Title: The Faithful Dog: A Civil War Novel
Author: Terry Lee Caruthers
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN-13: 978-1-68433-978-5
Pages: 223
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Jason Lulos

Read Book Review

Heartwarming and heart-wrenching, this is a beautifully written tale about a dog’s unbreakable loyalty to his master set amidst the brutality of the Civil War. Inspired by true events, author Terry Lee Caruthers delivers a story that will captivate readers with its endearing hero (Bärchen – “Little Bear” or “Bear Cub”) and its themes of love and enduring faithfulness.

It is 1861 in Chicago and Louis Pfeif is preparing to leave for war much to the dismay of his distraught wife, Elizabeth. Pledging his allegiance to President Lincoln, he reminds his family of how America has afforded them a life their native Germany could not. His young daughter, Louisa, is convinced that the family dog, Bärchen, insists on going with him. Louis inevitably concedes and takes his trusty companion along. Joining his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Louis reports to the Fifty-Eighth, taking steamboats down the Ohio River with the eventual destination being Pittsburg Landing and the inevitable Battle of Shiloh.

Along the way, Bärchen proves to be somewhat mischievous but mostly an incredible asset to his fellow soldiers. His bond with Louis is unmistakable but what quickly endears him to the other soldiers is his unmatched alertness. Always attuned to the smells and sounds in the air and of critters in the vicinity, he’s also adept at detecting the presence of Confederate soldiers. In fact, as Bärchen alerts his Union companions to strange noises, they seem to develop a similar alertness. It’s a charming but also efficacious symbiotic relationship born of Bärchen’s innate curiosity and the soldiers’ interdependent survival.

This novel is written in the third person, but we really see the events through Bärchen’s eyes. From deer stirring to aromas in the air to the approach of the enemy, the author renders all the sensations of the battlefield from the dog’s perspective but with the articulate description of a poet. It can’t be expressed enough how well written this novel is. The paradoxical descriptions of the war-torn battlefield and the more peaceful natural landscape are also prime examples. But in general, it is the vicarious perspective of Bärchen that makes the narrative unique.

In the end, the bond between dog and human is tested in the worst of conditions and that bond remains unbroken. This is the heart of the story with Bärchen as the unlikely but unmistakable hero. The author also provides additional historical context at the end of the book with references to the true events that inspired this story. I highly recommend this novel and although the backdrop is war, it is definitely family friendly and would appeal to YA and middle grade readers as well.