The National tribune., 1883-05-03

Wisconsin and Ola Abe. the var eagle He ssvs
the e..s-le was Constantly ties. and go e. r
rnent never took him into battle TIE writer "a
terribly mistaken The regiment very seldom
went into battle without the eagle being with the
CO crs, although IN one two instances when Ghe
n ,iIE1snt double Saicked iEto actions as
IuSa, AIississippi-the bearer Of the eagle could
not keep up, owing to the encumbranee of the
shield and Bird aEssi had 10 aa out Only az such
times was the bird absent The eagle was quite
frequently allowed his liberty and allowed to go 1T
viii, particularly IN camp. and at one time, wbile
passing through St Louis, he al sg,n liberty as
to be Terched ontOp OF one of the buildings OF that
city As for the regiment not being ct Frederick
town or in the fight, and Not having arrived at
Pilot Knob until 4 month after the battle, the
writer is also ineFror The regiment and the eagle
marched all night with The forces from Pilot Knob
ON October %. 1901, and arrived at fredericktown
on the morning OF the 2fst We fSund the camp
fires Of the enemy stiU burning, but no enemy in
the town, and lay down NJ the streets and slept
until about / p m OF that day, when we were
awakened by the firing of artillery south Of the
town All feff in Mt once and moved ont for action
We advanced some distance south OF the town, and
am there. for it was az thar time
and place that saw the first man shot and he
a member Of our eliHcnt. / also saw two Gov
eminent mules knocked out Of a siS-fnu!e team by
cannon shot from the enemy and not ten feet
from me. such things one cannot easily forget,
when 70 - ones hrst experience IN 8bOut
this time regiment was ordered back 10 hold
the town and guard the trains and rear. We took
our fGH share in that engagement, and we're 50
lines served four years and two months with the
Eighth Wisconsin infantry Was in every engage
seven in Gli-ani q the time spoken of was cap
tain Of company a.. ard wa mustered out IN the
thinl<th writer ID the article mentioned meant to
mike a f,isc statement ~ regard 90 the Eighth
Wisconsin. bet he certainly = mistaken;
JsxEzvr,LE. WIS
To the Eltor NATfoSAL TRGrrxx:
Permit mr. - ny . few more words IN regard
% uid Abe He captured by a ChippesSa
lnfi-an WHEN he was two years odd and BY him
traded to -. GeCanR for a bushel 81 corn. and by
NicCann sold fnF I'D 10 company Of the Eighth
Wisconsin He was sworn into the service bv
having red. white and biue ribbons and rosette
% the uatera! put arOtInsl- his neck James
stctETis eagle bearer and Capt. J. E Perkins,
tened him Old Abe. in honor of President Lincoln.
from that time ever after the regiTnentwa known
I - the eagle regiment It's arst commander was
Robert G. Murphy. and on the Soth day Of Septem-
Der lot. he received word of the assignment Of his
command 10 General Fremont who was then at
I s. Louis. The regiment arrived at St Louis on
the lth OF October and the next day left for Pilot
4 Knob. On the 2ist it took part in the battle OF
| Frederiektown, as have before stated CoInrade
/ LOvett says Old Abe WAS nerer taken into q fight
/ In reply beg 20 say that he was in twenty-five
battles and sixty s<irTnishes and the most remark
able fact was that neither color bearer eagle
bearer We're shot IN any OF those hard fought en-
gagements. s. G. P4EKER,
COLORADO SPRINGS, Coo. Co. III, ed Ill
To the Editor NATIONAL TR1BUSE:
There seems to be almost great difference OF
opinion about Old Abe, the war eagle of the
Eighth Wisconsin, there IS about the surprise
Shiloh. Captain Parker was right in saying that
/ the eagle got away from while were march
ing through St Louis, way 10 the barracks.
think il was on Morgan street, and after skir-
nlshing around fer a while he alghted ON large
brick house. three four stories high The house
was of such character that the soldiers were
ashamed 10 enter it. but some Of the officers went
i IN The eagle did not come down, however, until
some of the priyates went foragfng for chicken,
and, pulling the chicken neck 10 make 1t setua <
down came MIR. Abe for bis dinner and caught.
Mr.. AnleS partly right in saying that the eagle
w 4pffX witt orffa
small short chain attached to his leg, but he often
got away from the soldier who carried his perch.
CHAs. III. LEE,
Co. G, sth Wis. Vet Vol.
( GAINESVILLE. WIS