Posted on Sep 27, 2024
This Day in History: Old Abe, the original “Screaming Eagle”
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Civil War
Military History
Posted 3 mo ago
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Great history share. I had no idea this was based on a real eagle.
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On this day in 1864, an eagle by the name of “Old Abe” is given to the people of Wisconsin. He would later become the inspiration for the Screaming Eagle on the 101st Airborne Division’s insignia.
Yes! The “Screaming Eagle” was a real bird.
No one knows precisely where Old Abe was born, but we do know that he was captured when he was just an eaglet. Chief Sky of the Flambeau band of Chippewa Indians sold the captured eaglet to a local family. Needless to say, an eaglet didn’t last long as a family pet. Fortunately, local companies of militia were traveling through the area, preparing for the Civil War. One of these companies agreed to buy the eagle for $2.50. Then it continued on to army training in Madison, Wisconsin.
Those men eventually became Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Informally? They were the “Eagle Regiment.”
The men had named their eagle for Abraham Lincoln. As they marched to war, they took Old Abe everywhere—even into battle.
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On this day in 1864, an eagle by the name of “Old Abe” is given to the people of Wisconsin. He would later become the inspiration for the Screaming Eagle on the 101st Airborne Division’s insignia.
Yes! The “Screaming Eagle” was a real bird.
No one knows precisely where Old Abe was born, but we do know that he was captured when he was just an eaglet. Chief Sky of the Flambeau band of Chippewa Indians sold the captured eaglet to a local family. Needless to say, an eaglet didn’t last long as a family pet. Fortunately, local companies of militia were traveling through the area, preparing for the Civil War. One of these companies agreed to buy the eagle for $2.50. Then it continued on to army training in Madison, Wisconsin.
Those men eventually became Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Informally? They were the “Eagle Regiment.”
The men had named their eagle for Abraham Lincoln. As they marched to war, they took Old Abe everywhere—even into battle.
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SSG Franklin Briant
I have heard the story of the batch as most soldiers have but to see someone other than a soldier from that unit is outstanding.
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