Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-05-30


thusiasm. The proudest ruler or con-
Gueror might envy his popularity and
might long in vain for the cheers which
greeted him. Though a conspicuous
target in thirty-siX battles, he was
never wounded. Not only So but his
bearers were also immune Every
where he inspired the soldiers, and his
battle scream nerved them for victory,
since they regarded him with almost
superstitious reverence as the emblem
Of the Union. After the war he was a
feature in reunions, in expositions and
in conventions, was hOnOred and cheer
ed in almost every city of the north
and was for over fifteen years a state
ward. His reputation was worldwide.
Never a bird wore feathers with
fame like that Of Old Abe.
The eagle was the military emblem
of the republic of Rome. In a land
then undiscovered it became, ages lat
er, the emblem of freedom in a yet
greater republic During the most mo-
mentous war Of this younger republic
that symbol was quickened into life.
This living personifcation was given
the name of the great leader in that
war to be associated in the minds of
men forever after with that struggle
and that leader. 1t thus grew to be the
concrete expression of a national sen
timent. No wonder the people cheered
Old Abe.
III the spring of 1861 a Chippeway
Indian called Chief Sky captured a nest
of young eaglets on the FIambeau
river i'll Wisconsin. Later Chief Sky
went down the river with some Of his
Tribe to sell baskets, pelts and mecca
sins One Of the eaglets was taken
along and was traded for a bushel of
! corn. In the summer this eagle, then
nearly full grown, was sold to the Eau
Claire Badgers, a military company
which shortly afterward was muster
ed into the volunteer service of the
United States as Company G of the
Eighth Wisconsin. The bird brought
$3.50 at this second purchase. The
company in a jocular spirit voted to
accept "the new recruit from Chip
peNay," and the eagle was solemnly
sworn into the service. A perch was
made for him, red, white and blue rib
bons were tied about his neck, two lit
tie flags were placed on the perch each
side of him and private was detailed
to carry him beside the colors. AS the
company marched through the streets
of Eau Claire the eagle created the
greatest enthusiasm. On all sides were
heard the remark, ''They will never be
whipped While they follow that bird"
The local paper said, ''Who could not
fight under such glorious emblems %
At Lacrosse the same enthusiasm
was manifest, and the soldiers came
to the conclusion that in selecting their
mascot they had chosen more wisely
than they knew. At Madison a special
salute was fired in honor of the bird,
and the cheers along the line of march
were deafening. The band struck up
yankee Doodle" and, as if under
standing his mission, the eagle seized
one Of the flags in his beak and spread
his wings, tapping them to the hur-
rahs of the crowd.
A new perch was then constructed
for the bird Of freedom. It was point
ed with arrows to represent the United
States seal. The eagle was named
Old Abe in honor Of President Lin
coin. Company G was officially desig-
mated the Eau Claire Eagles, and the
Eighth Wisconsin in the popular mind
| became 1.-The eagle regiment" a title
that ever afterward chung to it. On the
way to the front the sight of live
eagle carried beside the regimental