A Black Hawk War Guide by Ben Strand

Author:Ben Strand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2021-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

One can imagine the local historians in the 1890s of Stillman, Illinois, deciding against quoting directly from Lincoln as they planned out their memorial to consecrate the burial site of soldiers killed during Stillman’s Run. Engraving into stone Lincoln’s words “I saw the place very soon afterwards” doesn’t have quite the same noble ring to it as their chosen language: “The presence of the Soldier, Statesman, Martyr Abraham Lincoln assisting in the burial of these honored dead has made this spot more sacred.”

After belittling Cass’s military service, Lincoln referred to and minimized his own service as a rhetorical strategy to insulate Cass from returning the criticism. Lincoln in essence undermined any response Cass might have after Lincoln delivered this address.

There are a number of thirdhand and fuzzily remembered stories of Lincoln by other participants in the Illinois Militia. Accounts include a young Abe standing up to fellow militia members to spare the life of an elderly tribal member who was left behind by the main contingent of the British Band.

The most telling firsthand account of Lincoln’s time in the militia comes from a letter of one of his fellow service members. In An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln: John G. Nicolay’s Interviews and Essays, edited by Michael Burlingame, a letter written years after the war by George Harrison to the newly elected Lincoln in May 1860 displays a clear snapshot of Lincoln’s role in the conflict:

May 29, 1860

Respected Sir:

In view of the intimacy that at one time subsisted between yourself and me, I deem it my duty as well as privilege, now that the intensity of the excitement of recent transactions is a little passed from you and from me, after the crowd of congratulations already received from many friends, also to offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your very exalted position in our great Republican party. No doubt but that you will become tired of the flattery of cringing, selfish adulators. But I think you will know that way [what] I say I feel.

For the attachment commenced in the Black Hawk campaign while we messed together with Johnson, Fancher, and Wyatt, when we ground our coffee in the same tin cup with the hatchett handle—baked our bread on our ramrods around the same fire—ate our fried meat off the same piece of elm bark—slept in the same tent every night—traveled together by day and by night in search of the savage foe—and together scoured the tall grass on the battle ground of the skirmish near Gratiot’s Grove in search of the slain—with very many incidents too tedious to name—and consummated on our afoot and canoe journey home, must render us incapable of deception.

Since the time mentioned, our pursuits have called me to operate a little apart; yours, as you formerly hinted, to a course of political and legal struggle; mine to agriculture and medicine. The success that we have both enjoyed, I am happy to know, is very encouraging. I am also glad to know, although we must act

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