5. It was really amusing to witness the strange freaks and droll adventures of this bird during his three years' service, his flights in the air, his fights with the guineahens, and his race with the boys. When the regiment was in summer quarters at Clear Creek, the eagle was allowed to run at large, and every morning went to the river, half a mile off, where he splashed and played in the water to his heart's content, faithfully returning to camp when he was satisfied. 6. Old Abe's favorite place of resort was the sutler's tent, where a live chicken found "no quarter" in his presence. But rations became scarce, and, for two days, Abe had nothing to eat. Hard-tack he objected to; fasting was disagreeable; and Thomas, his bearer, could not get beyond the pickets to a farm-yard. At last, pushing his way to the colonel's tent, he pleaded for poor Abe. The colonel gave him a pass, and Thomas procured for him an excellent dinner. 7. One day a farmer asked Thomas to come and show the eagle to his children. Satisfying the curiosity of the family, Thomas set him down in the barn-yard. Oh, what a screeching and scattering among the fowls! for Abe pounced upon one, and gobbled up another, to the great amazement of the farmer, who declared that such wanton behavior was not in the bargain. Abe, however, thought there was no harm in "confiscating" in time of war. 8. Abe was in twenty battles, besides thirty skirmishes. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, the storming of Corinth, and marched with Sherman up the Red River. The whiz of bullets and the scream of shells were his delight. the battle grew hotter and hotter, he would flap his wings, and mingle his wildest notes with the thundering din As around him. He was very fond of music, especially Yankee Doodle and John Brown. Upon parade he always gave heed to the word, "ATTENTION!" With his eye on the commander, he would listen and obey orders, noting time accurately. After parade he would put off his soldierly air, flap his wings, and make himself at home. 9. The enemy called him "Yankee Buzzard," "Old Owl," and other hard names; but his eagle nature was quite above noticing it. One General gave orders to his men to be sure and capture the eagle of the Eighth Wisconsin; saying, he "would rather have him than a dozen battle-flags." But for all that, he scarcely lost a feather,— only one from his right wing. At last the war was over, and the brave Wisconsin Eighth, with their live eagle and torn and riddled flags, were welcomed back to Madison. They went out a thousand strong, and returned a little band, scarred and toil-worn, having fought and won. 10. And what of the Soldier Bird? In the name of the gallant veterans, Captain Wolf presented him to the State. Governor Lewis accepted the illustrious gift, and ample quarters are provided for him in the beautiful Statehouse grounds, where may he long live to tell us "What heroes from the woodland sprang, When, through the fresh awakened land, 11. Nor is the end yet. At the great fair in Chicago, an enterprising gentleman invited "Abe" to attend. He had colored photographs of the old hero struck off, and sold sixteen thousand seven hundred dollars' worth for the benefit of poor and sick soldiers. Has not the American Eagle done his part'? May not the Venerable Veteran rest upon his honors'? 12. ""Tis many a stormy day Since, out of the cold, bleak North, Many and many a day, O'er charge and storm hath he wheeled, Foray and foughten-field, — Tramp, and volley, and rattle! - He shall soar to his aerie-home,- LESSON XI. 'DOUBLE-QUICK, the fastest time or step, in marching, next to the run, requiring one hundred and sixty-five steps, each thirty-three inches in length, to be taken in one minute. 2 AID ́- De-Camp, (āid-de-kõng,) an officer selected by a general officer to assist him in his military duties. 3 MET A MOR' PHO SIS, (META, over; MORPHOSIS, forming,) a forming over; change; transformation. N° THE BATTLE-FIELD. O person who was not upon the ground, and an eyewitness of the stirring scenes which there transpired, can comprehend, from a description, the terrible realities of a battle; and even those who participated are competent to speak only of their own personal experience. Where friends and foes are falling by scores, and every species of missile is flying through the air, threatening each instant to send one or more into eternity, little time is afforded for more observation or reflection than is required for personal safety. 1 2. The scene is one of the most exciting and exhilarating that can be conceived. Imagine a regiment passing you at "double-quick," the men cheering with enthusiasm, their teeth set, their eyes flashing, and the whole in a frenzy of resolution. You accompany them to the field. They halt. An Aid-de-camp2 passes to or from the commanding General. The clear voices of the officers ring along the line in tones of passionate eloquence; their words burning, thrilling, and elastic. The word is given to march, and the body moves into action. 3. For the first time in your life, you listen to the whizzing of iron. Grape and canister fly into the ranks, bombshells burst overhead, and the fragments fly around you. A friend falls; perhaps a dozen or twenty of your comrades lie wounded or dying at your feet; a strange, involuntary shrinking steals over you, which it is impossible to resist. You feel inclined neither to advance nor recede, but are spell-bound by the contending emotions of the moral and physical man. The cheek blanches, the lips quiver, and the eye almost hesitates to look upon the appalling scene. 4. In this attitude you may, perhaps, be ordered to stand an hour inactive; havoc, meanwhile, marking its footsteps with blood on every side. Finally the order is given to advance, to fire, or to charge. And now, what a metamorphosis! With your first shot, you become a new least concern. Fear has man. Personal safety is your no existence in your bosom. Hesitation gives way to an uncontrollable desire to rush into the thickest of the fight, and to vie with others in deeds of daring. 5. The dead and dying around you, if they receive a passing thought, only serve to stimulate you to revenge. You become cool and deliberate, and watch the effect of the bullets, the shower of bursting shells, the passage of cannon-balls, as they rake their murderous channels through your ranks, the plunging of wounded horses, the agonies of the dying, and the clash of contending arms which follows the dashing charge, with a feeling so calloused by surrounding circumstances, that your soul seems dead to every sympathizing and selfish thought. Such is the spirit which carries the soldier through the exciting scenes of the battle-field. 6. But when the excitement has passed, when the roll of musketry has ceased, the thunderings of the cannons are stilled, the dusky pall of sulphureous smoke has risen from the field, and you stroll over the theater of carnage, hearing the groans of the wounded, discovering here, shattered almost beyond recognition, the form of some dear friend whom, only an hour before, you met in the full flush of life and happiness, there another perforated by a bullet, a third with a limb shot away, a fourth with his face disfigured, a fifth almost torn to fragments, a sixth a headless corpse, the ground plowed up and stained with blood, human brains splashed around, limbs without bodies, and bodies without limbs, scattered here and there, and the same picture duplicated scores of times,—THEN you begin to realize the horrors of war, and experience a reäction of nature. 7. The heart opens its flood-gates, humanity asserts herself again, and you begin to feel. Friend and foo alike |