Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-13

REMINIsCENSEs OF THE FAMED WAR EAGLE
AN OFFICER OF HIS REGIMENT TELLS
SOME THRILLING INCIDENTS OF TIE
BIRDS EXPERIENCES IN TIE BATTLES OF
THE LATE WAR.
Major Dawes. who commanded IL Conf
pany of the eighth Wisconsin, gives some
facts about "Old Abe" the bald eagle
that went through the war with that regI-
ment. my first acquaintance with him,
says the officer, ''was in the spring Of
1861. just about 20 years ago, now Tho
eighth Wisconsin regiment n company Of
which had the honor 10 command, was
going into camp at Camp Randall, i'll
Madison, and with one of the companies.
commanded 10y Capt. Perkins. came the
eagle, then n chicken about half or two
thirds grown. whether the idea had
been formed before he came into camp of
making him II part of the regiment for
the war, or whether it was developed
aftcrwarl, do not rccollcct, but it was
understood before We left the camp that
the bird was enlisted. and ha was chris
tened "Old Abe. and one of the tallcst
men III the regiment detailed TO carry and
take care of him, with the understand
ing that at the end Of the war ho was to
convey him to WASHINGTON and present
HIM to his namesakc, the president A
standard, with slantlng platform on it,
over which was a carved quiver and ar
rows for HIM to stand upon was obtained,
and upon this he made his way when on
the march. A cord attached to his leg
secured him to his stardard, and on this
perch, over the shoulder of his bearer,
and near the colors OF the regiment, he
WAS the observed of all observers. His
most noted flight was at the battle of
Corinth. Gen. Movers horse was shot
under him. lost one-ihIrd of all the
men i had. either killed or wounded, was
shot myself, and a bullet cut Old Abe's,,
cord, all III moment Of time The robs
were down on MS with n whoop and yell.
l saw our eagle soaring that is pretty
classical word to use. bu. it alone can cx-
press the dignity of the flight away over
tho robel lines supposed he was
gone for keeps, MS did We all. and sorry
enough we were We were in trouble
enough. licked for the time being-our
friends killed AMI wounded. JOS horse
shot land We all liked the old fellow on
his masters account aud, above all, our
eagle gone over To- the rebs Some of
my men gathered me mp in blanket and
took me along IA best they could, and we
had not gone far before 'old Abe came
swooping back TO his perch, which was
being brought along, for W. did not mean
to let the ,Jchnnics crow over that any
how. This sounds almost too poeticpl to
be believed, bui there Were too many eye
witnesses to ii to he successfully contra
dicted. l know these things of my own
knowledge. and assert them to he true"
what did he Use to live ON i'll the
field?" ''Rebel chickens seemed TO agree
with his constitution remarkably well.
He never suffered for want Of food the
rest of us sometimes did. ! have seen
the whole regiment on ciast after rab-
bit across the field after u hard days
march, whooping hike iicnd.'. for his sup
per. OF course II was fun. but its being
for the eagle helped the fun wonderful
w."
Where was he usually ,inring an ell
gagement ?" "Always in the thickest of
the fight, near the culur9. usually on the
ground, occasionally flying tn the perch
and screaming tcrriiically. He seemed to
know what business was heing transacted
and the nature of it. lie would stand
BY IL cannon which was hcinS served with
the greatest rapidity. without ilinching,
aud the rattle Of small arms appeared to
delight him. Of course he did not know
what it was 10 he hurt 10y the balls, but |
believe he appreciated that trouble came
to those about him by their means. He
was bird only, hut there will he great
many wet eyes when The news uf his
death reaches the survivors Of the eighth
rauin,ant ~