The War Eagle the Confederates Wanted Dead

Fact check

The facts and where they come from

1. This eagle went into battle with the 8th Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society: “Old Abe the War Eagle was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry. He was carried on a special perch throughout the entire war.” US Army: “the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment which was quickly nicknamed the ‘Eagle Regiment.’” 13
2. The enemy wanted him dead. Wikipedia: “Under orders from their officers, Confederate troops made numerous attempts to kill or capture the eagle, but they never succeeded.” Wisconsin Veterans Museum: Confederate soldiers “set bounties on the ‘Yankee Buzzard.’” US Army, quoting Gen. Sterling Price: “that bird must be captured or killed at all hazards.” 423
3. His name was Old Abe. Wisconsin Historical Society: “Captain John E. Perkins named him Old Abe after President Lincoln.” 1
4. In 1861 he was traded for a bushel of corn. US Army: “Chief Sky later traded the surviving eaglet to Daniel McCann of Eagle Point, Wisc., for a bushel of corn.” Wisconsin Veterans Museum: he “traded the surviving eaglet, for a bushel of corn, to Margaret McCann.” 324
5. Soldiers bought him for $2.50 and named him after Lincoln. Wisconsin Historical Society: “the McCanns sold it to the Eau Claire militia for $2.50.” Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “The men of the company pooled their resources to gather $2.50 to purchase the eagle from McCann.” US Army: “the mascot was named ‘Old Abe,’ in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.” 123
6. They carried him into battle on a perch. US Army: he “was carried into combat by a sergeant on a special perch alongside the 8th Wisconsin’s National and Regimental colors.” 31
7. Under fire, he reportedly spread his wings and screamed. Wikipedia quotes a report from Farmington, May 1862, “Old Abe Spread his wings and screamed,” and his bearer, David McLain: “He was quite excited always in battle and he’d spread his wings and scream but never flew over the lines of either army.” 4
8. Confederates called him the Yankee Buzzard. Wikipedia: “This was a name by which southern civilians and soldiers referred to Old Abe.” The Wisconsin Veterans Museum writes of bounties on the “Yankee Buzzard.” 42
9. At Corinth, a bullet cut him loose, and rebels fired as he flew. Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “At the Battle of Corinth, a minie ball severed the leather cord connecting the eagle to his perch, setting him loose on the battlefield”; “many Confederate soldiers attempted to shoot him down.” McLain, quoted by Wikipedia: “a bullet cut the cord that held the eagle to his perch.” The museum’s battle record dates Corinth to October 3–4, 1862. 24
10. A Confederate general reportedly wanted him more than a brigade. US Army, quoting Gen. Sterling Price: “I would rather get that eagle than capture a whole brigade or a dozen battle flags.” Wisconsin Veterans Museum: the story “is believed to hold some basis in fact.” Wisconsin Historical Society, quoting Col. Rufus Dawes: “I heard [Confederate] prisoners say they would have given more to capture the eagle of the Eighth Wisconsin, than to take a whole brigade of men.” 321
11. Bullets clipped his feathers. Wisconsin Veterans Museum: at Corinth, “Old Abe lost several wing and tail feathers from the incident”; at Vicksburg, “a Confederate minie ball traveled down the eagle’s neck and chest, removing the feathers along its path.” Wikipedia: “cutting out three quill feathers, but not drawing blood.” 24
12. He went through 37 battles and skirmishes. Wisconsin Historical Society: “Old Abe witnessed 37 battles and skirmishes, including some of the bloodiest fighting at Vicksburg and Corinth, Mississippi.” 1
13. After the war he lived in Wisconsin’s Capitol. Wisconsin Historical Society: “For 15 years he lived in the ‘Eagle Department’ in the basement of the Capitol, attracting thousands of visitors.” US Army: he “lived out the remainder of his life in an aviary in the Capitol building.” 13
14. In 1881 a fire broke out, and he raised the alarm. Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “A small fire broke out in the basement of the Capitol in February 1881. After Old Abe raised an alarm, the fire was put out quickly.” 24
15. But he breathed in the smoke. Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “the eagle inhaled a large amount of thick black smoke.” Wisconsin Historical Society: “he died from smoke inhalation during a fire in the Capitol.” 21
16. Weeks later, he died in his keeper’s arms. Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “March 26, 1881, Old Abe died in the arms of his final caretaker George Gilles.” US Army: “A month later the famous Wisconsin War Eagle, weakened by fumes, died in the arms of his handler, George Gilles.” 23
17. His head is the Screaming Eagle of the 101st Airborne. US Army: “Since 1921, ‘Old Abe’s’ head, in profile, has served as the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)”; “The Screaming Eagle insignia of the 101st Airborne Division.” Wisconsin Veterans Museum: “The shoulder patch for the famous 101st Airborne Division also features Old Abe.” 324

Sources

1. Old Abe, the War Eagle Wisconsin Historical Society
2. Old Abe Wisconsin’s War Eagle Wisconsin Veterans Museum
3. The Story of “Old Abe,” famous Wisconsin War Eagle on 101st Airborne Division patch (Capt. James A. Page, November 15, 2012) US Army (army.mil)
4. Old Abe Wikipedia

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