Old Abe: The Civil War Eagle Who Went Into Battle With the 8th Wisconsin
Old Abe was a bald eagle who went to war. During the American Civil War, the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry carried him into battle on a perch beside the regimental flag. He survived the war, became a national celebrity and still lives on today as the screaming eagle of the 101st Airborne Division.
Quick Facts
- Who: Old Abe, a bald eagle
- Unit: 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, "the Eagle Regiment"
- From: Northern Wisconsin, 1861
- War: American Civil War
- Legacy: The screaming eagle on the 101st Airborne Division's shoulder patch
From a Wisconsin Nest to the Army
In 1861, an Ojibwe man named Chief Sky took a young eagle from its nest in northern Wisconsin and traded it to a local family for a bushel of corn. Soon after, soldiers forming a company of the 8th Wisconsin bought the bird for two dollars and fifty cents. They named him Old Abe, after President Abraham Lincoln.
Old Abe in Battle
The 8th Wisconsin became known as the Eagle Regiment. In battle, a soldier called the eagle bearer carried Old Abe on a shield-shaped perch next to the regimental colors. Witnesses said that when the firing began, he would spread his wings and scream. Confederate troops called him the Yankee Buzzard and tried to shoot him down. He was wounded twice, but they never brought him down.
Life After the War
After the war, Old Abe lived at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, where he had his own keeper and drew crowds of visitors. He appeared at fairs and events across the country. He died in 1881.
The Screaming Eagles
When the 101st Airborne Division adopted its shoulder patch, it chose an eagle's head in honor of Old Abe. That is why the division is still known as the Screaming Eagles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Old Abe a real eagle?
Yes. Old Abe was a live bald eagle carried into Civil War battles by the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Why is the 101st Airborne called the Screaming Eagles?
Its shoulder patch shows an eagle's head inspired by Old Abe, the Civil War eagle of the 8th Wisconsin.
How did Old Abe get his name?
The soldiers of the 8th Wisconsin named him after President Abraham Lincoln.
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Sources
- Wikipedia: Old Abe: his capture, service and later life
- Wisconsin Historical Society: Old Abe the War Eagle: the 8th Wisconsin and the capitol years
- Wikipedia: 101st Airborne Division: the screaming eagle patch
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Cover photo: Unknown photographer via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.