Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-08-19
CENTENNIAL VISITOR.


Indian and kept until full grown, when
he was sold to person living in Eau |
Claire county, Wisconsin. How long !
he remained with this person we are not
informed, but ut the breaking out of the |
rebellion, as a patriotic citizen, he took |
his eagle to the village of Eau Claire,
where company of volunteers We're re-
cruiting, and presented the bird to them.
Eagles, you know, are noted for their
strength and vigor, great swiftness OF
flight, and ability to mount high in the
air. They build their nests upon lofty
and almost inaccessible cliffs, and show
great care in providing food for their
young, and in teaching them to fly
They are birds of plunder, and their pow
er of vision is said to be very great. Ea
giles, too, are long-lived, and in moulting
seem each time to renew their youth
This bird was held in high esteem by
tho ancient Greeks and Hebrews, and
many striking and beautiful illusions nre
made to it in the Scripture. 1t was Asso-
ciated with Jupiter in the Roman myth
ology and its figure on the standards OF
the Roman legions expressed and anima-
ted their confidence Of victory. The fig
ure of an eagle has long been impressed
upon coins and upon banners, as emblem
attic of independence. 1t is our own ma
ha.sl Il a. l Z.
brave spirit, proved, during the war of
the rebellion, n fitting representative of
its long honored race.
The soldiers, pleased with their gift,
at once named their bird Abe, after Alb
raham Lincoln, then President of the
United States. They also prepared
splendid perch for his accommodations
II long polo surmounted by n painted
shield, and above it perch on which the
eagle could stand. In this way, fastened
| by Il tether, Abe was taken to Madison,
the capital of Wisconsin, where other
regiments were formed.
The Eau Claire company became Com
pany X of the Sth Wisconsin Regt, and
with them Abe was taken to tho seat of
war. He was carried like musket on
the shoulder of a soldier detailed for that
purpose and on drill, it is said tho sol
dier would go through all the movement
Of the commanding olllcer-right and left
shift, shoulder arms, support arms,
charge bayonets, etc. At the command
Of order arms Abe's staff would como
down upon the ground with n thud,
which, however, did not seem in the least
to disconcert his eagleship.
During battle he was carried beside the
colors, and it was here he did so much
good for his country for though cap
tive bird, he was still wild and unsubdu-
ed, seemed to take delight in a fierce bat-
tie, and, with shot and she'll flying about
in every direction, would snrcll aud
scream in such way that he was heard
for great distance above the din OF bat
tie. He would excitedly hop up and
down upon his perch, tapping his wings,
|
the army, would send forth such loud,
clarion notes rs to st6rtlo the enemy. 1t
was firmly believed by the boys in blue
that their eagle thus helped them to more
easily win some Of their battles.
In other ways, too, Old Abe was an
advantage to them. We have already
said that during the battle he had nm
honored place beside tho colors. These
colors consist Of our national standard
the stars and stripes battle or
State flag. The latter is generally of
dark blue silk, with rich orange fringe,
and the coats of arms, adopted by each
State, embroidered upon it, so that on
seeing several regiments pass by they are
easily distinguishablo.
You wilkhnd il pleasing diversion TO
study out the various banners OF tho
States, and see how many have adopted
the eagle, among other devices, for their
State flag, as well as to surmount in gold, &,
our national flag.
This flag is borne on the battle field by
color-sergeant, usually Selected from
the regiment for his bravery, intelligence,
patriotism, etc. lie has II guard Of eight
picked men called corporas. In the
midst of fierce onslaught, If n brave
sergeant sees his regiment yayering, he
will at once advance eight or ten PAGES
beyond the line. when the soldiers, no
matter how disheartened they mny be-,
will Immediately spring forward in de-
fence of their flag. For upon the white
stripes the battle they have won are re-
corded, and it is with true soldierly pride
their battered flag Is returned, at the end
Of war to their Capitol.
Knowing this, and how much Old Abe
was thought of by each member Of the
/ 9Th Wisconsin Reg't-whose colors bear
record Of many n hard.fought battle,
among them those Of Corinth, the siege
of Vicksburg, and the Red River cam
paign-Abe's bearer many times placed
/ him in advance, when his comrades, with
their wild Western yell, would spring
after and fight with renewed bravery
I Can we wonder that the State Of Wiscon-
sin has since held this bird in so much
esteem?
In the army he was privileged char
acter. When taken into the suffers tent
he would, in a dignfed manner, help