Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-18
) Touching story.

A correspondent OF the Chicago TTi67pe, writ
ing from Beiton barracks, St Louis. gives q very touch
ms FtoTy q . drummer boy
few 4sFs before our regiment received orders 70 join
Cen Lyod=Sv LIS march % wilson's creek, tho drummer
Of our cotci any wa taken sick and conveyed 70 the
hospital, aud On tie evening preceding the dnv that we
were 20 mareh egTo was arrested within the lines Of
he camp AZ proogaf bh're our captain, who asked
hin what bu- ess he Esd within tile lines. He repl ed,
L know d drLnmer the would Ike TO enlist In your
company, ane I have c6me 20 tell you Of IT," He was
immediately Qnssted 70 inform the drummer thst III be
would eH'.s. or our short term Of service. lie wouid be
allowed eKHa pay, and TO DO this. he must be upon the
groan9 early N tpe morning. The negro was then passed
On tho following morning the-e appeared before the
captains quarters, during the beating Of the r~sveile. q
goodlookltgr middle aged woman, dressed In deep mourn
ing, leading BY the hand a sharp. sprighuvloJking bay.
apParenuy sbcnt twelve or thirteen years old. Her
story "ss soon tod She was from East Tennessee,
where her husband had been killed. she said, and ali their
property destroyed She had come 70 ST I9u!H. In
search Of her sister but not finding her, and being a-su-
tute o. money, she thought II shs could procure a situa-
ton fr h hoy a. u drummer Tor The short time We had
70 remain IN The service, she could md employment for
herseit shA perhaps ind her sister By the time we were
! discharged
During he rehearsal of her sory the Hide fellow kept
biz eyes inlenuy fixed upon the cOuntenanoe Of the cap
tain, who was HbOut 70 express a determination not TO
take 40 suall a boy, when he spoke out. saving. &" Don't
| BE- afraid. 'sptain, / can drum" This was spoken with
20 much confidence that the captain immediately Oh
served wth a emile, Well, well, sergeant, bring the
drum andprder our fter forward In a few mlnutest the
drum was produced, and our ffr made his appearance,
q IaAs nNut1- zhouLlrrtd- good nHfured fellow from the
Duouqae mn-s, who stood, when erect, something over
six feet might
Upon being introduced 10 his new eomrade. he stopped
downward, with his hands resting upon his knees that
we're thhcwn forward INTO an acute angle, and peerina
INTO nc kite fellow face d moment, be observed. Ny
little man, can you drum Yea, sir he replied. Il
drlInnei for Capt Hll in Tennessee" Our ffer imme
diaieiy commenced strengthening himself upward, unit
al the angles II hs person had disappeared. when he
placed the hr 10 his mouth and ulaYed the Flower
Of marlborough, one OF the most difficult tunes 70 follow
with TIE 1rum N I coUld have been selected, but nobly
did the little fellow follow hun. showing him % be a mas
tar OF the drum When the music ceased, our captait
turned 70 the mother and observed. " Madame / will tax,
y1ur by. What l. his name e. q" Edward Lee" she re
piled then placing her hand upon the captains arm, she
continued. Captain, II be Is not killed here her ma
terual feelings oyeTcane her utteraace. and she ben.
down over her boy and kissed him upon the forehead
A. she arose che observed, Captain. YOU will bring hin
back with yOu, won't you T. d" Yes, yes he replied
we viii be certain to bring him back with Us W,
shall d discharged In six weeks
In "a Tour after, our company led the lEt Iowa out Of
camp. our drum aad fife playing " The girl left behind
me- E'hic "a we called hin, soon became a gre2
faSoThe with the men in the company. When any o.
the boys lad returned from Q horticultural excursion
Portiones out During our heavy and fatiguing marel
from Bolla TO Springfield. Il was often amusing 10 wee on
lunE-egged hfer wading through the mud with our lutA
drummer mounted upon his bach-and always IN TIA
position when nriiRs streams
The night alter The Sight at Wilson's Greek. where Igor
fen I was detailed Tor guard duty. The hours pass,
slowly away. when az length the morning light began q
streak along the eaa5cFn sky, making surrounding object
more plainly visible Presently, l heard the drum bea
mp the morning call At first thought il came from tp
camp Of the agnemy across the creek but as ] listened
! found that il cams from the deep ravine, for a feg min
utes : Wasshrni, and then as it became more Light Ihc5rt
Il AGAIN iis;ened-the sound ofths drum was famlial
I "a TT AEnuEE 4NnH H rna