The National tribune., 1902-08-07
"OLD ABE."
An Officers RecoIIectiOns of the
Famous War Eagle.
BY G. d. HARVEY, 9Th WIS.

| of Eau Claire, Wis, was raising com
pany of volunteers for service in the wal
of the rebellion. In August, just before
he was ordered to report with his COM
pany at Madison, Chippewa, an Indian
came to him with half-grOwn eagle of
| the baldheaded species, which had been
taken from it's nest some time before and
which he offered to sell to the Captain
| Capt. Perkins did not take kindly to the
proposition, but a patriotic and enterprs.
ing citizen, Daniel Mccain, bought the
eagle for a sack of corn and presented il
to the company. This company was Co
c, of the Sth Wis.
The eagle was mustered into the q. s.
service with the company Sept. 8, 1861,
and became famous as "Old Abe" the
live eagle in the war of the rebellion, SO
named in honor Of the great President
Lincoln. Capt. Perkins ON arriving AT
Madison marched his company to the Fair
Grounds, where it was welcomed by other
companies then in camp. The companies
in camp being drawn up in line ON either
side of the entrance when Co. G entered,
Col. Murphy gave the order for three
cheers for the Eau Claire company and
tine live eagle. AS the cheering commenced
Old Abe, being equal to the occasion,
reached out and picked up small flag
from the corner OF his perch, which he
carried the full length of the line of the
receiving troops, all the while screaming
and Tapping his wings,
Once in camp the eagle became the OBJ
served of all observers. Thousands came
in to see him, but he would allow no one
to touch him except his keeper and the
company commander, who could handle
regard his plumage as something sacred.
Any but the above named persons at
tempting to touch him suffered severe
wounds from his onslaught of beak and
talons, unless u hasty retreat was made.
Soon after his arrival, in camp the
Quartermaster had she'll made, with
the Stars and Stripes painted on it, with
a raised perch in the center, upon which
the eagle stood, and to which he was
length. This shield, with the eagle, was
carried with the colors of the regiment
by one who had been regularly detailed
for that purpose.
The eagle soon became reconciled to his
position and seemed to feel that he was
more than an ordinary bird. Day by day
we could see that he grew more proud
and majestic.
In camp or on the march Abe would
have his bath. On the march when we
came to a stream, away would go Abe
for his bath. The column was halted un-
til he completed his toilet, when he would
hop again onto his perch, ready to take
his place with the cOlors.
How this bird could realize the dan
gers of battle was more than we could
tell, but that he did was very evident.
With the first sound of the distant cannon
as it came echOing to our ears as we We're
moving to the front, Abe would straighten
up and listen with the eagerness of the
men. Then as we neared The scene of
action and stray bullets would begin 20
pass over our heads, Abe would OCCASION
ally give vent to one of his screams and
begin to chatter to the boys, as if to say,
'.Lcok out, boysw When the fire became
hot and the men were ordered to lie down,
Abe would hop from his perch and stretch
himself fiat on tine ground. AT the COM
mand Attention." he was ON his perch,
ready for action. At such times he would
stand erect with the colors. and fire would
fash from his eyes as his head moved
from right to left like that of Com
manding General surveying every part of
the front of his command. When the
order 20 charge was given and the men
rushed forward with a yell, he seemed to
enter into the spirit Of the conflict with
his whole being, repeatedly flying away
to the full length of his cord and back
again to his perch, all the while keeping
up u continuous screaming which could
be heard above all the roar and din OF
battle. The works carried or the battle
won, lie seemed to be the happiest of the
happy, and would hop around and chatter
to the boys.
That the eagle knew the men of his
regiment, or the regiment itself, there
could be no doubt. The best evidence |
have of this was given me by Capt
Dawes in the field hospital the morning
following the battle of COrinth, Oct. 3,
1862. Having been knocked out early in
the fight, l did not witness the incident,
but Capt. Dawes related to me that dur
ing the engagement the cord that held
the eagle to the perch was cut by bull
let, and the bird finding himself free
raised up in the air and disappeared in
the distance over the timber and the Ell
emy's line. Our regiment was hard
pressed and repulsed and driven back
about three-fOurths ofsa mile, and while
it was reforming the bird came sweeping
down, alighted by the cOldrs and took his
place on his perch, having been gone half
OF three-quarters of an hour. Then his
friendly and intimate action toward the
men of his own regiment, land his distant
ing-toward other soldiers, was also evi-
dence that he knew us boys.
1t seems miraculous that the eagle es-
capped wounds or death, as we often re.
ceived evidence that the Confederate
officers offered large, rewards for his
capture, or, failing in that, to the one
that might kill him. c'Pd rather capture
Old Abe" said Gen. Sterling Price, of the
Confederate army, "than whole bri-
gade.D
At Corinth. where we lost one-half of
our regiment killed and wounded, and
when in different battles our color bear
ers and color guards were shot down, Old
Abe seemed to bear a charmed life, as
he passed through all without a scratch.
At Vicksburg, on that terrible ODD day of
May, 1863, when it seemed that no liv-
ing soul could survive, and when men
were falling before him like grass before
a scythe, and our flags were shot into
shreds, Old Abe came through with few
feathers shot from one wing.
During the three years of this famous
birds service he took part in some 80
odd engagements. not including numerss.s
SklrmlSleS. some nj fIau hainD nmnnp