The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-03-05
LiuIe Ecdie--The Drumlncr.

~ leW Gays OeiOTe our regiment received
orders to join Gen. Lyon, on bis march to
4 Wilson's Creek, the drummer Of our coDps-
ny was taken sick and conveyed to the hospil
tai, and on the evening preceding the day
that we were to march, negro was arrested
within the lines OF our camp and brought
before our Captain, who asked him ''what
business he had within the linesF' He rc-
piled, 81 know drummer that would ike to
} enlist 10 your company and l have come 70
tell you OF it." He was immedistsly reques-
ted to inform the drummer that il be would
enlist for our short term of service, be would
} be allowed extra pay, and to do this he must
be upon the ground early 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 reveilIe. good looiihgi middls
aged woman, dressed in deep M urning, lead
ing by the hand sharp, sprightly 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 hebels, and all theft
property destroyed. She had come to st
Louis in search OF her sister, but not finding
her, and being destitute, OF money. she tho't
il she could procure situation for her boy
during the short time We had to remain IN
the serTice, she could find employment for
herself and perhaps find her sister by the
SINE we were discharged. h
During the rehearsal OF her 81 ory the little
fellow kept his eyes ihtently fized upon ths
countenance Of the Captain, who was about
to express q determination not to take so
small boy. when he spoke out, saying.
"Don't be afraid Captain. | can drum"
This was spoken with SO much confidence
that the Captain Immediately observed with
smile, "Well, we'll, Sergeant, bring the
drum. and order our filer to Como forward"
In few minutes the drum was producedi
and our DER made his appearance, tall.
round. shou!dered, good natured fellow from
the Dubuque mines, who stood, when erect,
something over six feet in height. ....... /
Upon being introduced to his new comrade,
he stopped downward, with his hands resting
upon his knees that were thrown forward to
an acute angle, and peering into the little
'ellow's face moment, he observed, "My
little man, can you drum?" "Yes sir" he
replied, IL drummed lor Captain Hill, in Ten
nessee" Our filter Immediately commenced
Strengthening himself upward until all the
angles in his person had disappeared, when
he placed his file to his mouth and played the
"Flowers of Edenborough," ons Of the most
difficult tunes to follow with the drum that
could have been selected, but nobly did the
little fellow follow hin. showing lin to be q
master OF the drum. When the music ceas-
ed, our Captain turned to the mother and uo-
served, MADAME will take your boy. -
What is his name?" Edward Lee,v she re. +.
piled; then placing ber hand upon the Cap
tan's arm, she continued, Captain II he is
not killed" here her maternal feelings over
came her utterance, and she bent down over
her boy and kissed him upon the forehead.
AS sshe arose she observed, captain, You will
bling him back with you. won't you?" ~ es,
yes" he replied, 1--WE will be certain to bring
him back with US. We shall bc discharged
in six weeks ..s
Ina hour after, our company led the
First Iowa out OF camp, our drum and fife
playing "The girl lett behind me-" Eddie.
as we called him, soon became great favor.
] ite with all the men in the company. Whom
any of the boys had returned from a horticul-
tural excursion, Eddie's share Of the peaches
and melons was the first apportionad out
During our heavy and fatiguIDg march from
Rolla to Springfield, it was often amusing to
see our long legged fifer wading through the
mud with our little drummer mounted upon
/ his baek--and always IN that position when
I fordng streams. s
The night after the fight az 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 eastern sky, making sur
rounding objects more plainly visible. Press
emily heard drum beat up the morning
call. At FIRST | thought it came from the
camp of the enemy across the creek; but as
listened found that it came from the deep
raviue; for few minutes it wa8 silent, and
then as it became more light heard 1t agsin.
| listened the sound Of the drum was fan,il.,
| lar to fne--and knew that it was -
Oar drummer boy from Tennessee, 81 ',5,
Beating, Tor help tho rerilie;
was about to desert my post 10 20 to his
assistance, when | discovered the officer OF
the guard approaching with two men. We
all listened to the sound, and we're satisfied
thas it was Eidie's drum. I asked perm is
sion to 60 to his assistance. The officer hes.
itated, saying that the orders were to march
in twenty minutes. | promised to DO back
10 that time, when he consented. Iimnedi-
ately started down. the hill through the thick
underground. and, upon reaching the valley.
| followed the sound Of the drum. and soon
found him seated upon the ground his back
leaning against TIE trunk OF a fallen tree,
while his drum hung upon q bush in front Of
him, reaching nearly to the ground, As soon
as hc discovered me, be dropped his drum
sticks and exclaimed. "Oh, corporal. am SO
glad 10 see you! Give me drink!n reaching
out his hand Tor my canteen, which was emp
lty. I immed ately turned TO bring him some
water from the brook that could hear rip-
pliug through the bushes near by. whoa
thinking that was about to leave him, he
commenced crying, saying, "DoRt leave me,
corporal; can walk" t.ae n
| was soon back with The water, when
discovered that both O. his teot had been shot
away by cannon ball. After satisfying his
thirst, he looked up into my face, and said,
''Yon don't think will die, corporal, do
you2 This man said ] would noti he said
the surgeon could cure my iestp no W
discovered man lying in tbs grass near him,
dead. BY his dress i recognized him as be-
longing to the enemy. Il appeared that 10
had been shot through the bowels, and kad
fal,eii near whore Eddy lay. Kncwisg that I
he could not live, and seeing the condition pt,
the boy he had crawlel TO him took or his
buclskin suspenders, and corded tho little
fellows legs below the knee. and then lay /,
down ana died. While he was telling me
these particulars heard the tramp Of cavalry
coming down the rayine. and in moment
scout of the enemy was upon us, and was
takei, prisoner requested the officer To-
tske Eddy up in front Of him, and he did So.
carrying him with great tenderness and
caro-. When We reached the camp of The
enemy the htale fellow WAS dead. Its nav
about two weeks since made my sscxps
from Bs (jIlfoehss stsst,. sA1 Sg DO u