- Joined
- Aug 6, 2016
Daniel M. Stearns of Wellsville, Ohio loved his dog so much that when he went to fight for the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Company F in 1862 he brought his best friend Harvey a bull terrier with him. Harvey was so popular that he soon became one of three mascots for the company and the only four-legged soldier that served the full three-years. He was known for his ability to distinguish the enemy by his barking and was wounded twice during battle. He was also captured but was returned the next day, of course under a flag of truce.
Some of Stearns fellow soldiers wrote home about the antics of Harvey. Captain William Jordan wrote his family that Harvey and fellow mascot Colonel had “the run of the regiment.” Fellow soldier Private Adam Weaver enjoyed how Harvey during camp sing-a-longs would sway to the music and bark when the men sang. Weaver wrote his brother his explanation of the “musical” dog by saying “My idea is that the noise hurts his ears as it does mine!”.
When Stearns was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1862, he made a special brass tag Harvey wore on his collar that read: "I am Lieutenant D.M. Stearns dog. Whose dog are you?” In 1865, Stearns and Harvey were mustered out of the military.
The regiment commissioned a portrait of Harvey that was displayed at future reunions and eventually they made badges with Harvey’s picture. The veterans proudly wore Harvey’s medal at social gatherings. It is believed that Harvey lived out his retirement with Stearns.
August 26th is Dog Appreciation Day and let us never forget the unconditional love and devotion these four-legged soldiers gave their comrades. Not all dogs lived through the war but died on the field of battle dedicated to their masters to their end.
Colonel Salome Marsh of the 5th Maryland Infantry was a soldier that had his four-legged companion follow him into war. When his little buddy was killed Colonel March wrote this poem in his memory.
Epitaph on a Favorite Dog
“Poor Sam is dead and gone,
We ne'er shall see him more,
He has left us here to mourn,
Whom we did once adore.
Alas, Thy days are numbered,
True and faithful friend,
The tender ties are severed,
That kept thee to thy end.
When other friends proved false,
Thou wert always true,
Hence, death, hath given cause,
To mourn the loss of you.” {2}
These loyal four-legged comrades “paved the trail” for the
tradition of canine military service continues!
(Public Domain*)
“Poor Sam is dead and gone,
We ne'er shall see him more,
He has left us here to mourn,
Whom we did once adore.
Alas, Thy days are numbered,
True and faithful friend,
The tender ties are severed,
That kept thee to thy end.
When other friends proved false,
Thou wert always true,
Hence, death, hath given cause,
To mourn the loss of you.” {2}
These loyal four-legged comrades “paved the trail” for the
tradition of canine military service continues!
(Public Domain*)
Sources
1. https://dogs-in-history.blogspot.com/2017/06/harvey-civil-wars-barking-dog.html
2. http://guardianoftheartifacts.blogspot.com/2014/09/pets-and-mascots-of-civil-war.html
{*} “This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier as part of his official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.”
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