The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-12

OF chimney was witnessed by shouting
thousands. Here Secretary Cameron and
General Thomas complimented the
Eighth on their pei, and one enthusiastic
Illinoisan offered a farm for the bird,
but Captain Perkins reioinder that "No
money can buy him, became proverbial.
From here the Eagle regiment went on
to the front, and they and their bird par
ticipated in thirty-six battles and Skin
mishes.
Numerous stories are told of cold
Abe" in connection with the engage.
ments in which he figured. He always
sat on his perch undisturbed by any
noise or tumult, the impersonation of
naughty defiance. He shared all the
long marches of his regiment, including
Sherman's great raid and the campaign
up Red river, and passed through a
great number of battles, in which he
once or twice had some of his feathers
shot away and his wings pierced, but
never received scratch from q rebel
bullet sufficient to draw blood; he bore
several scars, however, and his old COM
rades could always recognize him by
those. At Vicksburg "Old Abe" was
literally amid shot and shell, and acted
like true hero.
Meanwhile, the eagle clinched his claws
fast 60 the grooves of his perch, and,
standipg under the proud colors, bent
his head, soldier like, on o listening
angle, his fierce eyes rejecting the glare
of the battle, his wings outstretched, his
voice heard, as Oft before, cheering his
compatriots to the shock for conquest.
The eagle became as bitterly hated in
the Southern lines as he was beloved by
the Union army, and many attempts
we're made to capture him, but in vain.
He was always at the front, under close
fire, and often appeared like an inspired
being. In dress parade he would fire.
quently seize the colors in his beak and
pose like the typical bird on the national
seal, and was always doing the right
thing in the right place.
Well SCARED by service, and almost
deifed by the entire army, "Old Abe"
returned home on furlough with his
now world-renowned regiment, and was
again in Capitol Park at Madison on the
Odd of June, 1864. He was received with
a royal welcome, and the company again
went to the front with the eagle and par.
ticipated in the battle of Hurricane
Creek, where the bird screamed at the
fore throughout the rapid charge, and
nerved ''the boys on to many glorious
deed.
The bearers again arrived at Madison,
Sept %, 1864, and "Old Abe" was for
mally transferred to the State with Of
fetal ceremonies and amid the plaudits
of large multitude. He has ever since
been kept, with a care and devotion
highly creditable to the patriotic senti-
ment of successive administrations. as an
honored and inspiring memento of the
Eighth Regiment, and the times in which
it fought the battles of the Nation with
the true and strong men who rallied
around the flag.
As civilian "Old Abe has been doing
constant duty as "relic, and it is COM
puted that he has earned $50, 900 for the
various charitable institutions which have
had him on exhibition. He liked to be
admired, and gave unmistaken evidences
of his enjoyment. In 1865 he was fea
ture Of the Northwest Sanitary Fair in
Chicago, where the quilts which he shed
occasionally were eagerly bought for So
each. The same year he held forth as
the chief attraction at the Milwaukee
Soldiers Home Fair, where his pictures
were sold by the thousands. In 1866 he
was at the Soldiers and Sailors Conven
ton at Pittsburg; and in the Wisconsin
campaign that fall held forth in several
political tourch-light professions; he
helped dedicate the Soldiers monument
at Peora, ILL.,, in October. In 1868 "Old
Abe" was at the Soldiers and Sailors
Convention at Chicago. At this time,
soldiers reunions became common
throughout the West and his presence
at such gatherings was always considered
as essential as the old flag itself. In 1870
he signalized himself at the Army of the
Tennessee reunion in Madison; in 1875
at the Grand Army reunion at Chicago,
and throughout the Centennial he was q
leading character, admired by the peo-
pie Of all nationalities.
Since the Centennial he has been at a
Geneva Lake festival, the great reunion
at Newark, Ohio, the Minnesota State
Fair, soldiers reunions at Durand,
Menomonee, Richland Center, Mazom-
anie, Milwaukee, Aurora, ILL.,, Rock
ford, ILL.,, Stanton and Columbus, Ohio,
and at Decoration Day ceremonies and
miscellaneous district fairs without end.
In the winter Of 1S7S-79 he occupied a
prominent position in the Old South
Church fair in Boston, and all New
England fairly went wild over him.
DIR. GLENN's FARM.-A. B. Whitehill,
w ritae IN tho Chico go Tribupo a a fol q