Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-03-01
1ntcrcsIlu9 Story
Little Eddie, the Drummer.
a "REMINISCENCES OF WILSON'S CREEK.

q N~A lNISCENCG OF WILSON CREEK.
CAMP BENTON, Decembcg, 20,-A few
days before our regiment received orders
to join Gen. Lyon, on his march to Will
son Crcek the drummer boy Of our camp
was taken sick and conveyed to the hos
pital, and on the evening proceeding the
day th7t we were to ma ch, a negro was
arrested within the lines of our camp and
brou. .ht before our Captain, who asked
him what business he had within the lines
LIE replied, II know drummer that you
would like to enlist in your company, and
have come to tell you Of it, lie was
Immediately requested to inform the drum
nler that if he would enlist for our short
term OF service he would be allowed extra
pay, and TO do this he must be on the
ground early in the morning. The negro
was then passed beyond the guard.
On the following morning there appear
ed before t he Captains quarters, during
the beating of the revsllie, a good looking,
middlo-aged woman, dressed in deep
mourning, leading by the hand sharp,
sprightly- looking boy, apparently twelve
or thirteen years of age. Her story was
soon told She was from East Tennessee,
where her husband had been killed by the
rebels, and all her property destroyed
She had come to st. Louis in search other
sister, and not finding her, aud being des
titute Of money, she thought if she could
procure situation for her boy as drum
lner for the short time that we lad to re-
main in service, she could find employ.
ment for herself and p rhaps find her sis.
ter by the time we were discharged.
During the rehersa! of the story the lit.
tie fellow kept his eyes intent'y fixed upon
the countenance Of the captain, who wa.
about to express a determination not tc
take SO small boy, when he spoke out
"Don't be afraid, Captain, can drum.
This was spoken with SO much confidence
that the Captain Immediately observed
with a smile, " Weil well, Sergeant, bring
! the drum, and order our ifer to come for
ward" In few moments the drum wa:
produced, and cur fIor,a tall round shoul
dcrcd, good.natured fellow, from the Du-
buque mines, who stood, when erect some
thing over six feet in height, soon made
+ his appearance.
Upon being introduced to his new COM
radc, he stopped down with his hands res.
ting upon his knees that We're thrown for
ward into an acute angle, and after peer
ing into the little fellows face a moment
observed, "My little man, can you drua ?
"Yes, sir" he replied, 81 drummed fol
Captain Hill in Tennessee" Our ifel
imme diatcly commenced Strengthening him
/, self upward until al the angles in hi'
,, person had disappeared, when he placed
his fife 70 his mouth and played the "Flow
ers of Edinburg,' one of .he most dificul
things to follow with drum that cculC
have been selected, and nobly did the lit
% tie fellow follow him, showing himself t.
be master Of the drum. When the musl'
ceased, our Captain turned to the mother
q q and observed, "Madamo, ! will take you
Il boy. What is his namo!' "Edwar'
n +, Lee" she replied; then placing her han'
rron tbo, Cantains arm, she observed
"a "a Captain, If he isuot killed hereher ma
tcrnal feelings overcome her utterance, AN
ss' l..to,, and ti,sed hir