, 1862-12-24
Tho Drummer Boy Of the 1th Mich
Iufuntry-1ffs Name and History,


The drummer boy who crossed the Rappa-
hammock at Fredericksbnrg, on Thursday Of
last week, with the Michigan 7th, in their dar-
ing achievement, arrived in this city last even
ing, and VIC were afforded an opportunity to
converse with him: His name is Robert
Henry Hendershot, and he is thirteen years of |
age. His only living parent, his mother, re-
sides at jackson, in this State, and has been |
supported for few years past By this son and
her own efforts, He is very bright and in |
tel1igent lad, modest but not bashful, and !
evidently honest and upright. He told III:
story in plain straight forward way, and Of !
its reliability we have not the least doubt It |
is Of such strange and romantic nature that I
wc fcel1 justified in laying it in detail before ]
our readers. He first enlisted as drummer |
boyin the 9Th Michigan infantry, and went
with the regiment to Tennessee. The first |
battle that be was present at was that Of LeI-
anon in TINT State, where he acted as drummer |
for the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry. Hewasaiso |
at the battle of Shiloh and received severe |
flesh wound under his right eye, and now car |
ries the honorable scar with him.
After this battle lie was stationed with the
regiment at Murfreesloro. and was captured
ers, he marched forty eight miles between 10
O'Clock in the morning and II o'clock ut
night, part Of the distance on q double quick,
to McMinnvile. Here they were paroled,
and then all were scut to Camp Chase. He
was there discharged on account Of epi1eptic
fits, to which painful af1iictiun he has been
su'ject since his earliest childhood. He re-
turned to Monroe, and went out with the 18th
as waiter Of one of the Captains After
serving with them for short time, he re-
turned to this city and served with Lieutenant
Hogan, then recruiting in the city, as drum;
mer. a few weeks since lie went on with the:
Chaplain Of the Sfh and joined that regiment,
although not regularly enlisted, as his con-
tinual1y recurring fits prevented his accept
ance. On the day Of the taking Of Fred
ayictsh1frtr ha 1af+. hic raptmart and 1,rresal
| to the river bank, where 1ile whole course Of
! events was clearly observable. His descrip-
| ton Of the battle is most lucid and graphic
! At half past two, volunteers were called to
| cross the river in boats III the face Of the
encmy's fire and scatter their slAarpshovters.
| The 7t1 Michigan rushed down, a;,d oar
drummer boy with them. He was the third
one in the boat, following: the Captain and
Lieutenant The Captain i'll command order
him he would surely be killed. lie then
waited on the shore, and showed of
the first boat, when it was fully
loaded, and instead Of remaining On shore,
elung 10 the stern Of the boat and was borne
across half way under water. The shot and
shell flew thickly. Two men were killed
within arms length Of him and his coat WAS
torn open by 4 bullet. On reaching the op-
posite shore, shot struck his drum, knock
ing it into splinters, and he caught up
loaded gun, dropped by q wounded or dead
soldier, and followed on. He was one Of the
first to tear down the secession flag, and has
brought Oft Il piece Us a trophy. He then
broke open :: house and found in the gard Il
rebel eharpEhooter, wounded in his right
hand. He Immediately brought his gun to
bear Oh him, and marched lin off to the
boats in triumph as a prisoner lie then re-
crossed the riYer, and Gen Burnside met him
and said: ~ glory in your spunk, boy if
you 60 on that way you will soon get to my
place. Among the trophies he found i'll the
house he broke open, was Il human bone, par
TALLY carved in The shape Of ring, which he
brought of and now has with him. It would
seem to confirm many Of the horrible stories
We have heard Of the rebel barbarities. He
was also present at the battle Of Saturday, but
did not actually participate, being in the city
Of fredericksburg
After the battle, his malady occasioned his
discharge again, and he started for home. He
was found iii Baltimore By a well-known citi-
zen Of Noyi,1 in Oakland county and he brought
him with lin to this city, arriving last even.
leg. On all the railroads aud at all hotels, the
little hero las been treated with all considera,
ton, aud no charges made for him anywhere.
He is now here without money, and we trust
that our prominent citizens will take up con,
tributlon in his behalf. Such rare heroism
merits tho greatest reward