“Old Abe” American bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Inf. Reg.

“Old Abe” was the American bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment that fought in the Western theater including Vicksburg.

“Old Abe” was the American bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.

"Old Abe" was the famous eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Taken from its nest when only four months old, the eagle had been purchased and presented to the regiment, then preparing to go to the front. "Old Abe" was given a place next to the regiment flag where he remained for the next three years. The eagle died in 1881 and was stuffed and mounted for public display. 

At the close of his war career "Old Abe" was presented by the company to the state and a place was provided for him at the state capitol at Madison, where he was viewed by thousands. He was also taken to various parts of the United States, being in great demand all over. He attended national conventions, was taken to the great centennial at Philadelphia and other noted gatherings, where he was the center of attraction. 

Old Abe at the GAR Museum.

Toward evening of a cold day in the winter of 1881 a fire started mysteriously in a quantity of paints and oils stored in the basement of the capitol, near Old Abe's large cage. The blaze created an enormous volume of black and offensive smoke, which at once filled the cage to suffocation.

Abe, understanding full well the nature of what was going on around him, sent forth such a scream as had never before been heard in that building. Attendants and watchmen rushed below to learn the cause of the startling outcry, and before attacking the flames, opened the door of the perch-room. The eagle, with another piecing screech, swept swiftly out and away from the smudge.

Fire at the Wisconsin State Capitol. 

He seemed to be either frightened or injured by the smoke, for his breast heaved, his heart labored heavily and his plumage was disheveled. Nor was he ever well thereafter. He ate sparingly or not at all; his eyes lost their wonderful luster; he sat around in a half-comatose condition for a few days, and on March 26, 1881, with a slight tremor and few feeble flaps of his wings, expired in the arms of his stout keeper, George Gillies. 

John Hill. Caretaker 1864.

George said that Abe seemed to know he was about to die, for when he asked solicitously, "Must we lose you, Abe?" the old bird raised up his head and looked wistfully into the keeper's face and then sunk back into his arms and passed away. Around him were numbers of one-legged and one-armed veterans whose sad faces showed that they had lost a beloved comrade.

At first the general desire among the soldiers was to have Abe buried in the beautiful Forest Hill cemetery, where rest two hundred Union and one hundred and fifty Confederate dead, with appropriate military ceremonies and under a handsome monument.

The suggestion that the taxidermist's art would preserve him to the sight for an indefinite period dispelled those notions, and he was turned over to Major C. G. Mayers, who, after preserving and stuffing the warriorbird, fixed him firmly to a neat perch as he stood for years in the war museum of the capital. His mounted body was destroyed in a second capital fire some years later.

"OLD ABE'S" BATTLES”

Fredericktown, MO - 21 October 1861.  New Madrid and Island "10" - March & April 1862.  Point Pleasant, MO - 20 March 1862.  Farmington, Miss. - 9 May 1862.  Corinth, Miss. - 28 May 1862.  Iuka, Miss. - 12 September 1862.  Burnsville, Miss. – 13 September 1862. Iuka, Miss. - 16-18 September 1862.  Corinth, Miss. - 3-4 October 1862.  Tallehatchie, Miss. - 2 December 1862.  Mississippi Springs, Miss. - 13 May 1863.  Jackson, Miss. - 14 May 1863.  Assault on Vicksburg, Miss. - 22 May 1863. Mechanicsburg, Miss. - 4 June 1863.  Richmond, La. - 15 June 1863. Vicksburg, Miss. - 24 June 1863.  Surrender of Vicksburg - 4 July 1863. Brownsville, Miss. - 14 October 1863. Fort Scurry, La. - 13 March 1864.  Fort De Russey, La. - 15 March 1864.  Henderson's Hill, La. - 21 March 1864.  Grand Ecore, La. - 2 April 1864.  Pleasant Hill, La. - 8-9 April 1864.  Natchitoches, La. - 20 April 1864.  Kane River, La. - 22 April 1864.  Clouterville and Crane Hill, La. - 23 April 1864.  Bayou Rapids, La. - 2 May 1864.  Bayou La Monre, La. - 3 May 1864.  Bayou Roberts, La. - 4-6 May 1864.  Moore's Plantation, La. - 8-12 May 1864.  Mansura, La. - 16 May 1864.  Maysville, La. - 17 May 1864.  Calhoun's Plantation, La. - 18 May 1864.  Bayou De Glaise, La. - 18 May 1864.  Lake Chicot, Ark. - 6 June 1864.  Hurricane Creek, Miss. - 13 August 1864. 

Two battles were fought by the regiment while the eagle and veterans were home on furlough – Carmargo Crossroads, Miss., July 13, and Tupelo, Miss., July 14 and 15.

Blended photos with modern times.

Here is a collection of my photography of photos blended with modern times. Be sure to follow my blog for more blended photography. I'm using Adobe Photoshop cc. 

After many years the dragon is awaken from its stupor. It would destroy their village and feast upon their souls. It was thought to be an old wives' tales of a great beast that once lived in an ancient cavern. The day of reckoning has arrived.

The Aft Grand Staircase aboard the Titanic in its former glory. Now lies 12,500 feet below the sea off the coast of Newfoundland.

Niagara Fall was turned off in 1969 for six months during a geological servey of the fall's rocks face.  

Discovery of the Titanic and its ghostly passengers on their voyage to eternity. 

Marshland in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1917. Work was underway to turn this site into the 2,000-foot long reflecting pool.

Washington Monument. 1860 and today.

Hindenburg Disaster.  A view from the ground. On May 6, 1937, the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in Manchester Township, New Jersey. 13 passengers, 22 crew man, and one worker on the ground were killed.

Kern Valley 15 million years ago. The area was shallow and rich with sea life. Once a feasting ground for the great Megalodons.

An old soul arriving to his final destination. Star of the Sea Cemetery, Marblehead, MA.

Boot Hill, San Quentin Prison. 696 condemned and unclaimed prisoners are buried.

Inmate Pivaroff (Inmate #276) playing guitar. Also known as "Dip" for being a pickpocket. Transferred from McNeil Island Penitentiary for being extremely assaultive and dangerous. Serving time for postal robbery and assault at Alcatraz Island. Original B&W photo courtesy of Chuck Stucker.

Industry Building, Alcatraz Island. Built between 1939 and 1941.

Robert Stroud's prison cell (Inmate #594). Stroud was incarcerated 54 years of his life. Of which 42 years were spent in solitary confinement. He was serving a life sentence for killing a guard in 1916 at McNeil Island, Puget Sound. Alcatraz Island between 1942-1959.

Dining Hall, Alcatraz Island. About 1937.

Tourist walk through the main cell block. Behind them are the ghostly image of the last inmates departing Alcatraz Island March 21, 1963.

Golden Gate Bridge construction 1935. Construction began January 5, 1933, and opened to the public in 1937 at a cost of over 15 million dollars. Leading up to the final weeks a fatality occurred on February 17, 1937, when a work platform broke loose under the north tower. 12 workers were thrown into a safety net which failed. Ten died in the fall or drowned and two survived.

Rockefeller Center, Manhattan, NY. construction 1932.

Market Street, San Francisco, 1906 Earthquake.

Train Depot, Tehachapi, Ca. In 2008 the depot burned down due to illegal fireworks; it was rebuilt in 2009 and now serves as the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum with historic railroad artifacts.

The aftermath of the Juanita Hotel on Green Street from the earthquake of 1952, Tehachapi, Ca. The buildings have since been torn down.

Present day train traversing along bent railroad track through Tehachapi, Ca. Earthquake 1952.

Civil war veterans at Camp Randall Memorial Arch, Madison, WI.

End of WWI parade down Main St. in front of present day Nolan Anderson Agency. Waunakee, WI. Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

Early First Presbyterian Church and present time, 110 W. Second St. Waunakee, WI. Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

Aerial photograph of Camp Randall stadium 1930 & today. Madison, WI.

Waunakee Pavement Dance, Main Street, 1913. Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

James Clarke's general store. 105 E. Main St. Waunakee, WI.

Train Depot - 100 East Main St. Waunakee, WI. Currently Chamber of Commerce. Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

100 W. Main St. Waunakee, WI.

James and Harriet Clarke in front of their family home. Located on Coopers Addition, Waunakee, WI. The house has since been torn down. Original B&W photo courtesy of the Schwenn family.

The Outpost, 227 S. Main Street. Cottage Grove, WI. Original B&W photo courtesy of Tina Carpenter.

Mr. Laufenberg in front of his home. 204 W. Second St. Waunakee, WI. Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

The Statz family in front of their home on 207 W. Main St., Waunakee, WI.  Original B&W photo courtesy of Waunakee Centennial 1871-1971.

Camp Randall in the Civil War Madison, Wisconsin.

Camp Randall  At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Governor Randall directed Major Horace A. Tenney to put the fairground near the University into condition for reception of Wisconsin troops. This was quickly done and in honor of the Governor, it was named Camp Randall.

During the war, the following troops were stationed at Camp Randall while being organized for service: 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, 29th, 30th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 40th, 49th, 50th. Also Company G. of Berdan's Sharpshooters.

 More than 70,000 Wisconsin troops trained at Camp Randall, Madison, WI., which was then an open field on the edge of campus, and drilled on Bascom Hill.

Memorials to the Civil War soldiers who trained in Camp Randall now adorn the site. In 1863, drained of male students and looking to boost enrollment, the university opened its doors to women for the first time. Pictured on the right are Union Cadets at Camp Randall.

In the Spring of 1862 the Camp was taken entirely by surprise that some 1300 Confederate Prisoners of War captured in the operations at and around Island No.10 were to be sent there for confinement.

The camp had no provisions for housing prisoners. A corner of the camp was stockaded off and numerous wooden frame huts were built.  During its short three month existence, 139 men died. Most were Confederate soldiers from Alabama. They are buried at Confederate Rest Cemetery. Those who survived were sent to various Confederate prisons.

The first group of prisoners arrived on April 20th, 1862 by train, some 881 men, according to contemporary accounts. Most of these men were in good health, though some ill and wounded did accompany them. They were taken in charge at the depot by soldiers of the 19th Wisconsin Infantry, a raw regiment that was assigned the task of being prison guards because they were the only military organization at that time in the State capable of the job. 

A huge crowd of Madison civilians turned out to see the prisoners who were described at being dressed in the dirty, ragged remnants of their grey and butternut uniforms. They were described as being in generally good spirits and as they marched to the Camp the band of the 19th played "Dixie" at which the step and military bearing of the men improved considerably.

Many good natured remarks passed between the prisoners and the Madison natives. Only one citizen showed disdain by saying "this is what you get for your treason!: To which a prisoner loudly replied "I reckon you are one of the stay at home sort, left here to do all the windy work. You'd do better service to join your folks down south!"

Memorial bench at Camp Randall. 

On April 24th, 1862 another train arrived bearing some 275 severely sick men. They had not fared well on the journey and Madison's natives were outraged by their condition, even if they were enemies. As the newspaper put it "These are still our fellow citizens, misguided though they be." The city residents were very generous in bringing food, medicine and clothing for the ill men. The Typographical Union and the Masonic organizations were especially active.

The Surgeon of the 19th was joined by a Confederate Surgeon named Moore who had accompanied the men, and also by a civilian contract surgeon. These three men worked tirelessly, but many of these men were too far gone. For the next four weeks at least several died each day until some 145 died. 140 graves are marked by name and regiment in the Confederate Rest Cemetery plot about a mile away where they were buried. It is said there are also 5 unmarked graves of unknowns.

On May 6th and event occurred which in the long run had a bad effect on the camp's public image. Two of the prisoners escaped by bribing a guard. They were shortly afterwards recaptured, but the commandant was forced to lock down the camp from outside visits and in this air of secrecy, with the death toll mounting, charges of neglect were raised by the public. Only one man successfully escaped, a member of the Washington Artillery of Memphis, described only as "a small man with a long beard".

Camp Randall Memorial Arch

Then on May 26th occurred an event which horrified Madison natives and caused a breakdown of the generally good relations between the prisoners and guards. A prisoner named Spears was emerging from the Hospital compound, and having dysentery felt the need to empty his bowels. This he attempted to do in a spot not approved for such activity. A guard threw a stone at him hitting him in the cheek and causing him to fall over.

The prisoner's brother, Corporal G. W. Spears, approached the guard and called him "A Bull Run son of a bitch". The guard, a 17 year old recruit, raised his rifle and fired shooting Corp. Spears dead on the spot. A court of inquiry cleared this young recruit,  Va. Needless to say after this event the relations between prisoners and guards were very tense.

Confederate Soldiers buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, WI.

The prisoners able to travel were shipped out in early June and were paroled and exchanged near Vicksburg later that summer. The sick men stayed behind until the deaths stopped and the survivors were well enough to travel at which point they too were sent south for exchange. This ended the history of Camp Randall as a prisoner of war camp.

Today only a few acres remain as a memorial park containing some artillery pieces and monuments, and one of the prisoner huts, the last remaining structure from the camp. Confederate Rest cemetery is well maintained and is the site of services each year on Confederate Memorial Day and on the National Holiday of Memorial Day. The City Council has, however, banned the flying of the Confederate Battle Flag, lest someone be offended!

Stockade for Confederate Prisoners Ft. Randall. 

The men held at Camp Randall were mostly of the lst Alabama Regiment and the consolidated lst Ala, Tenn, and Miss Regiment. There were also quite a few men from the 40th Tenn and the 55th Tenn, plus several from the 12th La and the 4th Batt Arkansas Infantry. Also confined there were some 38 members of the Washington Artillery of Memphis, Tenn, a militia unit which had never been mustered into Confederate Service. These men wrote to the Federal Government protesting their incarceration as they were a State Militia Unit following the orders of their legitimate commander in chief, the Governor of Tennessee.

Today Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. It has been the home of Wisconsin Badgers football since 1895, with a fully functioning stadium since 1917.