I have what I call a composite photo of 5 friends who served in the union army during the civil war. this photo was made up some time after the war and I think that because it has a paper base like a modern print would have and the image of my relative's future husband is the same image I have a tin type of. there is a date of 1862 in the center of the photo and the 5 head shots are placed around that date. I have also, a photo dated 1897 of the same 5 men in the same positions as the composite photo and yes, they look 35 years older.
at the bottom of the composite photo, inside the frame under the glass is a 7-8 inch long, dark gray-ish color feather with a slip of paper in the corner with the following handwritten wording, "old abe feather august --, 1877". there is a day date there too but I can't recall it and can't see it because it is on a flash drive. I presume the date has to do with either a G.A.R. reunion or, and since I only know the one person I don't know if they all served in the Illinois 127th. infantry with my future relative or not, a reunion of the 127th.
it was not used to write with because the tip has not been cut to hold ink or make a point for a finer line.

what is the significance of a feather named this way? anything?

I have chatted with Michael P. Elliott about it because he has a relative who also was in the 127th. Illinois but he does not know anything about
it and it is not on the internet so I have no URL to give.
thanks in advance if anyone has any thoughts on it,
mike wayne