, 1861-12-30
LITTLE EDDIE, THE DRUn1mER.
A Remtniscepce Of Wilson's Creek,

a E<emfnigcepce Of Wilson's Creek.
Especial Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribunc.1
Benton BARRACKS, Mo-, Dec %, 1861.
a lew days before cur regiment received
orders to join Gen. Lyon, On his march to
Wilson'S Creek, the drummer of our company
was taken sick and conveyed to the hospital,
and on the evening preceding the day that we
we're to march, negro was arrested within
the lines Of the camp and brought bef@rc our
Captain, who asked him t'wllat business he
had within the lines ~ He replied, III know
q drummer that would like t. enlist in YOUR
company, and I have come to tell You Of it,n
He Was Immediately requested to inform the
drummer that if he would enlist for our short
term Of service, he would be allowed extra
pay, and to do this, he must be upon the
ground carly In the morning. The negro was
then passed beyond the guard.
On the following morning there appeared
before the Captains quarters, during the beat
ing Of the reyei1le, good looking, middle aged
woman, dressed in deep mourning, leading by
the hand sharp, sprightly looking boy, up.
parent1y about twelve Or thirteen years old.
Her story was soon told. She was from East
Tennessee, where her husband had been Killed
by the rebels, and all their property destroyed,
She had come to st. Louis In search of her
sister, but not finding her, and being destitute
Of money, she thought If she could procure
situation for her boy as drummer for the
short time that nc had to remain in the ser
vice, she could find employment for herself
and perhaps find her sister by the time ne
were discharged.
During the rehearsal Of her story the little
fellow kept his eyes intently fixed upon the
countenance Of the Captain, who Was about
to- express . determination not to take SO
small boy, when he spoke ont, saying,
"Don't be afraid, Captain, can drum' This
was spoken with SO much confidence that the
Captain Immediately observed with smile,
swell, well, Sergeant, bring the drum, and
order our ffer to come forward.n In q few
minutes the drum was produced and our fifer
made his appearance, 4 tall, round shouldercd.
good natured fellow from the Dubuque mines,
who stood, when erect, something over six
feet in height.
Upon being introduced to his new cQmrade,
he stopped downward, With his hands resting
upon his knees that were thrown forward into
an acute angle, and after peering into the little
fellows face o moment, he observed, INV
little man, can You drum2' "Yes, SIR" he
replied, ~ drummed for Captain Hill in Ten
ncssec." Our dlfcr Immediately commenced
Strengthening himself upward until all the
angles in his person had disappeared, when
lie placed his fife to his mouth and played the
S'flowers of EdenboEough," one Of the most
difficult tunes to follow with the drum that
could have been selected, but nob1y did the
little fellow follow him, showing him to be q
master Of the drum. When the music ceased.
our Captain turned to the mother and OBJ
served, Madam, I will take your boy. What
is his na1nes" Edward Lee" she replied ::
then placing her hand upon the Captains arm,
she continued, Captain, if he is not killed ~,
here her maternal feelings oyercame her utter
ance, aRd she bent down orcr her boy and
kisEed him upon the forehead. As she arose,
she observed, 'sCaptain, you will bring him
back with you, won't yone 81 "Yes, yes" he
replied, tive will be certain to bring him back
with us. We shall be discharged in six
weeks"
In an hour after, our company led the iowa
First out Of camp, our drum and fife PLAYING
The girl. left behind me. Eddie, as we
called him, soon became a great fayorite with
~ LUG n'en In tae company. When any Of
lne oosS naa actnrned IRON horticultural
eAcule1on, Eooie'6 snare OF the peaches and
ueaohs was 1ne hrss apportaoned ont During
oul nea'y anu 1at1gu1ng march from Rolls to
eps1ngoe1o, II WAS often anuaing to sec our
long-leegeo nler Tading through the mud
WIN our Muc drummer mounted upon his
oaeA-ano always in that position when ford
mg streams.
Dnr1ng the fight at Wilson's Greek, I was
stationed with part Of our company On the
nght OF Iotten's battery, while the balance
o. our company with part Of the
Illinois regiment was ordered down into q
deep tlrnbered ragine upon our left, in which