11th Pennsylvania
Gettysburg National Military Park
Doubleday Ave.
Photos and Text by LCWRT Member Charlie Moore
The 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers were presented
with a Bull Terrier puppy soon after they were mustered into the Federal
forces. She was named “Sallie” after one
of the more attractive young ladies who watched them train. Her first battle was at Cedar Mountain in the
spring of l862. She also “fought” at
Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
Her “fighting” consisted of running around and barking at the enemy and
lending moral support to her fellow soldiers. She was with her regiment on the
first day of Gettysburg as they fought on Oak Ridge. When the 11th was pushed back
through town Sallie remained on the
battlefield watching faithfully over her dead and wounded friends. When the battle was over on the 4th
of July members of the 11th returned to the area and found her
waiting for them,thirsty, tired and hungry. Sallie remained with the 11th until
she was killed while “fighting” during the battle of Hatcher’s Run in February
of 1864. She didn’t get a medal, but she was richly honored by her soldier friends
by being put on their monument. Good dog
Sallie!
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