For those who like history, I think you will find this interesting.
If you are a regular reader here at The River you know our son is at Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He recently shared in his letter the reason behind the greeting "40 Rounds" for their Battalion.
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| Photo taken at Wisconsin's Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin |
During the Civil War is when the 2-13th IN Regiment came into being. (This is the regiment Sam is in now at Fort Jackson.) There was a rival Regiment or Battalion that had just recently gotten fancy buttons or pins for their caps. Anyway, they went around boasting, bragging and showing off their new, fancy, button. When they approached this one 2-13th Private they showed him the button and acted all posh and condescending. The private responded with "we only need 40 rounds." and tapped his ammunition pouch. It stuck ever since then.
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| Madison, Wisconsin |
How about a little bit of Wisconsin Civil War history, do you know the story about Old Abe?
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2012) -- The Screaming Eagle insignia of
the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is perhaps the most recognized
and famous shoulder sleeve insignia in the United States Army.
However the history and symbolism of the patch is often forgotten. The
eagle on your shoulder is not just any American Bald Eagle, but instead,
it commemorates the most famous animal mascot that ever served in the
United States Army.
In 1861, an American Indian named Ahgamahwegezhig -- or Chief Sky -- a
member of the Flambeau band of the Chippewa tribe, cut down a tree in an
attempt to capture two American Bald Eaglets in their nest. Chief Sky
later traded the surviving eaglet to Daniel McCann of Eagle Point,
Wisc., for a bushel of corn.
McCann took the bird to Eau Claire, Wisc., and briefly kept it as a
family pet. Caged inside a modified oaken cask, the bird grew larger and
quickly became too expensive to feed. McCann actively sought to sell
the as yet unnamed bird to the many units of Wisconsin troops passing
through the area enroute to their muster site at Camp Randall in
Madison, Wisc.
After many unsuccessful attempts to rid himself of the bird, McCann
eventually sold the eagle for $2.50 to Capt. John E. Perkins, commanding
officer of a militia company called the "Eau Claire Badgers." Part of
the money was, reluctantly, given by local tavern-keeper S.M. Jeffers.
In light of their newly acquired mascot, the unit renamed themselves the "Eau Claire Eagle."
Perkins' unit entered federal service and was re-designated as Company
C, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The Eau Claire Eagles'
mascot was adopted by the new 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
which was quickly nicknamed the "Eagle Regiment." After much
deliberation, the mascot was named "Old Abe," in honor of President
Abraham Lincoln.
During its time awaiting muster into Federal service at Camp Randall,
the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment purchased a special,
shield-shaped perch on which to carry their mascot. It was here, in
Madison, Wisconsin where "Old Abe" was named in honor of our 16th
President, Abraham Lincoln.
The 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment spent its entire military
service in what was then known as the Western Theater of the American
Civil War comprising: Missouri; Arkansas; Tennessee; Mississippi;
Louisiana; and Alabama. "Old Abe" was present during all of the 8th
Wisconsin's battles and was carried into combat by a sergeant on a
special perch alongside the 8th Wisconsin's National and Regimental
colors.
Seeing "Old Abe" atop his perch during the battle of Corinth,
Mississippi, Confederate General Sterling Price remarked, "that bird
must be captured or killed at all hazards, I would rather get that eagle
than capture a whole brigade or a dozen battle flags."
During "Old Abe's" service, the 8th Wisconsin participated in many
battles, expeditions, and pursuits of Confederate forces. Among these
were the battles of: Iuka; Corinth; Island Number 10; Big Black;
Champion's Hill; the Red River and Meridian expeditions; and the Battle
of Nashville. "Old Abe" was there every step of the way.
The 8th Wisconsin's most famous fight came in June of 1863, when the
regiment participated in a futile frontal assault along Vicksburg's
Graveyard Road. "Old Abe" and his regiment, then part of Mower's
Brigade, failed to penetrate the center of the Confederate
fortifications near a 90-degree bend in the Confederate defensive
positions known as Stockade Redan.
Their enlistments having expired, the men of the 8th Wisconsin were
mustered out of federal service in late-1864. The 8th Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry Regiment was no more. On Sept. 26th, 1864, a
contingent of 70 8th Wisconsin veterans marched "Old Abe" to the state
and presented him to Governor James Lewis. "Old Abe" was donated to the
people of Wisconsin by the loving comrades alongside whom he had fought
for four years.
In 1865 an enterprising Chicagoan, capitalizing on "Old Abe's" fame,
sought to enlist him in support of the United Sanitary Commission's
efforts to provide aid and comfort to wounded Veterans. Thus the "Army
of the American Eagle" was formed. Children were "enlisted" to sell
paper photographs of "Old Abe" in much the same way that schools raise
funds today. Proceeds from the sale of these photographs went to benefit
local veteran's charities.
The Wisconsin War Eagle's post-war life was punctuated by frequent
nation-wide travel in support of veteran reunions, patriotic gatherings,
Soldier relief benefits, and special exhibitions during which he
achieved a rock star-like status. In 1876, "Old Abe" again toured the
country as part of America's Centennial Exposition.
"Old Abe" lived out the remainder of his life in an aviary in the
Capitol building. In 1881, a fire broke out in a paint and solvent
storage area near "Old Abe's" aviary. A month later the famous
Wisconsin War Eagle, weakened by fumes, died in the arms of his handler,
George Gilles.
Many newspapers and Veterans groups wondered aloud "what would become of
this famous, flesh and blood war relic?" Upon his death, "Old Abe" was
preserved and exhibited in the Capitol building's Grand Army of the
Republic Memorial Hall until a fire destroyed the display in 1904.
Sadly, only a few of "Old Abe's" feathers survive, carefully preserved
by the Wisconsin Veterans' Museum in Madison.
Today, large sculptures of "Old Abe" stand atop the Wisconsin monument
at Vicksburg, Miss., and atop the entrance to old Camp Randall, now the
main entrance to the University of Wisconsin's football stadium. Since
1865, Wisconsin-based J.I. Case farm implement company has used "Old
Abe" as part of their corporate logo. "Old Abe" also serves as the
mascot of several Wisconsin high schools.
Since 1921, "Old Abe's" head, in profile, has served as the shoulder
sleeve insignia of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). A
large-scale diorama of the 8th Wisconsin's Color Guard, complete with
"Old Abe," is on exhibit in the atrium of the division headquarters
building on Fort Campbell.
