Gibson, Ella E. (fl. 1881) [Card depicting the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment's bald eagle, "Old Abe"]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03619.02.17 Author/Creator: Gibson, Ella E. (fl. 1881) Place Written: Barre, Massachusetts Type: Printed document Date: circa 1881 Pagination: 1 card ; 10 x 6.2 cm. Order a Copy
With the story of "Old Abe" on the verso. The live eagle reportedly was brought on all the regiment's marches during its first three years. Gibson gives the "true history": Abe was captured by an Indian in 1861 and presented to an officer. In 1864 he was presented to Wisconsin's governor. He died in 1881 after being shown off at various fairs (including the Centennial Exposition) as a relic of the war. It also indicates that many pictures and pamphlets on Old Abe had been published by Gibson.
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