People Pay Homage To Heroic Dog Who Fought At Gettysburg By Bringing Her Treats And Toys
Pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers have long carried an unfair reputation, but one Civil War dog tells a very different story. Sallie Ann Jarrett, an American Staffordshire terrier, became a beloved mascot for the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later earned a bronze statue at Gettysburg National Military Park.
Her story is tied to loyalty, loss, and the kind of bond soldiers remembered long after the fighting ended. More than 150 years later, visitors still stop by her monument, and some even leave treats and toys at her feet.
That tribute says a lot about how Sallie is still remembered today.
"It was a case where the dog kind of followed along with the regiment as they marched," he said. Sallie provided a great source of comfort and support to the men.
"The dog would follow them everywhere they went, and it was alleged that the dog would only bark at three things - women, rebels, and Democrats," Christopher said. "Of course, in the 1860s, Lincoln was a Republican, so Democrats were on the opposite side of the ideological and political spectrum."
However, at the end of the three-day battle, the men returned to the battlefield to bury their dead, and there was Sallie. She was waiting patiently, guarding the bodies of the deceased soldiers.
"She didn’t leave the battlefield - she stayed with those men," Christopher said. "And the men who fought at Gettysburg in the 11th Pennsylvania remembered that moment - it never left them."
Sallie’s loyalty feels like Sarge, the 9-year-old German Shepherd, adopting orphaned fawns.
Sallie remained an important part of her regiment until she was sadly killed in the Battle of Hatcher’s Run in February of 1865. Many soldiers loved Sallie, and they stopped to bury her despite heavy fire.
However, the park never approved the inscription, so only people who know Sallie's story are aware of her identity.
"Sallie loomed so large in their memory, and I think her sacrifice, in a lot of ways, is emblematic of the larger sacrifice of the regiment. Her dedication and devotion to the human companions she had were something that the men wanted to remember and honor," Christopher said.
Visitors are constantly bringing Sallie treats and toys, leaving them at her feet.
"I think it's a way to honor dogs like Sallie," Christopher said. "I think it’s a token of respect, a memento."
"I also think there’s something sublimely kind and compassionate about Sallie’s story," he said. "She’s not famous for mauling a Confederate soldier; she’s not famous for some act of violence - she’s famous for being a loyal companion who, even in the midst of tragedy and death, never abandoned those who cared for her and those she cared for. I think that resonates with people."
Before Sallie, learn about the 1925 serum run in Nome, Alaska, and the “hero dogs” behind it.
Share this article:
