appeared so powerful and fearless before,” says one who was present. Even the most rebellious of the “Clary Grove Boys” dared not lift his finger against the Indian; and never more did they associate the term “coward” with Lincoln’s name.

In this affair Captain Lincoln’s life was in as great peril as that of the Indian. One of his biographers says: “He often declared that his life and character were both at stake, and would probably have been lost had he not at that supremely critical moment forgotten the officer and asserted the man. To have ordered the offenders under arrest would have created a formidable mutiny; to have tried and punished them would have been impossible. They could scarcely be called soldiers; they were merely armed citizens, with a nominal military organization. They were but recently enlisted, and their term of service was about to expire. Had he preferred charges against them, and offered to submit their differences to a court of any sort, it would have been regarded as an act of personal pusillanimity, and his efficiency would have been gone for ever.”

Wrestling, jumping, and lifting was a pastime in camp, and Captain Lincoln excelled every man in the regiment in these feats. His company declared that there was not a man in the whole army who was his equal as a wrestler; and they boastfully pitted him against the “whole field.” This challenge brought out a man from another regiment, by the name of Thompson, who offered to wrestle with Lincoln. The latter’s company at once staked money, weapons, and outfit, believing that their captain would lay the “great Western wrestler,” as he was called, on his back.

Captain Lincoln had tussled with Thompson but a few minutes when he remarked to his friends,—

“This is the most powerful man I ever had hold of. He will throw me, and you will lose.”

The company urged him on, believing he was more than a match for Thompson; but they were sadly disappointed when the latter threw their champion flat on his back. As, according to the custom, it required two out of three falls to settle the contest, they were soon struggling again, when both of them came to the ground, Thompson on top. In their great disappointment, Lincoln’s men claimed that Thompson was thrown as really as their captain, the second time, and refused to give up their property staked. This brought on a collision with Thompson’s friends, and they were about to proceed to blows, when Captain Lincoln magnanimously stepped in and prevented further trouble. Addressing his men, he said,—

“Boys, Thompson actually threw me once fair, broadly so; and the second time he threw me fairly, though not apparently so.” And he counselled them to be honest and accept the inevitable. This was a very remarkable example of magnanimity, and served to exalt Lincoln still higher, if possible, in the estimation of all.

Another incident we will give in the language of William Green: “One other word in reference to Lincoln’s care for the health and welfare of his men, and justice to them. Some officers of the United States had claimed that the regular army had a preference in the rations and pay. Captain Lincoln was ordered to do some act which he deemed unauthorized. He, however, obeyed, but went to the officer and said to him, ‘Sir, you forget that we are not under the rules and regulations of the War Department at Washington; are only volunteers under the orders and regulations of Illinois. Keep in your own sphere, and there will be no difficulty; but resistance will hereafter be made to your unjust orders; and, further, my men must be equal in all particulars, in rations, arms, camps, etc., to the regular army.’ The man saw that Lincoln was right, and determined to have justice done. Afterwards we were treated equally well, and just as the regular army was, in every particular. This brave, just, and humane act in behalf of the volunteers at once attached officers and rank to him, as with hooks of steel.”

Mr. Irwin pays the following deserved tribute to Lincoln in the army: “During the campaign Lincoln himself was always ready for an emergency. He endured hardships like a good soldier; he never complained, nor did he fear danger. When fighting was expected, or danger apprehended, Lincoln was the first to say ‘Let’s go.’ He had the confidence of every man of his company, and they obeyed his orders at a word. His company was mostly young men, and full of sport.”