Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-23
Ne DTumDe1 Fov of FredericIx1burg,

The Drummer Boy Of fredericksburg.
The Detroit Advertiser and Tribune
gives the following sketch Of the adven-
lures Of the drummer boy, who crossed
with the first boat a. Fredericksburg:
HHis name is Robert Henry Hendershot,
and he is thirteen years Of age. His only
living parent, his mother, resides at jack
son, Michigan, and has been supported for
few years past by this son and her own
efforts. He is a very bright and inteli-
gent lad, modest, but not bsshful, and evil
IDENTIFY honest and upright. He told his
story in q plain, straightforward way, and
Of its reliability we have not the least
doubt. II is of such a strange and roman
tic nature that we feel justified in laying
it in detail before our readers. He first
enlisted as a drummer boy in the 9th
Michigan infantry, and went with the
regiment to Tennessee. The first battle
that he was present at was that OF Leban-
on, in that State, where he acted as drum
mer for the 4th Pennsylvania cavalry.
He was also at the battle Of Shiloh, and
received severe flesh wound under his
right eye, and now carries the honorable
scar with him.
After this battle, he was stationed with
| the regiment st Murfreesboro, and captured
| there bv the rebels. With the other pris-
oners. he marched forty-eight miles be.
tween 10 o'clock in the morning and II
o'clock at night, part Of the distance on
double quick, to McMinnville. Here they
were paroled and then all were sent to
| Camp Chase. He was there discharged on
/ account of epileptic fits, to which painful
affection he has beeen subject since his
earliest childhood. He returned to Monroe
went out with the 10Th as waiter on one OF
| the Captains. After wing with tAo7A
for short time, he returned to this city
and served with Lieutenant Hogenl then
recruiting In the city, as drummer. a
i few weeks since he went on with the
Chaplain of the 8th and Joined that regi-
ment, although not regularly enlisted, as
his continually recurring fits prevented
his acceptance. On the day Of the taking
of fredericksburg, he left his regiment
and pressed to the river bank, where the
whole course Of events was clearly observ-
able. His description of the battle is
most lucid and graphic.
"At half-past two, volunteers were call
ed to cross the river in boats IN the face Of
the enemy's FIRE and scatter the enc
mv's sharpshooters. The 7th Michigan
rushed down, and our drummer boy with
them. He was the third one in the boat,
following the Captain and Lieutenant
The Captain in coUmsnd ordered him
out against his protestations, telling him
he would surely be killed. He then waited
on the shore, and showed off the first boat,
when it was fully loaded, and instead OF
remaining on shore, elung to the stern Of
the boat and was borne across half under
water. The shot and shell few thickly.
Two men. were killed within arms length
Of him and his own coat was torn open by
bullet. On reaching the opposite shore
a shot struck his drum, knocking It into
splinters, and he caught up loaded gun
dropped by a wounded or dead soldier, anc
followed on.
"He was one Of the first to tear down 6
secession flag, and has brought of piece
as trophy. He then broke open houst
and found in the yard rebel sharpshoot
er, wounded in his right hand. He imme
diately brought his gun to bear on him
and marched him on to the boats in tri
umph as prisoner He then re-crosseC
the river, and General Burnside met hin
and said: Il glory in your spunk, boy; /
you 90 on that way, you will soon get t
my place. Among the trophies he foun'
in the house he broke open, was human
bone, partially carved in the shape Of
ring, which he brought of, and now ha
with him 1t would seem to confirm man.
of the horrible stories we have heard
the rebel barbarities. He was also presen
at the battle of Saturday, but did no
; actually participate, being in the city o
Fredericksburg.
"After the battle, his malady occasione
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