Here’s Old Abe, celebrating Bald Eagle Watch Month. Old Abe has been a celebrity ever since the Civil War, when he was attached to the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Abe engaged in a number of decisive battles against the Confederates. And indeed, the Confederates made a number of attempts to kill or capture this war hero. According to some accounts, Old Abe was actually wounded once by enemy fire, but survived and lived to see action another day.
Here’s what David McLain had to say about Abe:
“I have frequently seen Generals Grant, Sherman, McPherson, Rosecrans, Blair, Logan, and others, when they were passing our regiment, raise their hats as they passed Old Abe, which always brought a cheer from the regiment and then the eagle would spread his wings . . . “
After the War, Wisconsin state officials created an Eagle Department in the Capitol Building, where Old Abe resided until his death. Today, a replica of Old Abe can be found in the State Assembly.
