Grigsby

[mbgross]

Did Lincoln get into an actual physical altercation with one of the Grigsby brothers, along the time of the authorship of the, "Chronicles of Reuben"? Thanks in advance.

[RJNorton]

Mike, this is from Louis Warren's Lincoln's Youth Indiana Years 1816-1830:

"A result of the writing of "The Chronicles" is said to have been a fight between William Grigsby and John D. Johnston. The accounts of the cause, time, place, and result of this contest are so confusing and contradictory that there is no possibility of learning just what took place. Most versions agree that the grievance was between Lincoln and Grigsby, but Johnston was substituted because he was nearer the size of Grigsby than the much larger Abe. The fight is attributed to Johnston's making up "The Chronicles" story, Abe's writing it out, and a dispute between Grigsby and Abe over the ownership of a spotted pup. The time of the fight varies with the cause, from the heated argument over the pup in 1826 to the period after the writing of "The Chronicles" in 1829. There are at least half a dozen places where the fight is said to have taken place and one eyewitness stated "every township in the county was represented" among those who saw it. Another claimed that he climbed a tree that he might see over the heads of the people who gathered around. The results given of the contest are just as confusing, one being that Johnston was soundly thrashed, another that Grigsby was the first to cry "enough," and still another that because of foul play Lincoln stepped in and broke up the battle. Apparently, we have several community squabbles all rolled into one grand championship exhibition."

[mbgross]

Interesting. Thank you.