| Monument located on the south side of Union Avenue approximately .1 mile
west of Grant Avenue. Also a marker designating the assaults of 22 May 1863 located on
Graveyard Road at the midway point between Union Avenue. and Confederate Avenue. This unit
was attached to Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Mower's 2nd Brigade of Brig. Gen. James M.
Tuttle's 3rd Division, Maj. Gens William T. Sherman & Frederick Steele's XV
Army Corps and was commanded by Col. George W. Robbins. [Refer to pages 504, 548 &
550, Volume 5 of the WPA Monumentation Survey Books.] The 8th Wisconsin ,
sometimes known as "The Eagle Brigade" went to war with an eagle as a mascot.
The eagle had been captured by the son of the chief of the Lake Flambeau tribe of the
Chippewa Indians on the head-waters of the Chippewa River during the summer of 1861. A man
by the name of Daniel McCann traded a bushel of corn for the eagle and took the bird to
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in August, offering it to Company C of the 8th
Wisconsin, just forming. At that time the eagle was two months old. A civilian, S. M.
Jeffers purchased the eagle for $2.50 and presented it to the organization. James McGinnis
was the first bearer. The eagle always rode on his perch to the left of the colors.
The 8th, with other regiments, disembarked at Hamburg, Mississippi, in quest
of Gen. Beauregard's Army and formed a line of battle at Farmington, Mississippi on 19 May
1862. The eagle flew for the first time over the battle at Farmington. Corinth, Iuka and
then Vicksburg followed. McGinnis became ill and Thomas J. Hill, from Eau Claire, was
appointed to the task of carrying the eagle. Later when Hill was appointed to a regimental
position the job fell to David McClane from Menomonie, Wisconsin, on 18 August 1862.
Soon after the Battle of Corinth some one in the regiment cropped the tail and wing
feathers of the bird to prevent his flying away. McClane became disgusted with the
treatment inflicted upon the eagle and resigned his post on 1 November 1862, passing the
duty to Edward Homaston of Eau Claire. Homaston, reared in the Green Mountains of Vermont,
where he watched the flights of eagles daily, took to the eagle (now nicknamed "Old
Abe") with a natural instinct. The friendship between man and bird became very strong
as they thoroughly understood each other.
On 26 June 1864, after 3 years of war, a remnant of Company C with "Old Abe"
arrived at Eau Claire for a well-earned rest. Two months later the eagle returned to
battle. "Old Abe's" last battle was on 18 August 1864, at Tallahatchie River,
near Abbeville, Mississippi. "Old Abe" was the hero of 25 battles and as many
skirmishes. Twenty-six members of Company C, 8th Wisconsin were mustered out
and with "Old Abe" arrived at Madison, Wisconsin, on 22 September where he was
presented to Governor Lewis and given permanent quarters in the State Capitol. |
 
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