We have
his own word for it that no success of his after life gave him
nearly as much satisfaction. On April 21, two days after the call
for volunteers had been printed, the company was organized. A
week later it was mustered into service, becoming part of the
Fourth Illinois Mounted Volunteers, and started at once for the
hostile frontier.
Lincoln's soldiering lasted about three months. He was in no
battle, but there was plenty of "roughing it," and occasionally
real hardship, as when the men were obliged to go for three days
without food. The volunteers had not enlisted for any definite
length of time, and seeing no prospect of fighting, they soon
became clamorous to return home. Accordingly his and other
companies were mustered out of service on May 27, at the mouth of
Fox River. At the same time the governor, not wishing to weaken
his forces before the arrival of other soldiers to take their
places, called for volunteers to remain twenty days longer.
Lincoln had gone to the frontier to do real service, not for the
glory of being captain. Accordingly, on the day on which he was
mustered out as an officer he re-enlisted, becoming Private
Lincoln in Captain Iles's company of mounted volunteers,
sometimes known as the Independent Spy Battalion. This
organization appears to have been very independent indeed, not
under the control of any regiment or brigade, but receiving
orders directly from the commander-in-chief, and having many
unusual privileges, such as freedom from all camp duties, and
permission to draw rations as much and as often as they pleased.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49