Dogs in the Civil War-- Part 2: Jack the Dog of the 102nd Pa.

Dogs were often owned by individual soldiers, but others were adopted by a company, regiment or even a division.

Jack, the dog, joined the firehouse of the Niagara Volunteer Company on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh one day before the war began. At first, he was mistreated by some of the firemen, but he won over all when he beat a much larger stray dog in a fight to the finish.

After that, he answered every fire call and was given a very expensive silver collar ($75).

When the call for volunteers went out, most of the fire company joined along with Jack in the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment.

--Old Secesh