Posted on 07/07/2011 4:46:39 PM PDT by Daffynition
As Union and Confederate soldiers left the comforts of home for the grim realities of war, many brought along family pets or adopted stray or wild animals, which quickly took on semi-official roles. Regiments from the North and the South kept dogs, cats, horses, squirrels and raccoons as mascots. Some chose more unusual animals, including bears, badgers, eagles, wildcats, even a camel.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com ...
On a more serious note, he’s often identified in serious publications as a golden, you’re correct.
From the article . . .
“But they are adaptive, as the story of the most famous BT shows. Tenacity is a trait these terriers are known for. An example is a mixed BT named “Sgt. Stubby,” the first dog to be given rank, and highest decorated canine to ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Sgt. Stubby served as the mascot of the 102nd Infantry Yankee Division in WWI. A display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History tells the detailed story of his heroics, which can be found on the internet at americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=15.
Sgt. Stubby learned the bugle calls, the drills, and even a modified dog salute with his right paw on his right eyebrow.
Smuggled into France aboard the SS Minnesota by Private J. Robert Conroy, Sgt. Stubby raised the morale of the troops and won over Conroy’s commanding officer when he saluted him.
Stubby, the official mascot of the Division, fought alongside his division members in the front lines in France.
He was exposed to nerve gas, which left him sensitive to the tiniest trace of the chemical. When the Division was attacked in an early morning gas attack, most of the troops were asleep. Stubby recognized the gas and ran through the trench barking and biting at the soldiers, rousing them to sound the gas alarm.
He’d listen for English speaking men in the trenches, then would lead paramedics to the location of wounded men, saving many lives. When he heard Germans speaking, he’d lead U.S. forces to them.
“He caught a German soldier mapping out the layout of the Allied trenches. The soldier called to Stubby, but he put his ears back and began to bark. As the German ran, Stubby bit him on the legs, causing the soldier to trip and fall. He continued to attack the man until the American soldiers arrived,” according to the Smithsonian.
Sgt. Stubby was later injured during a grenade attack, and by the end of the war had served in 17 battles. The highly decorated dog later visited with presidents Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. Gen. John Pershing presented him with a gold medal for his service to his country.
He was awarded many medals for his heroism, and eventually became the mascot of the Georgetown Hoyas. He would be given the football at halftime and would nudge the ball around the field.
He died in 1926, and his mounted body, complete with coat and medals are part of the exhibit “The Price of Freedom: Americans at War” exhibit at the Smithsonian.
The *stuffed* Stubby is right here in Hartford CT.
We go to the Deep River Ancient Muster every summer. I don’t know how these men and women parade down Main St. in those authentic wool uniforms in late July.
Are you saying the “Real” stubby is there, or that you have a stuffed (well fed) black & white Stubby in your house. If the latter is true, I’ll email you my article I published in a weekly newspaper in east Tennessee.
It’s caused quite a stir, with several people claiming “Norris,” the incredible swimming Boston Terrier (LOL).
One of the most interesting excavated Civil War artifacts I have ever seen is in a collection of a friend of mine. It is an engraved brass medallion on a dog collar chain. it was dug near a union Army camp occupied during the winter of 1862-63 near Falmouth Virginia. Engraved on the medallion is a satirical line aimed at fellow soldiers “I am Captain Smith’s dog. Whose dog are you ?”
This is all terribly interesting. It gives us a little more color to the tales from that late unpleasantness. I’m a sucker for animals and, because I grew up across the street from Auburn University, I am especially interested in the history of war eagles.
A slight detour from the war: Auburn’s mascot is a tiger. However, due to the legend I related above, we are also represented by a golden eagle, please, never, really a bald eagle. The raptor center which is associated with AU has not only golden eagles, but also at least one bald eagle. It was one of bald eagles which soared the stadium at the opening of the Utah Olympics and one of the eagles soars about the stadium during our opening ceremonies.
Another little “pig trail”: this year at the Fiesta Bowl, the ceremonies did include an eagle flight. It was stressed by the officials that this was to honor the US and not as partisan toward one school. I felt this was unfair as the eagle does represent us. I thought that Oregon should have an opportunity to be represented. I suggested that a duck should have been released too. I was even willing for it to be released first, about ten seconds prior to the eagle release. hehehehehe!
In my non expert opinion, that’s a bald, looks like a golden in post 1
Many years ago I did Civil War re-enacting in Virginia and Pennsylvania and like everyone else, I wore a heavy wool uniform. And we did our thing during the spring and summer, as did the real soldiers.
It seems counter-intuitive but actually the wool doesn’t make it super hot. The wool protects you from the sun’s rays. As I liked to point out, have you ever seen any of the Arabs out in the desert with shorts on? No, and you won’t because they know they must protect their skin at all times. Now, they don’t go with wool...
FWIW...it takes about five years for a juvie Bald Eagle’s head and tail feathers to gradually turn white. During this time, Bald Eagles are distinguishable from the Golden Eagle in that the former has a more protruding head with a larger beak, straighter edged wings which are held flat (not slightly raised) and with a stiffer wing beat, and feathers which do not completely cover the legs.[5] The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 70–102 centimeters (28–40 in), a wingspan of between 1.68 m (66 in) and 2.44 m (96 in), and a mass of 2.5–7 kilograms (5.5–15 lb);females are 25% larger.
The Wisconsin WDVA has him as a Bald Eagle: http://museum.dva.state.wi.us/Gal_Online_OldAbe7.asp
Maybe Old Abe was had an arrested development/ slow developer? ;D
http://www.ct.gov/mil/cwp/view.asp?a=1351&q=257892
I don’t claim to be an expert...but that old Abe must have had a lot of trauma in his life...I sure don’t know one way or another. ;D
Just WOW!
About 20 years ago I had the living daylights scared out of me hiking alone out in the AZ desert, it was either a camel. or one of their ghosts. It was not so much a fear of being harmed, as it was I simply could not believe what I was seeing.
As duck hunter I pick up my decoys and move as soon as an eagle shows up and perches. It’s like the decoys are there to attract its dinner.
WAR EAGLE!
"Another little “pig trail”: this year at the Fiesta Bowl, the ceremonies did include an eagle flight. It was stressed by the officials that this was to honor the US and not as partisan toward one school. I felt this was unfair as the eagle does represent us. I thought that Oregon should have an opportunity to be represented. I suggested that a duck should have been released too. I was even willing for it to be released first, about ten seconds prior to the eagle release. hehehehehe!"
The Eau Claire (Wis) Memorial High School nickname for their athletic teams is “The Old Abes” after the bird.
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