The Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 2, number 1, September 1918

              82 historical fragments the story of old abe the love of sailors and soldiers for mascots has long since become proverbial probably the most noted mascot in american military annals was old abe wisconsin's famous civil war eagle nor did the influence of old abe terminate with the conclusion of the war like john brown his soul goes marching on his story has inspired numerous generations of american school children during the last half century now in the greater struggle for democracy that en gulfs the world old abe is hard at work raising money for the boys in khaki even as he did in lifetime for the boys in blue a recent letter from chambers nebraska requesting a picture of old abe and an authentic history of him conveys the news of a plan for a modern prototype of wisconsin's famous bird sentimentally capitaliz ing old abe's reputation to make the circuit of the state in the interests of the red cross until finally his work completed he shall find permanent resting place in the nebraska historical library at lincoln we cheerfully supplied the photograph and the history ; may the nebraska eagle do as much for his country in its modern fight for freedom as did our own badger bird half a century ago because of its timeliness and interest we publish here the story of old abe prepared by frederick merk formerly a member of the society's editorial staff many of the regiments that went forth from the north during the civil war to do battle for the preservation of the union carried with them some pet or mascot of them all the greatest fame was attained by the mascot of a wisconsin regiment old abe the famous war eagle old abe was as well known to the average soldier of the western army during the war as many of its commanding generals and his reputation continued to spread after peace had returned until it had reached to every part of the country the eagle was captured in 1861 when but a few weeks old by a young indian brave of the lake flambeau tribe on the upper waters of the chippewa river by him it was raised and trained until the outbreak of the civil war when it was taken to chippewa falls and offered for sale to a recruiting officer of the first wisconsin battery a bargain could not be struck however and the bird now two months