The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-01-22
Correspondence oe the Chicago Tribune.
LITTLE EDDIE THE DRU MMER-.a
REMINISCENCEO OF WILSON'S CIR T. T. X
BENTON BARRACKS, No, Dec. 90, lSf

BENTON Barracks, Mo, Dec. 90, 1851.
A few days before our regiment received or
ders 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 Oh
the evening proceeding the day that we were
to march, a negro was arrested within the lines
Of the camp and brought before our Captain,
who asked him "what business he had within
the lines?" He replied, " l know drummer
that would like to enlist in your company and
have come to tell you of it," He was immed-
ately 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 on the ground early in the morning
The negro was then passed beyond the guard
On the following morning there appeared be-
fore the Captains quarters, during the beating
of the reveille, good looking middle aged wo-
man, dressed in deep mourning, leading by the
band a sharp, sprighty looking boy, apparently
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 the property destroyed. She had come
to St. Louis in search of her sister, but not find
ing her and being destitute of money, she
thought she would procure a situation for her
boy as . drummer for the snort time we bad to
rem ain in the service, she could find employ.
ment for herself and perhaps find her sister by
the time we were discharged.
During the rehearsal of her story the little
fellow kept his eyes intenty fixed upon the
countenance of the Captain, who was about to
EXPRESS a determination not to take so small a
boy, when be spoke out, saying:
"Don't be afraid Captain, can drum"
This was spoken with SO much confidence
that the Captain Immediately observed with 9
smile:
swell, well; Sergeant bring the drum, and
order our fifer to come forward"
In few minutes the drum was procured, and
our 6fer made his appearance, a tall, round sbOul-
dered, good na,ured fellow, from the Dubuque
mires, who stood, when erect, something over
six feet In height.
Upon being introduced TO his new comrade.
he stopped downwards with his hands resting
upon his knees that were thrown forward into
an acute angle, and after peering into the little
fellows face moment, he observed:
"My little man, can you drum?"
"Yes, eir." he replied, ~ drummed for Cap.
tain Hill in Tennessee"
Gu. fifer commenced Strengthening himself
upward, until all the angles in his person had
disappeared, when be placed his fife to biz
mouth and PLAYED, the Flowers of Edeubor.
ough," one Of the most difficult tunes To folio y
With the drum that could have been selected,
but nobly did the little fellow follow him show
ing him to be . master o: the drum. When the
music ceased, our Captain turned to the mother
and observed:
"Madam 1 will take your boy. What lie his
names'
ed ard Lee,n she replied; and then placing
her hand upon the Captains arm. she continued
4" Captain, if he is not killed" here her ma
ternal feelings overcsme Der utterance, and she
bent down over her bos ard kissed him upon
the forehead As she arose she observed
4" Captain, you will bring him back With you
won't you:"
"Yes. yes" be replied, "we will he certain
TO bring him back with us. We shall be die
charged in six weeks"
In an hour after, our company led the Iowa
first out of camp. our drum and fife playing
The girl l left behind me-" Ediie, as We
called him, soon became a great farori,e with
all the men in the company. When any Of the
boys had returned from horticultural excur-
sion, Eddie's share of the peaches and melons
was the FIRST apportioned out During our
heavy and fatiguing marchfron Rolla tp Spring
6eld. it WAS often amusing to see our long leg
ged ffer vading through the mud With our little
drummer mounted upon bis back-ind al~ays
During the fight a, Wilson's creek, was sta
toned With part of our company on the right
of Tosten's battery, while the bslauce of OR
company with q part of the Illinois regiment
was ordered down into deep timbered ravine
upon our left, in which it was knosn . portion
Of the enemy vas concealed, With whom they
we're soon engaged. The contest in the ravine
continuing some time, Tosten suddenly wheeled
his battery upon the enemy in that quarter
when they soon retreated to the high ground
behind their lines In twenty minutes sfte'
Totten had driven the enemy from the ravine
the word passed from man to man throughoo
the army, Lyon is killed" and soon after hos
tilities having ceased on both sides, the orde
came for our main forces to fall back upol
Springfeld, while part of the Iowa First, snt
two companies Of the Missouri regiment wer'
70 camp upon the ground and cover the resrea
next morning. That light vas detailed 70
guard duty, ny turn Of guard closing with IL
lmoening can. When vent out with the once