Muscles of Iron
Strength, Health, Physical Development, Inspiration, and Know-How
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Although Abraham Lincoln was known for his strong muscles, his greatest strength came from his noble and excellent character. Public domain image.
Shortly after the Black Hawk War broke out in 1832, the governor of Illinois asked for volunteers to help the United States military forces push back a group of Indians who were fighting to return to their former hunting grounds in Illinois. Lincoln volunteered to serve, and he was elected captain of his company. However, in his 90 days of service he did not engage in any fighting.
Wrestling was a favorite diversion among soldiers in the Black Hawk War, and Lincoln had gained a reputation among his comrades from Sangamon County as being unbeatable in this pastime.
One day, the military men from Sangamon County were grouped with a company of soldiers from Union County, Illinois in a camp near Rock Island. Among the soldiers from Union County was a champion wrestler and athlete named Dow Thompson.
A debate broke out between the two groups over who was the better wrestler, Abraham Lincoln or Dow Thompson, and the two men were pitted against one another to settle the quarrel for once and for all. W. G. Greene, a friend and military comrade of Lincoln’s, related the story:
“We Sangamon County boys believed that Mr. Lincoln could throw anyone, and the Union County boys knew no one could throw Thompson; so we staked all our slick and worn-out quarters and empty bottles on the wrestle. The first fall was clearly in Thompson’s favor, but Lincoln’s backers claimed that it was what in those days was called a ‘dog-fall.’ Thompson’s backers claimed the stakes, while we demurred; and, it really looked for some time as though there would be at least a hundred fights as the result.
Mr. Lincoln, after getting up and brushing the dust and dirt off his jeans pants, said: ‘Boys, give up your bets; if he has not thrown me fairly, he could.’ Every bet was at once surrendered, and peace and order were restored in a minute.”
Lincoln almost always won his wrestling matches, but on this rare occasion he went down in defeat. But, he didn’t cry wolf, throw a fit, toss insults at his opponent, or run off in disgust. Nope, Lincoln was a real man, and when defeated in competition he maintained his composure and treated his adversary with total respect. For, the wrestler from New Salem understood that no person can truly lose a battle if their character is kept high.
Thanks for visiting,
Rob