The Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 4, number 1, September 1920

              lincoln in wisconsin julius e olson in treating this subject of lincoln in wisconsin i shall give but little time to lincoln's participation in the black hawk war of 1832 as that phase of his life has been ade quately presented by others i desire mainly to call particu lar attention to the fact that lincoln was in the state at that time as a soldier and hence not at liberty to roam about to satisfy the natural curiosity of his inquiring mind he was among the first to respond to the call of governor reynolds for troops to repel the invasion of black hawk though but twenty-three years of age he was chosen captain of a company of militia reported to have been a hard set of men in commanding them lincoln had at least one opportunity to demonstrate his courage and his power to sway the minds of men when he appeared as the defender of an old indian who had strayed into camp ; the men thought him a spy and wanted blood before getting into wisconsin lincoln's company with others was mustered out but not all of these men returned to their homes lincoln reenlisted on the same day of his discharge may 28 and became a private in the independent spy company as such he crossed the state line near the site of beloit on june 30 1832 for ten days the troops pressed northward up the rock river finding many traces of the indians but encountering no warriors on july 10 near fort atkinson the company was mustered out by a young officer who later was to become famous during the civil war major robert anderson lincoln and his com panions returned home before the battles of wisconsin heights and bad axe brought the war to an end august 2 lincoln's stay in wisconsin was but brief probably about a fortnight