None could surpass him in running, leaping, swimming and in boyish sports.

He was fond of fishing and of rough games, and as a fighter few of his years could stand in front of him.

In numerous athletic trials he was invariably the victor, and it must be admitted that he loved fighting as well as he liked playing ball or fishing.

He gave and received hard knocks, and even at that early age showed evidence of the combative, aggressive courage that became so marked a feature of his manhood.
An incident is related by Z.K.Pangborn, the well known editor of New Jersey, who took charge of the Montpelier school, in which George Dewey was a pupil.

The school was notorious for the roughness of a number of its pupils, who had ousted more than one instructor and welcomed the chance to tackle a new one.