The potency of the Emancipation Act was so patent to the least politician that, long before 1863, when its announcement opened the memorable year for freedom, not only had its demonstration been implored by his friends, but some of his subordinates had tried to launch its lightning with not so impersonal a sentiment. To a religious body, pressing him to verify his title of Abolitionist, he replied: "I do not want to issue a document that the whole world will see must necessarily be inoperative, like the pope's bull against the comet." * * * * * A VOLUNTEER CAPTAINCY WORTH TWO DOLLARS. While he was a lumberer, Lincoln was in the employ of one Kirkpatrick, who "ran" a sawmill. In hiring the new man, the employer had promised to buy him a dog, or cant-hook, of sufficient size to suit a man of uncommon stature. But he failed in his pledge and would not give him the two dollars of its value for his working without the necessary tool. Though far from a grudging disposition, Lincoln cherished this in memory. When the Black Hawk War broke out and the governor called out volunteers, Sangamon County straightway responded and raised a company of rangers. This Kirkpatrick wished and strove to be elected captain, but Lincoln recited his grievance to the men, and said to his friend William Green (or Greene): "Bill, I believe I can now make even with Kirkpatrick for the two dollars he owes me for the cant-hook." Setting himself up for candidate, he won the post. It was a triumph of popularity which rejoiced him. As late as 1860, he said he had not met since that success any to give him so much satisfaction. * * * * * GETTING THE COMPANY COLUMN THROUGH "ENDWISE." Captain Lincoln was drilling his men, marching the twenty or so "by the front," when he found himself before a gap in the fence through which he wanted to go. He says: "I could not for the life of me remember the proper words of command--("By the right flank--file left--march.--Hardee's Tactics")--for getting my company endwise so that it could get through the gateway; as we came near the passage, I shouted: "'Company, halt! break ranks! you are dismissed for two minutes, when you will fall in again on the other side of the gap!'" * * * * * REGULAR AND IRREGULAR. In the Black Hawk War, Captain Lincoln came to cross-purposes with the regular army commissariat. The latter insisted on the fare and other service for the army being superior to what the Bucktail Rangers got; the latter, however, were empowered by the governor to forage rather freely, so that the settlers were said to fear more for their fowls through their protectors than from the Indians for their scalps. Once, when Lincoln's corps were directed to perform some duty which he did not think accrued to them, he did it. But he went to the army officer, to whom he reported, and said plainly: