The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-08
Old ABE.''
"Reminiscences of the
Far-Famed War
Eagle.
An Officer Of his Regi-
ment Tells Some
Stories of his
Experience.

Major Dawes. who commanded a com.
pany of the Eighth Wisconsin,. gives som,
facts about 'Old Abe" the bald eagle tina
went through the war with that res inent
My first acquaintance with him." saw,
the officer. was in the spring of 1861. ins,
about twenty years ago. now. The Eog
lish Wisconsin regiment a company a
which had the honor to command was
gong into camp at Camp Randall. in
Madison, and with one of the companies.
that commanded by Captain Perkins.
came the eagle. then chicken about half
or two thirds grown.
before he came into camp Of
make him part of the regiment
for the war, or whether it was de-
Veloped afterward, do not recollect. but
1t was understood before VIC left the cann
| that the bird was enlisted, and he was
christened odd Abe" and one of the tall
est men in the regiment detailed to carry
and take care of him. with the UNDER
standing that at tho end of the war he was
to convey him to Washington and present
bin TO his namesake, the President. A
standard. with @ slanting platform on il.
over which was carved quiyer aud arrows
tor him to stand upon. was obtained, and
upon this he made made his way on the
march. A cord attached to his leg secur-
ed him to his standard. and standing on
this perch, over the shoulder of bis bearer
and near the eelors of the regiment, he was
the observed OF all the observer His lost
Doted flight was at the battle of Corinth.
General Movers horse was shot under
hln. / lost one third of all the men had.
either killed or wounded, was shot myself
and bullet cut Old Abcss' cord, ali in
"a oment of time, The rebs we're down on
us with whoop and yell. saw our eagle
soarlpR-that is pretty classical word TO
Us, but 1t alone can express the dignity of
the flight away over the rebel lines - and
supposed he was gone for keeps, as did
We all, and sorry enough we were. Wei
were IN trouble enough, licked-for the
time being, our friendsk iiled and wounded.
old Joe's horse shot land we all liked the
old fellow on his masters accountl and
above all. our eagle gone over to the rebs.
Some of my men gathered me up in q |
blanket and took me along as best they |
could, aud We had not gone far before.' Did |
Abe came swoopinR back to his perch |
which was being brought along, for We did |
not mean TO let'the Johnnies crow anyhow.
This sounds almost TO poetical to be be-
lieVed, but there were too many eye-wit-
nesses to 1t to be successfully eontradicted.
these and assert them to be true"
What did he use to live on in the
ield? ?" Rebel chickens seemed to agree
With his constitution remarkably we'll |
He never suffered for want of food; the
est of as sometimes did. I have seen the
whole regiment on chase after rabbit
across the field after hard days march.
shopping like iends for his supper o.!
course, it was fun, but its being for the :
'agle heleped the fun wonderfully
"Wnera was be usually during an
Engagement f"S" Always in tie thickest ofI
he fight, near the coIoFs, usually on the r.
.rouad, occasionally flying 10 lis perch y
nd Dreaming terrifealy, He seemed to v
now what business was being transacted Z
nd nature Of it. He would stand by a | 4
annon which was being served with the fl
reatest rapidity, without finching and
be rattle of small arms appeared to
eight him, OF course be did not knew
that it was to be hurt by the balls, but /
e'ieve he appreciated that trouble came P
D those about him by their means. He
Tas bird only. but thera will be q great
lany wet eyes when the news of it's death I
caches the survivors Of the Eis hth Regi | |
1ent.