Litchfield enquirer., 1862-01-30
WHOLE NO. 1913
LITTLE EDDIE, THE DRUMMER.

very tOuchlng story Of Q drummer boy:
 few days before our regiment received or. ders to join Gen. Lyon, on his march to Wil. sons Creek, the drummer of our company was taken sick and conveyed to the hospital, and on the evening preceding the day that we were to march, negro was arrested within the lines of the camp and brought before our captain, who asked hin what business he had within the lines '" He replied. l" know drummer that would like to enlist in your company and Ihave come to tell you of it." He was immediately requested to inform the drummer that if hswould enlist for our short term of service, he would be allowed extra pay, and to do this, hs must be upon the ground early in tho morning. The %. gro was then passed beyond the guard.
 On tbe following morning. there appeared he. fore the captains quarters, during the beating of tho reyeille, good looking, middle sgsd woman, dressed in deep mourning, leading by the hnnds sharp, sprigAtiy looking boy, apparently about tW else or thirteen years old. Her story Was soon told. She was from East Tennessee, where her husband had been killed by the rebels, and ell their property destroyed. She had come to s. Louis in search of her sister, but not finding her, and being destitute of money, she thought # she could procure situation for her boy as drum. mer for the short time that we had to remain in the service, she could find employment for her. self and perhaps find her sister by the time we were discharged.
 During the rehearsal of her story the little fsl. low kept his eyes intently fixed upon the counts. nance of the captain, who was about to express determination not to take 80 small boy, when he spoke out, saving, Don't be afraid, captain, I can drum" This was spoken with so much confidence that the captain immediately obseFv- ed with a smile, "Well, well, sergeant, bring the drum and order our 6fer to come forward. h few minutes the drum was produced, and our fifer made his appearance, tall, round shouk dered, good natured fellow from the Dubuque mines, who stood, when erect, something over six feet in height.
 Upon being introduced to his new cou,rade he stopped downward with his hands resting upon his knees, that were thrown forward in an acute angle, and after peering into the little fellows can you drum?" "Yes, sir" he replied, "I drummed for Capt. Hill, in Tennessee" Our ffer immediately commenced straightening him. self upward, until the angles of his person had disappeared, when he placed his fife to his mouth and played the " Flowers of Edinboro," one of the most difficult tunes to follow with the drum that could have been selected, but nobly did the little fellow follow him, showing himself to be master of the drum. When the music ceased, our captain turned to the mother and observed, Madam, will take your boy. What is his nanc?' Edward Lee," she replied then placing her hand upon the captains arm. sh6 her maternal feelings overcame her utteranee, and she bent down over her boy and kissed him upon the forehead. As she arose, she observed, " Captain, you will bring him back with you, won't you?" "Yes, yes," he replied, we 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 an called him, soon became a great favorite with the men in the company. When any Of the boys had returned from horticultural excursion, Ed. dies share of the peaches and melons was 6rst apportioned out. During our heavy and fatiguing march from Rolla to Springfield, 1t was often amusing to sec our long.legged ffer vading through the mud with our little drummer mount. ed upon his back and always in that position when forlng streams.
 The night after the fight of Wilson's Greek, where Lyon fell, was detailed for guard duty. The hours passed slowly away, when at length the morning light began to streak along the cas. tern sky, making surrounding objects more plain morning call. At first thought it came from the camp of the enemy across the creek buG e l listened found that it came up from the dsep ravine for few minutes it was silent, aud thea as it became more light heard it again. tie' tened--the sound of the drum was familiar c me--and I knew that il was
 Our drummer hoy from Tennessee,
 Beating for help the rcveille. ....
 I was about to desert my post to go to Ais e sistance, when I discovered the oficer Of the guard approaching with two men. We alliis. tened to the sound and were sAtis0ed that it geg Eddie's drum. asked permission to e to his assistance. Tho officer hesitatsd. saying thst promised to be back id that time, wheu ka eoas sented. ...i 4.
 | Iimmediatsly started down the hin threggk the thick underrouth, and upon reaching the vailey followed the sound of the drum. end soe1s found him bsatsd upon ths ground. his .hocE leaning against shs trunk of fallen tFees pp1Ie his drum hang upon bush in ftDlt q bip, ep1 reaching. nearly to the groulId. Ag soon asnl me, he dropped his drum. sllc1s -. Give me drink" reaching out 'hia hen4 1fM yvf canteen, which was empty. Immediately tofn- ed to bring him some water ffcm she brook l16t' could hear rippling through the buslles nesf 1g, when thinking that wasabouk to leave him. .keE crying. saying, Don't leave mo, c1r- poral-I can't walk" Iwas soon back uith tk6 water, when discovered that both of Ais fsct had been shot away by cannon ball. Aftss satisfying his thirst he looked up into my faee and said. You don't think will die, corporal, do you? This man said would not--he said the surgeon could cure my feet" now discce. cred man lying in the grass uesr him deso, By his dress recognized him as belonainR to the enemy. It appeared that he had been shot through the bowels, and had fallen near where Eddy lay. Knowing that he could not live, and seeing the condition of the boy, he had craMled to him, took of his buckskin suspenders, and corded the little fellows legs below the knee, and then lay down and died. While be was telling me these particulars. heard the tramp of cavalry coming down the ravine, and 10 q moment a scout of the enemy was upon us, and l was taken a prisoner I requested the oficss to take Eddy up in front of him, and he did %. carrying him with great tenderness snd care. When we reached the; camp Of the enemy' tae little fellow was dead. --
 s1xrp,yc ON A PrcKET.-" As for slsepiug cn A pickett says Mrs. Partington to ths shr64 months voluntscr who dropped in to see her, s don [ see how they can do it without hustiu9 ,em. Sleeping on post would be grsat desi m ore sensible unless there's nail in 1t, which might be prejudicious for the uniform. ExssT