When the firefighters from the Fifth Avenue Fire House in Pittsburgh joined up with the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, they brought their mascot, a brown and white bull terrier who became known as Union Jack and carved out his own placed in Civil War history. When his soldier friends were fainting from thirst, Jack would always run ahead and upon discovering a pool of water would rush back, barking loudly with the news. When the soldiers struggled to stay alive on their five-day ration of five crackers, Jack went into action and would catch chickens for them.

Jack, an honorary Franklin Dog

Gettysburg Memorial

It was a brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier that served as the regimental mascot for the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. As a four-week-old puppy, she was given to a first lieutenant when the new regiment was training at the fairgrounds in West Chester, PA. Sallie grew up among the men of the regiment, following them on marches and into battle.

According to some sources, Sallie knew the drum roll announcing reveille and was first out of quarters to attend roll call. At dress parade, the dog took a position beside the regimental colors and during encampments, she slept by the captain’s tent after patrolling the area on an inspection of her own.

During her first battle, Sallie remained with the colors. This is said to have been her practice at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. At the Battle of Gettysburg, Sallie dog got separated from the unit. When the medical details moved onto the battleground, they found Sallie comforting her wounded friends and guarding the bodies of her dead compatriots.

During a spring 1863 review of the Union army, Sallie marched alongside the 11th Pennsylvania and was reportedly acknowledged with a raise of a stovepipe hat by President Abraham Lincoln.

Sallie continued her faithful service through February, 1865, when she was struck by a bullet in the battle of Hatcher’s Run, Virginia and was buried on the battlefield. For her devotion to the men, Sallie is memorialized at the 11th Pennsylvania monument at Gettysburg.