Old Abe the War Eagle

The story of Old Abe, the bald eagle that became the mascot of the Eighth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. It 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 story of Old Abe, the bald eagle that became the mascot of the Eighth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. It 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.

Richard Zeitlin earned a Masters and a Ph.D. in U.S. History at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society, operated a historical consulting corporation, and became the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. As the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Zeitlin presided over the redevelopment of a new facility and a major expansion in the museum’s programs.