Lot of great stories out there about Old Abe - and books. Hard to find a first hand account from someone who saw Old Abe during the war who didn't mention her. And as true blue as she was made out to be, she had a little 'grey' in her.
From The Eagle Regiment (post war at the World's Fair)
While Gen. Sherman was addressing the people, one day, in the main room of the Exposition Building, fired to enthusiasm over the victory of our arms,mentioning the emblems of the nation around him, and among them the Eagle, he precipitately put out his hand to stroke the plumage of our hero, when he wheeled upon his perch with a savage screech at the General, his white feathers ruffled, trying to fight him for such presumption.
The vast audience roared with laughter, when the orator blushingly remarked—"Beat this time!"