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WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1919 HT, Regiments in the Civil war were composed of one thousand men, each | in ten companies of one hundred men each. A part of the equipment provided by the government was a flag in charge of a color sergeant and a guard. The colors were carried in| the center of the regiment as it stood in line on parade or in battle formation. In addition many regi- ments carried a presentation flag which was a giit from the people or town where the regiment was recruit- ed or provided by the men them- selves. This special standard was usually made of silk fringed with gold trimming and bearing a device or inscription. Thus regiments as they marched away to war usually were seen bearing two standards, one in accordance with the military re- gulations and another the gift of friends or chosen by themselves. Wisconsin Regiment Had Eagle The second standard, however, was "Old Abe," the War Eagle, in Battle Summa By J. SEYMOUR CURREY, NORTH SHORE HISTORIAN tm LTH (HTT able to withstand all attacks and triumphantly held the field as well as the bird in their possession. Mascots Were Common It is a"common practice for soldiers and sailors to take with them mas- cots, who share with them all the vicissitudes of the campaigns and voyages. In the Civil war a Minne- sota regiment carried with it a half- grown cub bear, which was present at a number of engagements, another | had a racoon, while dogs, cats, | squirrels and roosters were quite | usual as members of the regimental | family. In the navy goats and pigs | were favorite mascots. While on its | way to the front the regiment passed through Chicago and the eagle was] the principal attraction for the | crowd as the men marched by in| platoons. Passing through St. Louis! soon after the crowds composed of | many southern sympathizers set up| an uproarious shouting, yelling de- not always a flag or a banner. The 8th Wisconsin, which departed for the war in September, 1861, chose to car- ry a live eagle along with the ular colors, and for three years the flag and the eagle were companions in numerous marches and battles. This particular bird was an American bald eagle, which had scarcely reach- ed its growth when it was brought in rey Fc by a hunter from the woods where he | had captured it soon after it had left its parental nest. He offered it triotic citizen and given to the regi- ment then forming for a mascot. It was gladly accepted by the men and the name of "Old Abe" conferred upon him. Afterwards it came to be known that he "was not that kind of a: 'bird," for he actually laid an egg at one of the camping places. How- ever, as he was always referred to as "he" the gender of the pronoun was not changed even after this dis- concerting discovery had been made. The men were very proud of this unique standard and the regiment was armies as "the eagle regiment. eagle was placed in chs of 'a dier, who received extra compen tion for this special duty. A in the form of a. shield was fixed to the end of a stout st a few inches above the placed a cross ce which the could firmly grasp with his talons while being borne along. A leather ring was fastened to one to which was connected a about twenty feet long, so case of his being seized with a sud- den impulse to fly the b r could curb his impetuosity. The SOlL- shiel stout line Wi n on march or in action, for he was many | times in the midst of a storm of shot and shell, he was tethered more closely to his perch, but he would on such occasions give vent to his feel- ings by flapping his wings and utter- ing wild cries understood by the men to be "defiance of the enemy." It was no light task for the bearer, ever, for in addition to the heavy staff which supported the perch, the eagle himself weighed over ten pounds after he had attained his full size. But the soldier had no other duties to perform than caring for the eagle, and his orders were strict in this respect. "Old Abe" became famous through- out both the Union and Confederate armies, and it was said that General Price of Confederate army on discovering the eagle at the battle of how- the for | sale and it was purchased by a pa-j known throughout the western| of his legs, that in| the risively, "a crow," "wild goose," "tur-| key buzzard," etc. The eagle became | excited and boldly flew away to the | end of his tether, alighting | on the | chimney of a house. Here he gazed on the crowd for some time, but final- ly descended to the street and was restored to his perch. He recognized his friends among the soldiers, especially his keeper, and greeted them with a "plaintive cooing," 1 strangers could never | approach him with safety, as he was | always ready for an attack. One day while the regiment was resting in a southern town a little boy in bare feet near the eagle, who was | then on the ground. "Take care of | your feet, boy," said one of the men | | by way of warning, "he will pounce on them if you don't stand back. The | only reason he has not done so al-| ready is that he isn't very hungry | just now, as we fed him a small boy | a little while ago." The little chap | placed himself at a respectful dist- | ance at once. The war eagle of the eighth Wis- consin regiment was carried for -s, from 1861 to 1864, in all 1s in which the re that but came 1 taree iment the cam period of the vil nt in thirt often he 1 uous figure at the battle front he escaped any serious | injury. Once he had a few i feathers shot away but was woul t the battle of Corinth, | in full view from both | frequently the rksmen, | 0 'bear the charmed he i ne vras 2 "was target 1emy Ss i life. Bie: ' became SO that excited he sprang into ai with such force that he broke the | cord attached to his perch and soared | hich overhead, where throt > cle»? of smoke and roar of cannon he "seemed to be cheering his com-| { patriots with the splendor of his| example," cs one of the officers des- | cribed the scene. In battle "Old Abe" would almost | constantly flap his wings and utter | wild screams which could be heard] mingling with the rolling thunder of | cannon and musketry, and at such] times he seemed "consgious of his re- | lationship with the emblem of a. vic- | | torious republic." One of his bearers, | David McLane, said of him, "I have had him up to batteries when they | were firing into the ranks of the] cm as fast as'they could load, and | then he would scream, spread his wings at every discharge, and reveal Corinth ordered his men "to be sure! to capture that bird, as he had rather! get him than a whole brigade of| men." But the "boys in blue" were in the smoke and roar of the big guns." In one of the battles a violent thunder storm added the awful din of is being effected in the automo BUILT LIKE NEW are KURE process. We employ th Your retreaded tire when it for 50000 or more miles. There We guarantee 3,500 miles. So there is the history of and retread them, or stop in at us. EVANSTON TIRE Phone Evanston 6537. Revolution! Not a bolshevik, red-flag, riot and ruin brand of revolu- tion, but a quiet, efficient and MONEY-SAVING revolution Glencoe, Winnetka and other North Shore communities. one-third to one-half the cost of a new tire. They look like new and they wear like new because they TIRES. worn tires of tire fabric and Live Rubber, cured by our DRI- as do the big tire manutacturers in making new tires. treaded tires now on North Shore automobiles. of them have outlasted new tires on the same autuniobiles. volutionist yourself! Call us up and we'll send for your tires OPPOSITE CITY HALL 1613-1615 Sherman Ave., Evanston bile tire business in Wilmette, We reconstruct your old e same methods and materials comes from our plant is good are more than 1200 of our re- A good many the tire revolution. Be a re- our plant and leave them with TREADING CO. the elements to the roar of the guns. Gazing at the heavens the eyes of the eagle seemed to flash lightning, "the embodiment of a sublime fury," and the men said they could see the light- ning playing upon his pinions. Not only was he an inspiration to his comrades, but the sight of him awakened among the captured prison- ers, as one of them confessed, "all my old love of American freedom and loyalty," and the thought so haunted this man that he determined from : | BN that hour he would no longer serve; with those fighting against the cause! of a free and united nation. If (To be continued next week) iH N. T. C. A. Meeting A meeting of the New Trier Com- | mercial association, to be held at the! Community House in Winnetka, Mon- | day evening, April i4, at 8 o'clock. I-------------------------- | IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE | | [=] The Cemetery Beautiful LANTED amidst nature's own beauty, man has created a beautiful park ceme- tery. The sunken gardens, the winding paths, and the imposing chapel makes this " spot a vision of beauty. It is indeed a fit- ting final resting place for our beloved ones, MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY and ANNEX Gross Point Road and Harrison St., V5 Mile West of Evanston We want you to visit this cemetery. You will find it interesting and attractive. You should reserve for yourself a family lot--all lots in Memorial Park are sold with full perpetual care guaranteed. Suitable easy payments--no interest. Don't miss this opportunity. YOU ARE INVITED to call or write to the main office, 703 Mar +uette Bldg. and make appointment to have one of our representa- tives call for you in an automobile to take you to and from the cemetery. No obligation. Investigate NOW! Central Cemetery Company 703 Marquette Building, Dept. 8614 Chicago Our perpetual care funds are on deposit with the Trust Department of the Central Trust of linois. El Bargains in Used Cars | Il If you are thinking of buying an automobile, see us first. 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