Sallie, The beloved, war-tested mascot of a Union regiment

[O' Be Joyful]

That dog could hunt.


Sallie attended roll call each morning and accompanied the soldiers during drills. In parades, she walked with the regimental colors. When the regiment marched, Sallie was always at the front of the line beside Colonel Richard Coulter’s horse. Twice she paraded with her regiment in review before President Abraham Lincoln. Legend has it that the president once tipped his hat to her. For the next four years, Sallie accompanied the 11th Pennsylvania into every one of their battles. Fearless and not content to stay behind battle lines, she always advanced at the front while barking ferociously at the enemy. Sallie saw action at some of the bloodiest engagements of the Civil War, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.

On the first day of fighting at Gettysburg in July 1863, Sallie was separated from the regiment and feared dead. Three days later, she was found on Oak Ridge, the site of the 11th’s original battle position. Weak but alive, Sallie was guarding the regiment’s wounded and dead. In May 1864, Sallie was herself wounded during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. A bullet remained lodged in her neck for several months before it worked itself out and left a prominent scar.


Sallie soldiered on beside the 11th Pennsylvania until a few weeks before the end of the war. Tragically, on February 6, 1865, during the Union advance at Hatcher’s Run, she was struck by a bullet and killed instantly. Although under intense enemy fire, several of the regiment’s soldiers immediately dropped their weapons to bury their beloved canine comrade where she fell.


https://www.atlasobscura.com/places...-71131593&mc_cid=7aef48c3ab&mc_eid=31891445e5

 

[Jim Klag]

That dog could hunt.


Sallie attended roll call each morning and accompanied the soldiers during drills. In parades, she walked with the regimental colors. When the regiment marched, Sallie was always at the front of the line beside Colonel Richard Coulter’s horse. Twice she paraded with her regiment in review before President Abraham Lincoln. Legend has it that the president once tipped his hat to her. For the next four years, Sallie accompanied the 11th Pennsylvania into every one of their battles. Fearless and not content to stay behind battle lines, she always advanced at the front while barking ferociously at the enemy. Sallie saw action at some of the bloodiest engagements of the Civil War, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.

On the first day of fighting at Gettysburg in July 1863, Sallie was separated from the regiment and feared dead. Three days later, she was found on Oak Ridge, the site of the 11th’s original battle position. Weak but alive, Sallie was guarding the regiment’s wounded and dead. In May 1864, Sallie was herself wounded during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. A bullet remained lodged in her neck for several months before it worked itself out and left a prominent scar.


Sallie soldiered on beside the 11th Pennsylvania until a few weeks before the end of the war. Tragically, on February 6, 1865, during the Union advance at Hatcher’s Run, she was struck by a bullet and killed instantly. Although under intense enemy fire, several of the regiment’s soldiers immediately dropped their weapons to bury their beloved canine comrade where she fell.


https://www.atlasobscura.com/places...-71131593&mc_cid=7aef48c3ab&mc_eid=31891445e5

I have given Sallie a pat a time or two.

 

[diane]

I love Sallie's story. What a good dogger she was!

 

[Jim Klag]

That monument is north of town just south of the Peace Memorial, not far from the observation tower. The 11th was fighting against Rodes' attack on the northern flank.

 

[5fish]

Sallie's story.

I have a cat story...

Sallie attended roll call

You Dam Yankees killed Tom Cat the mascot of Fort McAllister... There a Historical marker to the cat named Para...

Tom Cat: Garrison Mascot

Marker Text: The sole Confederate fatality after seven hours of intensive bombardment on March 3, 1863, by the monitors PASSAIC (Capt. Percival Drayton), NAHANT, and PATAPSCO, supported by the MONTAUK, the WISSAHICKON, the SENECA, the DAWN, the FLAMBEAU, the SERBAGO, the C. P. WILLIAMS, the NORFOLK

georgiahistory.com

The sole Confederate fatality after seven hours of intensive bombardment on March 3, 1863, by the monitors PASSAIC (Capt. Percival Drayton), NAHANT, and PATAPSCO, supported by the MONTAUK, the WISSAHICKON, the SENECA, the DAWN, the FLAMBEAU, the SERBAGO, the C. P. WILLIAMS, the NORFOLK PACKET, and the PARA was the garrison mascot. The death of the cat was deeply regretted by the men, and news of the fatality was communicated to General Beauregard in the official report of the action.

Here a longer version... it two tales about cat mascots during the war... the second story about FT. McAllister's cat...

Purr-n-Fur UK | Wartime Cats | Two 19th century feline mascots

Sevastopol Tom, from the Crimean War; and Tom Cat, Conferederate mascot in the American Civil War.

www.purr-n-fur.org.uk

All kinds of mascot were adopted by soldiers of both sides in the conflict, to relieve the boredom and rigours of camp life. McAllister's cherished mascot was Tom Cat, a large black cat adored by the garrison. He is said to have run back and forth along the defences during battle, dodging the hail of musket fire and cannonballs that flew overhead.