Lincoln’s wrestling match with Jack Armstrong

[Dave Taylor]

I have a pretty basic question that I need some help with. Who won the famous wrestling match between Abraham Lincoln and Jack Armstrong of the Clary’s Grove boys?

I had always assumed that Lincoln had been the winner and thus, earned Jack’s respect. But in Joe DiCola’s wonderful book on New Salem that I just recently finished reading, he included a letter from Lynn McNulty Greene which implies that Jack brought Lincoln down. Is there an answer as to who actually won the wrestling match?

[RJNorton]

Dave, personally I think it's hard to tell if there was a clear winner. There are many different accounts, some of which are almost assuredly embellished to some extent.

A book entitled Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln by Douglas Wilson devotes an entire chapter to the wrestling match. This chapter includes a lot of eyewitness accounts (as well as accounts by various authors, Lincoln acquaintances, etc.). If you have access to the book please see chapter one.

Wilson writes, "Probably the most accurate story of what took place is that of Rowan Herndon, an eye - witness, who says that after striving a long time without either man prevailing, Lincoln said, 'Jack, let's quit. I can't throw you - you can't throw me.' Armstrong agreed and the matter was ended in fun."

[Dave Taylor]

(12-28-2023 01:53 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Dave, personally I think it's hard to tell if there was a clear winner. There are many different accounts, some of which are almost assuredly embellished to some extent.

A book entitled Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln by Douglas Wilson devotes an entire chapter to the wrestling match. This chapter includes a lot of eyewitness accounts (as well as accounts by various authors, Lincoln acquaintances, etc.). If you have access to the book please see chapter one.

Thanks for the suggestion, Roger. I'll have to check out Douglas Wilson's book to read more about it. I suppose it makes sense that there isn't a definitive answer as to who won the match. The greater lesson is that both men came to respect each other as a result.

I have such fond memories of visiting New Salem as a kid and on my 8th-grade class field trip to the Springfield area. Reading Joe Di Cola's book over Christmas break made me wish I still lived in Illinois so I could revisit the place with this book as my guide.