The National tribune., 1902-08-07
NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY AUGUST

the most desperate during the whole war.
Scarcely man of his regiment escaped
being wounded, yet this old bird, the EN-
blem of free America, rode through all
these storms of shot and shell without a
scratch.
Old Abe's favorite diet was a tender
chicken or Il rabbit, but he would eat
any kind of fresh meat, and generally
got the best that could be had. A favor
ite excuse to the Colonel of the men who
had been reported for foraging on their
own responsibility was that they were
trying to get a chicken for Old Abe.
Old Abe's military life did not end his
career of usefulness. For the next IL
years his services were i'll constant de-
mand at various public gatherings and
benefits. One of his entertainments was
at Chicago in the early Summer of 1863,
where he was on exhibition at the North
western Sanitary Fair. Here thousands
paid their respects to the old war eagle
and purchased histories and photographs
of him, which alone netted the fair S20,-
600. We next find him at Milwaukee
doing duty for the benefit of a Soldiers
Home, which the citizens wished to es-
tablish there. and which later became the
beautiful Government Home.
In 1866 he attended the great mass
convention held at Pittsburg to sustain the
act of Congress in its measures for the
restoration of the Union. Here he was
given an hOnored position on the speak
er's stand with such speakers as Gems.
Butler, Logan and Negley, Coils. Rush and
Ingersoll, Hannibal Hamlin, and many
other noble warriors and statesmen. He
entered into the action CT the convention
in his old-time war spirit with piercing
screams and the tapping of his wings.
Every time Gen. Butler was cheered, he
being the principal speaker, and during
all demonstrations throughout the entire
proceedings, this old bird exhibited his
old-time martial spirit.
At the Centennial Exhibition, held at
Philadelphia in 1876, he attracted the at
tention of all visitors. Many of the no.
tables of Europe stopped to admire him
and purchase his history from his attend
ant.
In 1878 he was sent to Boston to assist
the patriotic ladies of that city to raise
funds for the purchase and the keeping
in repair of Old South Church, an ancient
and historic landmark Of the Hub. Here
he was the greatest attraction and aided
wonderfully in swelling the receipts accru-
ing from the exhibition.
Upon Gen. Grants return from his trip
around the world, Col. Villas, of Wiscon
sin, took Old Abe with him to Chicago to
welcome their old commander, Grant,
home. At banquet given Grant on that
occasion it is said that the old bird
seemed tired and fatigued, and took but
little interest in the proceedings 1t the
banquet until Col. Villas rose to speak,
and uttered most beautiful tribute to
Gen. Grant (said to be the most beautiful
ever paid to the old hero, when Old Abe
broke out as if by inspiration in shrieks
and screams and Tapped his wings until
the keeper to quiet him had to caress
and talk to him.
One of the last public affairs he attend
ed was the great Soldiers Reunion at
Milwaukee, at the time of the Republican
Convention in 1880. At that time Old
Abe, as was his wont in battle, occupied
his perch and rode side by side in the
procession with the great hero Grant Of
so many battles.
music of brass bands, but the martial mu-
sic of drum and fife always stirred his
military enthusiasm. His appreciation
WIS always shown by shrieking and the
Tapping of his wings.
With the majority of that grand old
army of 40 years ago, Old Abe has gone
to join the silent throng. In 1881 this
bird of war and peace died a premature
death caused by inhaling smoke from
fire in a room where he was located and
in which there were some oils and paints
stored, at the Capitol at Madison. But
for this accident he might be living to-
day and have outlived any of his old conf
radeS.
Old Abe's preserved form is at present
kept in the Museum at the University of
Wisconsin.