Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-06-18
Old Abe, the Famous War Eagle

AS Chief Sky, of band of Wiscon-
sin Chippewas, was on a hunting tour
one day in the spring OF 1861, he
climbed a ledge of rocks from the top
of which he saw large nest contain
ing two young eagles. As the mother
bird was not in sight he took the
eagles home as playthings for his pa
poose. One died soon after, but the
other thrived.
In the fall of 1861 a band of soldiers
stopped at the home of Chief Sky and
before they departed purchased the
bird for bushel of corn. Later they
presented the lively young eagle to
their regiment. The men were very
fond of him and named him "Old.
Abe" after President Lincoln, whom
:. they all loved.
Old Abe was placed in the charge of
one of the soldiers and during the long
marches this soldier often carried him
on shield fastened to standard.
The big bird would not touch food I'M
less this soldier gave it to him, nor
this soldier carried it. Sometimes
when he was tired Of riding or when
he felt that his master was tired from
carrying his heavy load, or when he
needed exercise, he left his perch
and flew away. The cheers of the
warmed his heart.
Old Abe received his rations as regu-
larly as did the soldiers. He was par
ticular about his food; if fresh meat
became scarce he flew away and was
gone for several days, returning with
lamb in his talons. The men never
feared but that he would return. He
could distinguish between the blue and
the gray, and was never known to
alight in a confederate camp, though
he sometimes went to the wrong
union regiment before finding his own.
During the battle at Jackson, Miss,
Old Abe flew into the air and there re-
manned from dawn till dusk. What a.
picture we should have could he have
but given us a bird s-eye view"
At Missionary Ridge, in which the
Eighth Wisconsin, his regiment, par
ticipated, Old Abe was struck several
times by bullets, but he was so high
in the air and his feathers were so
thick he suffered little harm. Some
times when the din of battle was the
loudest, Old Abe would dance on his
perch and let his screams be heard
above the cannon. His savage, eagle
nature seemed to delight in scenes of
carnage. Once while he was dancing
feather fell from his wing and a
soldier in the battle line wished to get
and keep it as a souvenir. The feather
floated toward the front of battle, but
the soldier rushed after it, captured it
and stuck it inside his blouse. This
| feather, encased in glass, now hangs
| in the house in Washington where
President Lincoln breathed his last.
When the war ended and the Wiscon-
sin Eight, like other regiments, dis
| banded, the soldiers once more to be-
come merchants, artisans and farmers,
| Old Abe became the property OF the
state of Wisconsin, being given home
! in the capitol at Madison. In the win
F., ter he roomed within the building, and
F., in the summer he occupied cage on
| the grounds.
| A live animal was always given him
for his breakfast. A white chicken
was offered to him one morning but.
whether it was from compassion or
from a longing to have feathered
friend share his loneliness, he fed the
chicken some of his corn, allowed her
to share his perch at night, and shell
tered her with his big wing.
| In 1876 Old Abe was taken to the
Centennial exhibition in Philadelphia.
Visitors from all parts of the country
came to see him and he seemed to feel
that he was highly honored. He was
old and dignified and appeared to
watch the sale of his pictures and the
story of his life with interest. Some
of his quilts sold for five dollars
apiece, the money going to charitable
objects.
In the spring of 1881 Old Abe fell i'll.
The doctors pronounced it a case of
lung trouble. Everything was done
for him, but he soon died. His body
is preserved in a museum at Madison,