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The Blackhawk War's Influence
Angela Simon At the beginning of 1832 Abraham Lincoln worked as a store clerk in New Salem. But the next twelve months would alter his life forever. Then it was that Lincoln gained his first public recognition. Along with recognition, he received something he was to carry with him throughout his entire life—self-confidence. This important change resulted from the Blackhawk War. The war started in April 1832, and the call for volunteers went out from the government of Illinois. At Richland Creek, nine miles southwest of New Salem, one group of recruits formed itself into a company. The leadership of volunteer military organizations at the time was elected. Dr. John Allen, a resident of New Salem, explained, that the "way the Captain (of the company) was chosen was that the candidates stood out alone and the men walked to the man they chose to be their leader. At least three out of every four went to Lincoln at once; when it was found that he was the choice they kept coming over to him until his opponent was left standing almost alone." Lincoln's first public recognition was a pleasant surprise for one who thought of himself as a former store clerk and not as an army captain. In May, Lincoln's volunteer company joined a regular army company headed by Captain Zachary Taylor. The group set out for the Rock River. Once there, they marched along the banks of the river into northern Illinois. Spring thunderstorms poured down rain turning the banks of the river into mud. The troops began to complain. All they did was march, then camp, march, then camp. They wanted to fight Indians, not slog through mud. Once their enlistments were up, most of the soldiers left the company and went home. Lincoln signed up again, however, and most of his time was spent wandering around in swampy areas, looking unsuccessfully for Indians. The closest Lincoln came to action was when his unit found five whites who had just been killed. They had been scalped, and Lincoln found the sight grotesque, saying later that "the red sunlight seemed to paint everything over." When the supplies for the troops were gone, the general in command dismissed the volunteers. As Lincoln's company was voluntary and therefore independent, he was honorably discharged. Meanwhile, during the time that Lincoln's group of soldiers had been roaming around, the Indian chief Blackhawk was driven into Wisconsin, and most of his people were massacred in Wisconsin as they tried to escape across the Mississippi River. The Blackhawk War proved to be a short-lived minor conflict. Only two engagements were large enough to be termed "battles." These were Wisconsin Heights and Bad Axe; Lincoln did not participate in either skirmish. During the Blackhawk War Lincoln met many men with whom he would later serve in the legislature. Cyrus Edward, a hero of the Blackhawk War, became an Illinois State Senator. He ran for governor, but lost. Lincoln also met John T. Stuart of Springfield, Illinois. Stuart was a politician, and he was important not only politically but also personally. He was a cousin of Mary Todd, whom Lincoln would marry nine years after the war. The Blackhawk War also influenced the way Lincoln voted on bills in the legislature. On one occasion, he was able to vote for one of his commanding officers in the Blackhawk War. Another time, while a member of the Illinois General Assembly, he probably voted for an amendment to the Militia Act that said, "those who volunteer or be drafted shall have the right of choosing their own officials." Lincoln's service in the Blackhawk War was short and, for the most part, uneventful. His service had consisted solely of several months of drilling and marching. He had fought in no battles. Yet he came out of the war a different man than when he had entered it. He was elected to his first office. He had met men with whom he would work in later years, men who would help him politically by either voting or campaigning for him. But the most important thing he had gained was not from marching or drilling. Senator Paul Simon said, "Abraham Lincoln gained self confidence by being elected." With the self confidence Lincoln gained, he would have the courage to run in other elections. And he would have the courage to stand against what he believed was wrong, even if it cost him respect, his political career, or his life.—[From Reinhard Luthin, The Real Abraham Lincoln; Herbert Mitgang, The Fiery Trial. . . A Life of Lincoln; John Nicolay, Abraham Lincoln. . . A History; Stephen B. Oates, With Malice Toward None; Paul Simon, Lincoln's Preparation for Greatness; student historian's interview with Senator Paul Simon, July 17, 1994.]
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