ting those men to join the company who would probably vote for him to be captain. Muster-day came, and the recruits met to organize. About them stood several hundred relatives and other friends. The little candidate was early on hand and busily bidding for votes. He had felt so confident of the office in advance of muster-day, that he had rummaged through several country tailor-shops and got a new suit of the nearest approach to a captain's uniform that their scant stock could furnish. So there he was, arrayed in jaunty cap, and a swallow-tailed coat with brass buttons. He even wore fine boots, and moreover had them blackedwhich was almost a crime among a country crowd of that day. Young Lincoln took not one step to make himself captain; and not one to prevent it. He simply put himself "in the hands of his friends," as the politicians say. He stood and quietly watched the trouble others were borrowing over the matter as if it were an election of officers they had enlisted for, rather than for fighting Indians. But after all, a good deal depends in war, on getting good officers. 'As two o'clock drew near, the hour set for making captain, four or five of young Lincoln's most zealous friends with a big stalwart fellow at the head edged along pretty close to him, yet not in a way to excite suspicion of a "conspiracy." Just a little bit before two, without even letting “Abe” himself know exactly "what was up," the big fel low stepped directly behind him, clapped his hands on the shoulders before him, and shouted as only prairie giants can, “Hurrah for Captain Abe Lincoln!" and plunged his really astonished candidate forward into a march. At the same instant, those in league with him also put hands to the shoulders before them, pushed, and took up the cheer, "Hurrah for Captain Abe Lincoln!" so loudly that there seemed to be several hundred already on their side; and so there were, for the outside crowd was also already cheering for "Abe." 66 This little "ruse" of the Lincoln "boys" proved a complete success. Abe" had to march, whether or no, to the music of their cheers; he was truly "in the hands of his friends " then, and couldn't get away; and it must be said he didn't seem to feel very bad over the situation. The storm of cheers and the sight of tall Abraham (six feet and four inches) at the head of the marching column, before the fussy little chap in brass buttons who was quite ready, caused a quick stampede even among the boys who intended to vote for the little fellow. One after another they rushed for a place in "Captain Abe's" line as though to be first to fall in was to win a prize. A few rods away stood that suit of captain's clothes alone, looking smaller than ever, "the starch all taken out of 'em," their occupant confounded, and themselves for sale. "Abe's" old "boss" said he was "astonished," and so he had good reason to be, but everybody could see it with out his saying so. His "style" couldn't win among the true and shrewd, though unpolished "boys in coarse garments. They saw right through him. 66 66 Buttons," as he became known from that day, was the last man to fall into Abe's" line; he said he'd make it unanimous. But his experience in making "Abe" Captain 66 66 made himself so sick that he wasn't able" to move when the company left for the front," though he soon grew able to move out of the procession. 66 Thus was "Father Abraham," so young as twenty-three, chosen captain of a militia company over him whose abused, hired-hand he had been. It is little wonder that in '59 after three elections to the State Legislature and one to Congress, Mr. Lincoln should write of his early event as a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since." The war was soon over with but little field work for the volunteers; but no private was known to complain that "Abe" was not a good captain. |