The "Singing" War Dog of Co. F, 5th Massachusetts Infantry

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The band of the Fifth Massachusetts Infantry celebrated the regiment's return home from the war with a concert that was almost, but not quite, drowned out by the "singing" of Company F's dog. (I imagine the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery might have wished for such a band.)

"Everybody remembers the trip home, especially the concert
given as we sailed into Boston harbor. All went well until
we played "Home, Sweet Home," when the big dog of
Company F joined in the chorus. The tones he uttered were
not heavenly, yet were they unearthly. It was a self-evident
fact that the dog preferred to remain at the seat of war. What
a reception we received when we landed. We did our very
best that day, and many were the compliments we received
from Boston musicians who listened to us. Bandmaster
Kennedy remarked many times in later years that that day
was one long to be remembered. This I can say after an
experience of forty-two years in the best bands and orchestras
in this country, that the members of the regiment have every
reason to be satisfied with the music furnished by the little
band of sixteen men.​

~From "The Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in Its Three Tours of Duty 1861, 1862-'63, 1864," by Alfred S. Roe, published 1911.
 
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This was the 5th Mass. Militia, one of just three Mass. regiments at First Manassas. The Boston Traveller of August 10, 1861, offers us a description of Company A's best friend.
5mvi.jpg
[He must have been a big bull terrier to have all that written on him! Hopefully they just abbreviated it. "US", "Mass. 5 Reg", "CoA"]
 
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What Donna said. Thanks for finding these- it's awfully interesting around here, and a lot of fun.

@ami , since threads need a photo to be sharable, here's one? It's not THE dog from this story, just seems like wherever you found a good collection of soldiers, you found a dog who owned all of them. Hospital, either Alexandria or one of the DC. LoC.

boy soldiers home.jpg
 
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