If you will refer to the table of the Presidents, you will see that
Lincoln's origin is set down as "English." But with the noted English
love of fair play is coupled the art of not knowing when a man is
beaten. This descendant of John Bull differs from his ancestors on this
head.
During the Black Hawk War, the soldiers in camp entertained themselves
by athletic contests. The captain of the Sangamon company excelled all
the others, regulars and volunteers, in bodily pastimes. This induced
the men to challenge all the army, pitting Lincoln against the whole
field, one down t'other come up! A man of another regiment, named
Thompson, appeared, with whom the preliminary tussle to feel the enemy
gave Lincoln a belief that he had tackled more than he could pull off
this time. He intimated as much to his backers, who, with true Western
whole-souledness, were betting not only all their money, but their
"possibles" and equipment. Disbelieving him, though he had never shown
the white feather, the first bout did terminate disastrously for
Illinois. Lincoln was clearly "downed." The next, or settling bout,
ended the same way--only Lincoln's supporters would not "see," and
refused to pay up their bets. The whole company was about to lock horns
on the decision, when Captain Lincoln spoke up:
"Boys, Thompson threw me fair and clean, and he did the same the next
time, but not so clearly."
"In peace or in war," it was always the same "Honest Abe" of Sangamon.
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