Old Abe the War Eagle

We're in the process of updating our website! Learn more about what that means and how you can help create history..

A True Story of the Civil War and Reconstruction

Richard H. Zeitlin

The remarkable true story of a bald eagle who became the mascot of the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and emerged as a symbol of courage and victory to a nation.

120 pages, 8.5 x 11, 71 b&w photos, 5 maps
Paperback: $18.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-239-1
Ebook: $9.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-627-6
Publication Date: 8/13/2013

BUY

-

Description

This is the story of Old Abe, the bald eagle that became the mascot of the Eighth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, participated in thirty-seven battles and skirmishes during the Civil War, and in 1865 embarked upon a second career as a living symbol of courage and the victorious Union. In wartime, he captured the imagination of the public with his daring exploits and entertaining antics—some true, some invented. During the Reconstruction years, as a fixture of political campaigns and rallies, Old Abe reminded all who saw him of what the North had fought for. In Old Abe the War Eagle, historian Richard Zeitlin follows Old Abe’s journey from enlistment to the battlefield and beyond.

More than simply the story of a legendary “feathered hero,” this book is also the story of the men among whom Old Abe lived: the farmers, loggers, clerks, and immigrants who flocked to the colors in 1861. The citizens-turned-soldier of the Eighth Wisconsin—most of them young, not all of them brave—had much the same experiences as members of other Union regiments did: boredom, fatigue, endless marching and countermarching, the agonies of disease and sickness, the sudden terror and exhilaration of combat. What differentiated the Eighth Wisconsin from all the other regiments was their eagle. Old Abe makes their story worth telling.

Old Abe the War Eagle blends historical narrative with rich illustrations and period accounts to show how Old Abe boosted morale and became a living emblem of patriotism. Zeitlin also explores the public’s fascination with the eagle, who survived the war and lived out his days at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The author places Old Abe’s story within the broader context of wartime symbolism and national identity. It’s both a tribute to the unique role of animals in war and a snapshot of Wisconsin’s deep Civil War heritage. This book appeals to history buffs, young readers, and anyone interested in the unexpected ways loyalty and legend are forged in conflict.

Author Bio

Richard H. Zeitlin

Richard H. Zeitlin earned a master’s degree and PhD in US history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After working for the Wisconsin Historical Society, he became Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in 1982. Dr. Zeitlin was a respected author, teacher, and historian.