Gov.  Reynolds  again  issued  a  call  for  volunteers  to  protect
the  settlers  from  this  invasion.  A  company  was  promptly
raised  in  Menard  county,  in  the  formation  of  which,  Abraham
Lincoln  was  one  of  the  most  active.  From  New  Salem,  Clary's
Grove,  and  elsewhere  in  the  vicinity,  an  efficient  force  was
gathered,  and  in  making  their  organization,  Lincoln  was
elected  Captain — and  this  was  the  first  promotion  he  had  ever


40  LIFE    OF    ABRAHAM    LINCOLN.
received  by  the  suffrages  of  his  fellows,  and  one  that  afforded
particular  satisfaction  to  his  not  unaspiring,  though  modest
spirit.
Their  first  march  was  to  the  rendezvous  appointed  by  Gov.
Reynolds,  at  Beardstown,  one  of  the  earlier  settlements  on  the
Illinois  river,  fort}7  miles  west  of  New  Salem.  Here  eighteen
hundred  men  were  speedily  assembled,  under  the  direction  of
the  Governor.  The  forces  were  organized  into  four  regiments,
with  an  additional  spy  battalion.  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside,
of  the  State  militia,  who  had  commanded  the  spy  battalion  in
the  campaign  of  the  previous  year,  was  now  intrusted  with  the
command  of  the  whole  brigade.  Gen.  James  D.  Henry  was
placed  at  the  head  of  the  spy  battalion.
