The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-04-26

friendship asserted itself it meant that
firm and generous attachment found
alone on the frontier-that bond, closer
than the affinity of blood, which becomes
stronger as danger approaches death.
Lincoln's famous wrestling match
with the redoubtable Thompson, sol
der from Union county, who managed
to throw him twice in succession, caused
no diminution in the admiration and
pride his men felt in their captain s
muscle and proves. They declared that
unfair advantage had been taken of
their champion; that Thompson had
been guilty of foul tactics, and that, in
the language of the sporting arena, it
was a "dog fall " Lincoln's magnani-
nous action, however, in according his
opponent credit for fair dealing in the
face of the widespread and adverse criti-
cism that prevailed, only strengthened
him in the esteem of all
The term for which the volunteers
had enlisted had now expired, and the
majority, firing of the service, the nov
city of which had worn off, and longing
for the comforts and good cheer of their
homes, refused either to re-enlist or rem
der further service. They turned their
faces homeward, each with his appetite
for military glory well satiated. But the
war was not over, and the mighty Black
Hawk was still east of the Mississippi
A few remained and re-enlisted. Among
them was Lincoln. This time, eschew-
ing the responsibility of a captaincy and
to avoid the possible embarrassment OF
dragging about camp wooden sword,
he entered the company of Elijah lies
as dignified private.
1t has pleased some of Mr. Lincoln s
biographers to attribute this re-enlist-
ment to pure patriotism on his part and
a conscientious desire to serve his coun-
try. From the standpoint of sentiment
that is comfortable view to take of it,
but | have strong reason to believe that
Mr.. Lincoln never entertained such seri-
GUS notions of the campaign. In fact,
may say that my information comes
from the best authority to be had in the
matter-the soldier himself Mr.. Lin
coin had no home. He had cut loose
from his parents, from the Hankses and
the Johnstons; he left behind him nc
anxious wife and children, and no chair
before warm freside remained vacant
for him. 81 was out of work." he said
to me once, land there being no danger
of more fighting could do nothing bet
ter than enlist again.
Return to New Salem.
After his discharge from this last and
brief period of service, along with the
remainder of the Sangamon county sol.
diers. he departed from the scenes of re.
cent hostilities for New Salem again.
His soldier days had ended, and he re.
turned now to enter upon far different
career. However much in later years he
may have pretended to ridicule the dis
asters of the Black Hawk war or the
part he took in it, yet l believe he was
rather proud of it, after all When con
gress, along in the fifties, granted him
a land warrant, he was greatly pleased.
He located it on some land in Iowa and
declared to me one day that he would
die seized of that land, and although the
tract never yielded him anything he
never, so far as my knowledge extends,
parted with its ownership.
The return of the Black Hawk war.
riors to New Salem occurred in the
month of August but short time be,
fore the general election. A new legisla
ture was to be chosen, and as Lincoln
had declared to his comrades in the
army he would, and in obedience to the
ELUSIVE declaration of principles which
he had issued over his signature in
March, before he went to the war, he
presented himself to the people of his
newly adopted county as candidate fol
the legislature.
On the Stump.
The election being near at hand, only
few days remained for his canvass.
One who was with him at the time, de-
scribing his appearance, says: HE wore
mixed jeans coat, claw hammer style,
short in the sleeves and bobtail-ir
fact, it was so short in the tail he could
not sit on it-fax and tow linen panta
looms and straw hat. | think he wore
a vest, but do not remember how il
looked. He wore pot metal boots. His
maiden effort on the stump was speech
on the occasion of a public sale at Papps
vile, village IL miles west of Spring
field. After the sale was over and speech
making had begun fght-a general
fight, as one of the bystanders relates
-ensued, and Lincoln, noticing one Of
his friends about to succumb to the en-
ergetic attack of an Infatuated ruffian,
interposed to prevent it. He did so most
effectually. Hastily descending from
the rude platform, he edged his way
through the crowd, and Selling the bully
by the neck and seat of his trousers
threw him by means of his strength and
long arms, as one witness stoutly in
sists, "12 feet away" Returning to the
stand and throwing aside his hat, he in
augurated his campaign with the fol
lowing brief but juicy declarations:
Fellow citizens, | presume you al
know who l am. | am humble Abraham
Lincoln. have been solicited by many
friends to become candidate for the
legislature. My politics are short anC
sweet, like the old woman's dance.
am in favor of national bank. | am in
favor of the internal improvement sys
tenn and high protective tariff. These
are my sentiments and political prinoi
Piles. If elected | shall be thankful; il
not, it will be all the same.