THE CLARY"S GLOVE BOYS
There was at that time a gang of young men in New Salem, called the Clary's Glove
boys. The strong man in the gang was Jack Armstrong. one day Abraham wrestled with
him. He seized the fellow by the throat, and, lifting him from the ground, shook him like
a doll.
The surprised rowdy knew that he was defeated, and grasping his hand, became his
friend. From that moment the Clary's Glove boys ceased to be nuisance. Abraham began
to be respected by all who knew him. People came to him for advice. In the meantime
Offutt became interested in cotton, lost money, and failed in business. At last he closed
his store, leaving Abraham without employment.
In April, 1832, an Indian disturbance, known as the Black Hawk War, broke out in northern Illinois. Black Hawk was the chief of Indians hostile to white men. At first those Indians had been living in the northern part of Illinois, but they were compelled to move from there by
the treaty imposed on them in 1831. In April, 1832, however, an Indian group under Black
Hawk returned and caused armed conflict.
Several incidents are told about Abe during his connection with the army. The following
story is one of them. one day an Indian came to camp and asked for his protection.
When Lincoln approached Dickinson City with his men and the Indian, he was stopped by
several soldiers stationed there.
"Who is that Indian?" one of them said "He came to my camp, seeking my protection.
" Lincoln asnswered. "Shoot him!" several men shouted. "No," Lincoln said. " We are not
here to injure an innocent man, whether he is an Indian or not."
He resolutely stood up for the helpless old man and protected him against any injustice. The Black Hawk War was not much of a war after all, and Lincoln did not fight with the
enemy face to face.