The Baltimore County union., 1883-06-16
"oLD ABE" THE WAR EAGLE.

years. This famous bird was captured
in the northern wildS of Wisconsin in
1901, when but an eaglet in the nest,
by a Chippewa Indian by the melo-
dious name Of A-ge.mah-we ge-zig.
Old Abe was sold by the Indian to
farmer for 4 bushel Of corn, and
eventually presented to Company c.
Eighth Wisconsin regiment, ever kdown
as the eagle Regiment" After the
new recruit was sworn into service, rib
bons of red, white and blue were put
around his neck, and 4 rosette upon
his breast. The soldiers named him
Old Abe, in honor of the President,
and made him fine perch, consisting
of long pole surrounded by the ma
tional shield above which stood the bird.
a soldier was detailed to carry him as he
would any other banner. During the three
years campaign Old Abe was in more
than a score of battles, besides many
skirmishes. He was at the siege Of
Vicksburg, the desperate battle Of CO.
rinth, and all through the Red river
campaign, and yet the brave war bird
came out Of every battle with scarce
the loss of feather. He seemed to
have a charmed life.
In the fall of 1901, as the regiment
marched to the seat of war, the patri
otic bird was carried in the van down
into Dixie land. He became 4 great
favorite with the soldiers, and every
where was greeted with applause. At
St. Louis a gentleman offered to give
$500 for him, and another said:
''i'll give my farm for him."
But the boys said they could not
part with their soldier bird. He soon
learned the various army movements,
and seemed TO understand the bugle
calls. In dress parade at the command,
Attention." he would obey orders
as promptly as any one in the regiment.
He was very fond of music, and was
especially delighted with "John Brown"
and "Yankce Doodle"
Old Abe liked the excitement OF
battle. At the sound Of preparations
for conflict his bright eye would flash
with delight, and when the bullets and
bombs were whizzing and screaming
around him, he would jump up and
down upon his perch, furiously flap
ping his wings, then as the battle grew
fiercer, he would shrek and scream
until his wild voice could be heard
above the laundering din around him.
Sometimes, poised on extended wing
above the strife, he would circle around
beyond the reach of bullets, but yet
near enough to be seen and heard by
both friend and foe.
When the regiment was in camp Old
Abe was privileged character. His
favori,e place Of resort was the suffers
tent, where he would often help him
self to fruits, rabbit, chicken, or any
other delicacy he might fancy. Some
times when opportunity offered he would
go on foraging expedition, confisca
ting sundry frightened fowls from neigh
boring barn-yards.
The enemy called him Yankee
Buzzard" and "Old OWL" and more
than once orders were given for his
capture. At the battle of Corinth the
rebel General Price, knowing the fame
and influence of the eagle, ordered his
men to take him, dead or alive, at all
| naLardS, saying:
al would rather capture Old Abe
than whole brigade"
In the bloody conflict the eagle leapcd
upward, breaking his cord, and was
seen circling around and around above
the awful carnage. Rebel sharp shoot
ers sent their bullets after the soldier
bird in vain. One ball passed through
the feathers Of his wing near the flesh.
In the midst of the fight. catching a
glimpse of his bearer, he descended TO
his regiment, and was carried trcmb
ling and painting TO the rear. The
soldiers would have shot and buried
the bird rather than have had him cap
tured by the rebels.
On one occasion while the regiment
was on picket guard at Bear Creek, he
followed the example OF certain digni.
tarics OF the army and got drunk. a
soldier having bought some peach bran
dy, poured out saucerful, and, leav-
ing il for few moments, turned to
attend to some camp duty, when Abe,
always on the watch for spoils, 'took 4
glass;" and in little while was intoxi-
Gated after the usual style OF hard
drinkers. He lolled his tongue and
tried to vomit, tapped his wings heavily
upon the ground, rolled over, and be-
haved in 4 manner which, while it
would have been proper o. in soldier,
was unbecoming for an eagle.
In 1904, At the close OF the war, Old
Abe was presented by the brave Wis
consin Eighth to the State of Wiscon.
sin, and given place Of honor at Madi.
son, the capital. Ample summer quar-
tiers were provided for him in a pretty
house on the capitol grounds. A
wounded soldier Of his company had
the "vctcran" eagle in charge, the
State appropriated money for his sup.
port.
At reunion of the State veterans
Abe's former keeper presented himself
before the warrior bird. Immediately
the eagle with screams of JOY hoped
from his perch and lighted on his
shoulder, as he used to do in battle,
evincing all the delight that a bird
could at meeting an old comrade, the
scene bringing three cheers for Old Abe
from the assembled soldiers. In all the
history Of the bird since il had been at
Madison there had never been such n
manifestation toward any other person.
Passing up the main aisle Of the Ag-
ricultural Building one day, we found a
centennial visitor Of more than ordinary
interest. There, perched on his seat OF
honor, above our heads, his bright eyes
peering about as If he was wondering
what such a crowd meant, sat Old Abe,
with the inscription above, ale never
lost battle.
We wcrc told hv | q Rarret who