Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-05-18
The Wisconsin War-Eagle at the
Centennial-A Soldiers Mar
row Escape.

CenLenQ1dI-A 6OiNtIeIS Ndr-
row Escape.
One of the best known war heroes
of Wisconsin is Old Abe, the eagle
that went through the war with the
9Th Wisconsin regiment and is still
alive. Atwood 81 Culver, of Madi-
son, have published a so cent book of
the soldier bird, which is good read
ing and can be had by addressing
them. Old Abe has been taken to
the Centennial Exhibition by John f.
Hill one of his bearers, of whom the
book relates the following
THRILLING ADVENTURE
Among the "Chippewa Eagle
Boys" is John +. Hill, brother of
Thomas, both of Company 9 i; their
father was killed in the battle of
Petersburg. John enlisted when he
was sixteen In the battle of Cor
NTH, Hill was standing beside the
Eagle, near McLane had fired six
times, and was just putting on a cap
for another discharge, when Mimic
ball struck his right arm at the joint
of the elbow and glanced off into his
side, passing clear through him. He
fell instantly. Seeing his favorite
boy lying there, a soldier ran to
Capt. Wolf declaring, "Johny Hill is
killed !" "Never mind,'' replied the
Captain, eve cannot attend to dead
men now" Soon after this the Cap
tain himself passed the spot, looked at
him, rolled him oyer, and pronounced
him dead then with his sword he
knocked the bark off tree near by,
that he might be more readily found
after the battle. Our army fell back;
the rebels advanced, passing our
wounded soldier. Four hours he lay
there weltering in his blood. the pulse
of life feebly beating. Coming to
his consciousness about dark, he rose
to his feet, and, with staggering
gait started for the Union camp, but
had not gone far when he was taken
prisoner, and turned back, fainting at
intervals OH the way. By midnight
he had walked four miles to the rebel
hospital, where he was obliged to lie
out all that rainy night under tree.
Some time during the darkness, after
the rebel wounded were cared for,
John respectfully entreated the Sur
geon to dress his wound.
"Dress your wound ?" replied the
"Southern gentleman" whats the
use ? You wont live till morning !"
o, the painful hours-how slowly
they dragged the night /! Three
o'clock -four o'clock-six o'clock
morning ! and yet he lives, unpitied,
untouched, save by the sweet heavens
that wept over him. In due time the
Surgeon went the ronnds among his
patients, inquiring after their condi-
ton, and finding John steaming IN the
vet, shouted ssIIello, Yank, you
are alive yet, ar'n't We p
"Guess | am" family answered the
resolute boy.
"Wel, you'll fog out to day-it's
going to be-hot. Eat that if you
want" said the good hearted Sur
geon, throwing him some parched
corn.
About II NJ, the rebels began to
retreat, when cavalry man rushed
into the hospital saying: "All that
are able to walk, come with me the
Yanks are driving us ?"
Just as the word was spoken, and
portion had left, John staggered to
the same Surgeon, and asked him if
he had any objection to his going to
Corinth.
"No you can't go rod from
where you are standing" answered
the rebel, with an oath.
John now began his snail like
journey to his friends, the blood from
his side frothing out at every motion
That morning Thomas (he brothep)
procuring spade and picaxe, and a
head-board on which he had record
ed the sad epitaph, and, thus equip
ped, hurried to find the tree marked
by Capt. Wolf, there expecting to
bury the body of his dead brother.
Thus the two boys were approaching
each other, but by different routes,
not far apart, however. At dis
lance, John saw Thomas, and spoke
as loud as he could-"rhomas !"
Thus Intercepted, Thomas looked
here and there, and at last discerned
a straggler, but bid not OF first recoe-
nize him. Again John called,
"Thomas, it's mel"
Thomas approached, and, when
within few rods, recognized his
brother, and chokingly articulated +:
" You,-John =? John
Imagine the happy meeting-the
dead aliye again John leaned upon
his brothers arm, and thus was
helped into Corinth, where he was
tenderly cared for by our Surgeon.
When his wound was dressed, he
tainted, but soon revived. That night
the Surgeon gave orders to watch
John, stating he would probably die
before morning. 1t is hard to kill
soldier. He recovered, and is now
able to do light work as a worthy
citizen. He remained in the service
another year, at one time faithfully
fulfilling the duties of the Adjutant's
Orderly. AS already mentioned, John
handsomely bore "Old Abe" for a
while during "thc soldier time" and
at the great Sanitary Fairs of Chica-
go and Milwaukee, in 1865. BY APP
pointment of Gov. Ludington he now
has the honor of bearing the proud
bird 10 the Centennial, as