A man in another regiment, named @Thompson, showed up to fight Lincoln. Their preliminary match made Lincoln believe that this time he had bitten off more than he could chew. He suggested as much to his backers, who were betting not only all their money, but all their equipment, too, on Lincoln's win. They didn't believe him. But the first bout ended disastrously for Illinois. Lincoln was clearly "downed." The next, or settling bout, ended the same way. Lincoln's supporters, though, would not "see," and refused to pay up their bets. The whole company was about to fight over the decision, when Captain Lincoln spoke up:
"Boys, Thompson threw me fair and clean the first time. And he did the same the next time, but not so clearly."
"In peace or in war," it was always the same "Honest Abe."
