Companion and Comrade
Not everything in a museum's collection is old or historic. One of the most recent additions to our collection is a sculpture of Harvey the Dog, commissioned by The Battle of Franklin Trust and brought to life by local Franklin artist Janel Maher. (Currently, "Harvey" is on display in the Carter House Visitor Center. Stop by sometime to say hello!) Look at the objects, read Harvey's story, and answer the questions below.
Harvey, beloved mascot of the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was a veteran by the time of the Battle of Franklin. When Harvey's owner Daniel Stearns joined the U.S. Army in 1862, Harvey went along too. During this time Harvey is said to have worn a collar which stated: "I am Lieutenant D.M. Stearns' dog; whose dog are you?" The collar we have in our collections is not that collar, but a later collar worn by Harvey. On the leather collar are the names of several battles in which Harvery and Daniel Stearns fought.
About half-way through the war, Daniel Stearns and Harvey had fulfilled their enlistment, but they rejoined the army, this time in the 104th Ohio. Daniel Stearns served as the First Sergeant for the newly formed regiment and the men quickly grew to know his companion. Harvey was not the only pet in the regiment during this time. There were several dogs, and at least two squirrels, and raccoons. However, Harvey was one of the most beloved.
"The Barking Dog Regiment," as the 104th Ohio was sometimes called, was active in the Atlanta campaign where Harvey was wounded. He ultimately rejoined his comrades and made a full recovery. After Atlanta, at the Battle of Franklin, the 104th Ohio found themselves in a precarious position. On the edge of Franklin, the regiment was positioned just across Columbia Pike from the Carter House. On the afternoon of November 30, U.S. soldier Adam Weaver wrote, "The regiment's mascot, old dog Harvey, just paid us a visit. He somehow always looks me up. After a little bite and a hand pat too, moves on to Company 'F' boys." Despite their dangerous position, both Daniel Stearns and Harvey survived the Battle of Franklin.
The pair moved with the army north to Nashville after the Battle of Franklin. During the Battle of Nashville, Daniel Stearns suffered a serious injury. It is unclear what happened to Harvey after his owner was wounded. Daniel Stearns survived the war, but was never the same again. He passed away in an asylum in 1890. Despite many years of research, most of the final chapters of Harvey's story remain a mystery. We do know that Harvey was continually loved by the 104th Ohio. At a regimental reunion held after the Civil War, Harvey was given a place of honor; his image was featured on their reunion button. The veterans also commissioned a portrait of Harvey.
Questions:
1. Harvey's collar has the name of the maker on it. Can you find it? Why do you think the maker would want his name on the collar?
2. Harvey had his picture taken multiple times and a portrait was made of him after the Civil War. Why do you think the men of the 104th Ohio continued to honor Harvey even after the Civil War was over?
3. From Harvey's collar, what is the minimum number of battles Harvey fought in?
4. From what we know about Harvey, during battles do you think he was close to the fighting?
5. Bonus Question: Can you name any other Civil War mascots?
Answers:
1. The collar says, "G. Cooper Maker." The maker placed his mark on the collar for the same reason that companies put their logos on their products now - to show they made them! Plus, the collar is well-crafted and beautiful. Who wouldn't want to say that they made that?
2. Harvey was treasured by the men. Harvey gave everyone a morale boost. He may have brought something normal and fun for the men to enjoy during the brutal war.
3. Harvey was in at least six battles because he has six battles listed on his collar - including Franklin and Nashville.
4. Harvey had to be somewhat close to the fighting to get injured during the Atlanta campaign.
5. If you watched the video on our Facebook post, this will be an easy question for you. Regiments had all sorts of animals as mascots: pigs, bears, cows, goats, mules, raccoons. Some of the most famous are a camel named Old Douglas and an eagle named Old Abe. At the Battle of Franklin there was another mascot too - a mule named May-me!
Vocabulary Words:
Commissioned - An order for a specific piece of art to be made.
Enlistment - The amount of time which a soldier or someone in the armed forces agrees to serve.
Campaign - Multiple battles or fights with one goal in mind. In this case, for the U.S. Army it was defending the city of Atlanta.
Precarious - Uncertain and dangerous.
Morale - The confidence, enthusiasm, and overall mood of a person or a group of people.