[Black Hawk crosses Mississippi River into Illinois for purpose, he declares, of raising corn along Rock River. With him are 400 or 500 horsemen, plus old men and boys in charge of canoes, as well as women and children, totaling about 2,000 people.Journal of Albert Sidney Johnston, 10 April 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Gen. Henry Atkinson to Gov. John Reynolds, 10 April 1832, 13 April 1832, 27 April 1832, Atkinson Letter Book.]

Lincoln is elected captain of company in Thirty-first Regiment of Illinois Militia. Thomas Wigginton is appointed first lieutenant and Coonrad Elmore second lieutenant.IA—Executive Register.

News reaches New Salem of Gov. Reynolds' call for mounted volunteers to meet at Beardstown April 22, 1832 to drive Black Hawk and his band west of Mississippi River. Sangamon County is called on for 350 men. Stevens, Black Hawk War, 113; ISLA—Bulletin, No. 54.

Lincoln gives William Sampson receipt "in full of all demands up to the day." Receipt to William Sampson, 21 April 1832, CW, 1:9.

[In 1860 Lincoln wrote: "In less than a year Offutt's business was failing—had almost failed—when the Black Hawk war of 1832—broke out."Autobiography Written for John L. Scripps, [c. June 1860], CW, 4:60-67.]

Black Hawk War recruits of New Salem neighborhood meet at farm of Dallis Scott on Richland Creek, nine miles southwest of New Salem. They form company and elect Lincoln captain. ISLA—Bulletin, No. 54; Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, 100; Wayne C. Temple, Lincoln’s Arms, Dress and Military Duty During and After the Black Hawk War (Springfield: State of Illinois Military and Naval Department, 1981), 12-15.

Lincoln's company goes into camp at Beardstown. In wrestling match with Lorenzo Dow Thompson, Lincoln is thrown in two straight falls. Match is to settle whether Lincoln's company or Capt. William Moore's company shall have camp ground. IHi—Trans., 1904, 433-34.

Gov. Reynolds writes to Gen. Henry Atkinson at Fort Armstrong that he expects to have "about 1,500 mounted men on the 25th or 26th inst." Spring of 1832 has been wet and little farm work has been done. Farmers who have volunteered expect to be home from campaign in few days to work fields. Horses are hard to get, and forage is scarce. Reynolds Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Lincoln and other captains hold light drills. On 25th, Lincoln draws from Brigade Quartermaster William Thomas corn, pork, salt, one barrel of flour, and five and a half gallons of whiskey. Next day he draws fifty pounds of lead. Quartermaster's Record, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

[Sangamo Journal, April 26, 1832, bursts into poetry:

Two Sauk messengers sent by Gen. Atkinson return from Black Hawk's camp and report that Black Hawk and chiefs of band say they have "no bad intentions," but will not return to west side of Mississippi. IHi—Journal of Felix St. Vrain, 26 April 1832, Photocopy.]

Capt. Lincoln draws one axe from quartermaster.Quartermaster's Record, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

[Contemporary letters indicate that Lincoln's company, like many others, changed its view of war after five days in camp. Little disposition was at first manifested to question governor's call. But lack of discipline and shameful way appointments are made cause many soldiers to believe they are on holiday excursion and not on expedition against hostile Indians.]

Capt. Lincoln's company is enrolled in state service by Col. John J. Hardin, inspector general and mustering officer.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 279.

Lincoln draws supplies—soap, candles, flints, 50-pound grid iron, 4 tin buckets, 7 coffee boilers, 7 tin pans, and 16 tin cups, as well as 1 keg powder, whiskey, corn, pork, flour, bread, salt, 3 blankets, 144 yards of domestic, and "1 Buck Tape."Quartermaster's Record, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

From Cyrus Edwards, acting quartermaster general, he draws 30 muskets and bayonets. [When Lincoln returns these arms, three muskets and nine bayonets are missing.]IA—Governor's Correspondence, Military.

March from Beardstown begins. Some 150 soldiers without horses are ordered to go by boat to Yellow Banks. Gov. Reynolds and 1,500 mounted militia camp for night three miles east of Rushville.Reynolds Order and Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

According to Orville H. Browning, volunteers move to new camp four miles north of Rushville, day's march being seven miles.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 117-18.

William Carpenter of Sangamon County reports day's march as three miles and camp as Rushville. Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii.

Gen. Whiteside orders that "there is to be no firing of guns in the lines or encampment without permission." Lincoln's company is made part of Fourth Illinois Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, commanded by Col. Samuel M. Thompson, in brigade of Brig. Gen. Samuel Whiteside. Col. Thompson began his services as first lieutenant in Lincoln's company.David Prickett to editor, Illinois Herald, Springfield, 3 May 1832; Reynolds Order and Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.