Thursday, October 18, 2012

Civil War Fighting Dog

Seller's Description:
"CDV of Dog "Jack" Attached to the 102nd Regiment Pennsylvania Vols, was in the following Battles :
Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Battle of the Pickets, Malvern Hill (wounded), First and Second Fredericksburg, Captured at Salem Church and exchanged for two Confederate Prisoners and returned.
 
Dog Jack, a mixed-breed warrior, conducted himself with such valor during the Civil War that the men of the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment exchanged a Confederate prisoner for him when he was captured and commissioned a portrait of him at war's end.

A plaque hanging by the large oil portrait of Dog Jack tells much of what is known about him. He was the mascot of the Niagara Volunteer Fire Co. on Penn Avenue, which was headquartered close to the present-day Engine Co. 3 in the Strip District. He went with the firefighters when they enlisted in the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment in 1861 "and fought in most of their battles except during his period of captivity when he was a prisoner of war," reads the plaque. He took part in the Wilderness campaign, the battle of Spotsylvania and the siege of Petersburg, all in Virginia.
Dog Jack was known for charging straight to the front lines during battle. He was said to understand bugle calls and obey orders only from his own regiment. After battle, he would roam the battlefield, seeking out wounded and dead comrades. He twice was taken prisoner.

"Captured at Salem Church, six months later he was exchanged for a Confederate prisoner at Belle Isle, Va." says the plaque (other accounts say he was traded for two Confederate POWs). "At Savage Station he was again captured but managed to escape."
 

Jack was badly wounded at Malvern Hill in Virginia but returned to the regiment after recovering in a field hospital. His last campaign was in Maryland.

On Dec. 23, 1864, Dog Jack disappeared in Frederick, Md., and was never found."

Available here.

1 comment:

LoyaltyOfDogsDotCom said...

It's always wonderful to see a memento of a faithful Civil War dog turn up. Thanks for sharing it! These dogs did much to help soldiers maintain their humanity in the most inhumane conditions, just as dogs still do for our soldiers today.