HISTORY:  Old Abe the War Eagle, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Debra McCann  <chenae@ap.net>  30 January 2000
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                          Old Abe the War Eagle
                            By Henry McCann

     I, being the son of Dan and Margaret (La Point) McCann, who were
the original purchasers of the old War Eagle from the Chippewa tribe
of Indians, thought it would be of interest at this time to give an
authentic history of Old Abe.
     In the spring of '61, a band of Flambeau Indians, (Chippewa Tribe)
under the leadership of Chief Sky, were making their annual spring trip
down the river in birch bark canoes with a quantity of maple sugar to
trade for supplies.  One night while camped at the mouth of Jump River,
which was known as Surveyors Point, they saw an old eagle hovering
around a tall tree.  One of the young bucks climbed the tree to the
nest and while up there the old eagle charged on him and had to be
shot.  The young lad found two young eagles in the nest and brought
them down.
     On their way down the river they stopped at Brunet's to try to
sell the little eagles, but they didn't want them, then came on down
to Old Dan McCann's, whose home was on the flat about 12 rods above
the west end of the present dam.  The home site is now under water.
     The Indians wanted something to eat (an Indian is always hungry)
and Mother gave them some food which she had at hand.  We had just
finished planting corn and had about half of a bushel left in a sack
and the Indians wanted to trade maple sugar for the corn, but as we
made our own sugar, we had no use for theirs.  Still persisting, the
Indians wanted to trade one of the young eagles for the corn, but
Mother when seeing them said they are crows, but to convince her they
went to the canoe and brought up the old eagle.  She finally traded
for one of the young eagles.  We never heard what became of the other
young bird.
     The eagle became quite a pet during the time that we had it which
was a little more than a year.  Father being crippled used to play the
fiddle for our amusement and the eagle seemed to like it also.  I
remember one time that he played "Bonapartes March Retreat From Moscow"
the eagle would walk around when he played the slow part, but when he
played the fast part he would flutter his wings and hop and dance as
if he know what it was all about.
     In order to keep the eagle around home, we clipped his wing while
young and tied him with a fish line.  As time went on we neglected to
clip the wings again.  One day he broke the line and flew to the river.
We watched him, on bird instinct, he would watch for fish and dive down
and bring up a fish too big for him but he managed to escape.  Again
he flew north as far as Bruney Falls and was gone four days before his
return home.  He was recognized by some people that knew him by the
blue ribbon we kept tied around his neck. After this escapade we kept
him secured, tied.  It became quite a task to feed him, my brother and
sister would go hunting every day for rabbits and partridge of which
he would get his share.  He could eat a rabbit or partridge a day and
a mouse was like a pill, he would swallow it whole.
     Sam and Porter Popple were at our place talking about the regiment
of soldiers that was about to leave Eau Claire and suggested to Dad
that he take the eagle to Eau Claire and present it to the soldiers
for a mascot.  He took the eagle but Capt. Perkins turned down his
offer.  In talking to the soldiers Dad said he was gentle, easy to
train and knew many tricks, and if they could get him a fiddle he
would show them what he could do.  This they did, and Dad played
Bonapartes March and the bird performed, and then and there they
decided to take the bird as a mascot.  Thus the Co. was changed from
the Badger Co., to the Eagle Co.  Dad was pleased to think they were
going totake the bird in his place, because he was crippled and unable
to serve.
     A few years later Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge were visiting at the
home of Jackson Phillips at the south end of Jim Falls.  When they
were ready to leave they asked Dad if I could help poll the boat up
to the Deer Trail just below Flambeau Farm on the south side of the
river, and we stopped for lunch and during the conversation Mr.
Rutledge said "No doubt the tree is in sight where Old Abe was caught,
if we but knew which one."
     From the time this bird left for war he became famous day by day,
and was the pride and joy of the soldiers of the Eagle Regiment.  I
would advise you to read of his history on the Battle Fields during
the Civil War and see what moral courage he instilled in his Co.
     Later on I may give you a story of the river drives.
                          Henry McCann
                      Chippewa Falls, R #2.

This was told by Mr. McCann and written by Mrs. F. L. Plul____
for the Centennial in Chippewa Falls, June 1937.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of Sept. 1937.
Al L_ehe,  Notary Public, my commission expires Apr. 7, 1942.