Along Doubleday Avenue at Gettyburg you will come across the 11th Pennysylvania Volunteer Regiment Memorial
If you look at the base you will see a relief of a dog. Not just any dog though. That is Regimental Mascot Sallie. She earned her place on the monument as much as any man who fought that day.
The 11th was formed in 1861 right at the beginning of the War. Sallie was a gift to the commander while still in training. She trained right along with them. When they were sent to battle she went along with them.
All though 1862 she stood with them at Antietam. Then followed the Regiment into Virgina and those horrible campaigns in the fall and winter of 1862 along the Rappahannock.
She was on the march to Gettysburg. On the 3rd day, she stood strong while Picket and his men charged. She became separated from her troops during that battle. Afterwards, the men came looking for her. She was found on the battlefield, unharmed. She refused to leave until every single member wounded or killed member of her Regiment was accounted for.
In 1864, she was wounded during the battle of Spotslvania Courthouse. She survived this wound. But sadly, Sallie did not survive the War. She made it all the way to February 1865, just two short months before the end. There at a little known battle called Hatcher's Run, she was cut down while guarding the colors. Her soliders buried her on the spot on the battlefied. I am sure Sallie crossed the Rainbow Bridge with her head held high, knowing she had done her duty to the 11th Pennsylvania and her country. She was a very good girl.