No. Not that Abe. The other one. The bald eagle mascot of the 8th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. Carried on his perch, Old Abe accompanied his Regiment throughout their campaigns (all 37 engagements) in the Western Theater from 1861 to 1864.

It was 1861, an American Indian named ‘Chief Sky’, a member of the Flambeau band of the Chippewa tribe, captured a pair of American Bald Eaglets. One of these was later traded to Daniel McCann for a bushel of corn. Eventually McCann sold his bird to Captain John Perkins, commanding officer of the “Eau Claire Badgers”, a militia company. With the acquisition of the new mascot, the unit renamed itself the “Eau Claire Eagle”.

Upon entering federal service, the unit was redesignated as Company C, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The mascot of the “Eau Claire Eagle” was quickly adopted by the new 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment resulting in the regiments nickname the “Eagle Regiment”. After some deliberation, the eagle was named “Old Abe” in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.

The 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment entire service was spent on the Western Theater of the American Civil War (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee). Old Abe was present during every engagement and was carried into combat on a special perch alongside the 8th Wisconsin’s Regimental and National colors.

There are many stories concerning Old Abe. Some are pure fiction. Some are fact. And some are somewhere in between. Some fun facts or not, you decide: It is said that the officers of the Regiment always saluted Old Abe. He loved music, cheering and marching soldiers. When the band played, Old Abe would make a whistling sound while flapping his wings. It was also said that Old Abe liked his whiskey.

Enlistments expired, the men of the 8th Wisconsin were mustered out of federal service in late 1864. On 26 September 1864, a contingent, consisting of 70 veterans of the 8th Wisconsin, marched with Old Abe to the state capital and presented him to the Governor (James Lewis). Old Abe was thus donated to the people of Wisconsin, by his dedicated comrades.

The spirit of Old Abe lives on! Old Abe’s head, in profile has served as the insignia of the 101st Airborne Division since 1921 (when headquartered in Milwaukee,Wisconsin).

Look for more stories concerning the military history and heritage of Wisconsin.