Sallie, the faithful mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Sallie was a brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier and served as the mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When she was 4 weeks old she was given to a first lieutenant of the regiment when they were in training at the fairgrounds in West Chester, Pa. Sallie grew up with the men and followed them on marches and into battle.

Sallie knew the drum roll announcing reveille and was first out of quarters to attend roll call. At dress parade she took a position beside the regimental colors. When the regiment was encamped she slept by the Captain's tent after she patrolled the area.

At her first battle, Sallie remained with the colors. She did this at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. When the unit was at Gettysburg she got separated from them. She was found by the medical detail comforting her wounded friends and guarding the bodies of her dead compatriots.

In the Spring of 1863 at the review of the Union Army by President Lincoln, Sallie marched alongside the 11th Pennsylvania. It was reported that President Lincoln raised his stovepipe hat as she went by.

In Feb.1865, Sallie was struck by a bullet at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia. She was buried on the battlefield by her loving friends. For her devotion to her men, Sallie is memorialized at the 11th Pennsylvania monument at Gettysburg.

donna,
Thank you for the wonderful post. It brought tears to my eyes. No longer re-enacting, I am now active in Bully dog rescues. I could see Sallie in my mind's eye as I read her story.
When I go to Gettysburg I'll look for her monument with the 11th Penn. Vol. Inf.

I have always wondered....Yes Sallie was killed in Virginia...but her memorial is in Gettysburg near Iiversons Pits??????

Glorybound The photos are so nice. I just love that someone put dog bones on Sallie's statute. Next time go to Gettysburg will have to be sure to go by this one. It so nice you found actual photo of Sallie.

Great story, thanks for the information and the pictures!

Have always loved that story about Sallie. It is said that there were only three things Sallie had a distaste for, Rebels, Democrats and women.

There was also another dog at Gettysburg, a casualty on July 3d as Grace, the mascot of the 1st Maryland Confederate was killed on Culps Hill during the final action.

Glorybound Thanks for adding the story of Grace and the pictures. This another story of a faithful and courageous dog. The movie industry should do film on some of these dogs.

I love the story of Sallie, believe it or not, every time I make it to Gettysburg, I always manage to get a picture of her. This was the first actual picture I have seen of her, thanks for posting it!

I wonder who took the original picture of Sallie? It must have been one of the famous photographers of the Civil War. Glorybound did it say where picture was taken or who took it?

donna and Glorybound,
Thanks for thr information and pictures of Sallie and Grace. I have dogs.cats and horses. and am an unbashed animal lover.

A Colonel, A Flag, and a Dog by Cindy Stouffer is a good book about this subject.

This story brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing it.

I should have named this thread dogs of the civil war. Another great story is about Tinker the faithful dog who served on several Confederate blockade runners. Tinker belonged to Michael P. Usina who commanded several blockade runners. He was one of the youngest men to command a blockade runner. Tinker was a terrier who was the ship's ratter and Usina's "good luck charm". Usina had a successful career as a blockade runner till the end of the war. Usina wrote that once he was offered $500 for tinker but said he would never give the dog up as Tinker was his faithful friend and his good luck charm.

One story is that when he was commanding the ship the Armstrong that on way to Wilmington they ran into a really bad storm. The ship was damaged and they had to anchor in Little River Inlet to make repairs. Six escaped Union soldiers joined the ship. Besides watching them they nearly missed being discovered by Union gunboats. They did get away. Usina always said it was because of Tinker, his good luck charm

In 1865 when Lee surrendered, Usina was commanding the blockade ship, the Whisper. He decided to take the ship to England and return it to its owners. Tinker was on board. The dog became sick and died. Tinker was buried at sea in the North Atlantic among the icebergs. Usina wrote " after the surrender on my way to England, I burried my faithful Tinker among the icebergs of the North Atlantic and every man on board stood with uncovered head when he was consigned to his watery grave. It was one of the saddest moments of my life..".

There is suppose to be a photo of Tinker. It is suppose to be only photo of a Confederate dog. I have been looking for it but haven't found it yet.

Capt Werner von Bachelle Co F 6th WI had a Newfoundland dog that he loved. He taught the dog tricks that he loved to show off, especially the salute the dog would return to passerbys. After the battle of Antietam, the body of the Capt was found in the Cornfield with his beloved dead pet sprawled over his master. Both master and pet were buried together but when the bodies were disinterred and moved to the National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, no record was made if the dog followed his master in death. I like to think they still rest together.