suppose I shall ever do it again."

"I want you should promise me that you won't," continued Abraham, with increased emphasis. "It will please your mother to know of so good a resolution."

"I will promise you, Abe," answered William, grasping his hand, while tears glistened in his eyes. And there

was true seriousness in this transaction, more than might appear to the reader at first view. The one who thus pledged himself to Abraham writes to us now, in his riper years: "On that night, when alone, I wept over his lecture to me, and I have so far kept that solemn pledge."

The New Salem company went into camp at Beardstown, from whence, in a few days, they marched to the expected scene of conflict. When the thirty days of their enlistment had expired, however, they had not seen the enemy. They were disbanded at Ottawa, and most of the volunteers returned. But a new levy being called for, Abraham re-enlisted as a private. Another thirty days expired, and the war was not over. His regiment was disbanded, and again, the third time, he volunteered. He was determined to serve his country as long as the war lasted. Before the third term of his enlistment had expired, the battle of Bad Axe was fought, which put an end to the war.

He returned home. "Having lost his horse, near where the town of Janesville, Wisconsin, now stands, he went down Rock River to Dixon in a canoe. Thence he crossed the country on foot to Peoria, where he again took a canoe to a point on the Illinois River, within forty miles of home. The latter distance he accomplished on foot."

Several incidents transpired during his connection with the army, which are so expressive of certain elements of his character that we record them here. One day an old Indian found his way into camp, professing to be friendly to the whites, and casting himself upon the mercy of Lincoln's soldiers.

"We came to fight Injins," shouted one of the "boys," "and we'll give you cold lead instead of mercy."

"Shoot him! shoot him!" cried several voices.

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