Si Klegg
Corporal
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2018
- Location
- Bedford UK
I was looking at the uniforms close up in this George Barnard image of the Atlanta defences in 1864 and look who else I found ... sensibly lying in the shade!
I was looking at the uniforms close up in this George Barnard image of the Atlanta defences in 1864 and look who else I found ... sensibly lying in the shade!
View attachment 198460
I agree, they are like soldiers in that regard. I think many dogs wouldn't hesitate to get between a beloved person and anyone or anything the dog considered a threat.
Just started learning about the Karelian Bear Dog, on average about 45 pounds, that will attack 400 plus pound bears and absolutely stand their ground.....brave dogs that are in high demand by forestry folks because they dont have to kill the bear to drive them off. Then they go back to their handlers at no peril to them
Just started learning about the Karelian Bear Dog, on average about 45 pounds, that will attack 400 plus pound bears and absolutely stand their ground.....brave dogs that are in high demand by forestry folks because they dont have to kill the bear to drive them off. Then they go back to their handlers at no peril to them
Wow. Hadn't heard of them before. It looks like they're very determined hunters, too.
I hope I dont get flagged for saying this but in the "Current" war on our Southern boarder the soldiers on both sides of the fence say "The dogs are the best soldiers because they cannot be corrupted" - That is a huge factor. The dog will always be loyal to his handler or troop (ACW).....that is so huge!!!Great to see this older thread back up. Always did enjoy all the posts.
For those of you (like me) had never heard of the Battle at Irish Bend:The Cleveland Plain Dealer of December 1, 1863, tells of this canine member of the 91st New York Volunteers:
Dogs have been used in battle at least since the Roman Empire and I would bet anything far earlier. Yet, I dont think they have been used to the training and extent as they have been used by the USA in the past 20 years. The ACW saw many "mascots" but I dont think there were many fighting dogs. Either way, I would have taken them as a comrade in arms.The Cleveland Plain Dealer of December 1, 1863, tells of this canine member of the 91st New York Volunteers:
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
The scene: Camp Meigs, Readeville, Massachusetts.
Romeo and Juliet were a star-crossed couple if ever there was one. They were adopted by the men of Co. D, 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, raised for 9 months’ service in the summer of 1862. Their companionship, and their service to their country, was lamentably brief, as reported in the Regimental History:
June 28th: “Your correspondent, and the other members of Company D, are indebted to Corporal Gardner for the introduction of a company dog, 'Romeo', a promising fellow, whose laughing countenance and wagging tail and general intelligence have already won him a host of friends. Several of the boys are industriously laboring to reconcile him to the society of 'Juliet', a cat which has come to our barrack.”
Sadly, it was not to be. Barely six weeks later, the colonel announced that when the 44th shipped out for the Carolinas, they could not take Romeo with them. And, Juliet ... well, her tale, briefly told, is sadder still:
“Unfortunately, an order promulgated from headquarters sent ‘Romeo’ out of camp and ‘Juliet,’ in despair, followed the example of her illustrious namesake; at least it was so supposed, as p*ssy died very suddenly the day following Romeo’s departure. One of the members of Company D was accused of murdering her, tried by court-martial, and convicted; but the evidence against the alleged culprit was far from conclusive.”(Of course, we all know the truth: fair Juliet obtained a 'potion' from the apothecary, and, in despair for the loss of her dear Romeo ...View attachment 137336 )
Record of the service of the Forty-Fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in North Carolina, August 1862 to May 1863, by James B. Gardner, (1887)