Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-02-13
Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribune.)
Little Eddie, the Drummer.
A "REMINISCENCES OF WILSON'S CREEK.

before our regiment recelVeu OFueIS 10 JON
Gen. Lyon, on his march to Wilson's Greek,
the drummer boy Of our company was taken
sick and conveyed to the hospital, 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 with.
in the lines ?p He replied, q know drum
mer that you would like to enlist in your COM
pany, and have come to tell you of it," He
was Immediately requested to inform the drum
mer that if he would enlist for our short term
of service he would be allowed extra pay and
to do this he must he on the ground early in
the morning The negro was then passed be-
yond the guard.
On the following morning there appeared
before the Captains quarters, during The beat
ing of the reUeille, a good looking, middleaged
woman, dressed in deep mourning, leading by
the hand a sharp, sprightly-looking boy, appa
rently twelve or thirteen years of age. Her
story was soon told. She was from East Ten
nessee where her husband had been killed by
the rebels, and all her property destroyed
She had come to St. Louis in search of her
sister, and; not finding her. and being destitute
of money She thought if she could procure
situation for her boy as a drummer for the
short time that we had to remain in the ser
vice, she could find employment for herself, and
perhaps fad her sister by the time we were
discharged
During the rehearsal of her story the little
fellow kept his eyes intently fixed upon the
cOuntenance Of the Captain, who was about
to express a determination not to take so
small boy, when he spoke out, Don't be
afriad, Captain, can drum" This was spok
en- with so much confidence that the Captain
Immediately observed with smile, Well,
well, Sergeant, bring the drum, and order our
! ffer to come forward" In few moments the
drum was produced and our ffer, tall, round
shouldered, good ,natured fellow, from the Du-
buque mines, who stood, when erect, something
over six feet in height, soon made his appear
ance.
Upon being introduced to his new comrade
| he stopped down, with his hands resting upon
his knees, that were thrown forward into an
acute angle, and after peering into the little
| fellows face moment he observed, My lit
tie man, can you drum ?" eyes sir" he re.
piled, " drummed for Captain Hill, in Ten
nesSee." Our ffer Immediately commenced
Strengthening himself upward until all the an.
giles in his person had disappeared, when he
placed his fife in bis month ard played the
" Flowers of Edenborough," one Of the most
difficult things to follow with the drum that
could have been selected, and nobly did the
little fellow folcw him, showing himself to be
master of the drum. When the music ceased
our Captain turned to the mother aud observ-
ed, " Malam l will take your boy What is
his name=?" Edward Lee," she replied
then placing her hand upon the Captain arm,
she obserged, Captain, if he is not killed"
here her maternal feelings overcame her utter
ances, and she bent down over her boy and
kissed him upon the forehead. AS she arose
she obseFved, Captain, you will bring him
back vita you, won't you?" Yes, yes" he
replied, gwe will be certain TO bring him back
with rs. We shall be discharged in six weeks"
In an honr after our company led the Iowa
First oue of camp, our drum and fife playing
" The gIfl left behind me-" Eddie, as we
called him, soon became great tayorite with
all the men in the company. When any of the
boys had returned from horticultural exCur-
sion, Edde's share of the peaches and melons
was the first apportioned out. During cur
heavy and fatiguing march from Roa to
Springfield it was often amusing to see our
Iong-legged fifer wading through the mud with
our little drummer mounted upon his back
and always in that position when fordiDg
etreams. .....
During the fight at Wilson's Greek was
stationed with part of onr company on the
right of Totten's battery, while the balance of
our company, with part of the Illinois regi-
ment, was ordered down into deep rayne
upon our left, in which it was known portion
of the enemy was concealed, with whom they
were soon engaged The contest in the raVne
continuing some hours. Totten suddenly wheel
ed his battery upon the enemy in that quarter,
when they soon retreated to the high ground
behind their lines In less than twenty min
utes after Totten had driven the enemy from
the ravine, the word passed from man to man
throughout the army, Lyon is killed." and
soon after, hostilities having ceased upon both
Sides the order came for our main forces to
fall back upon Springfield while part of the
Iowa First and two companies of the Missouri
regiment were to camp upon the ground aud
cover the retreat the next morning.
That night | was detailed for guard duty,
my turn of guard closing with the morning
call When | went out with the Ctfiser as a
relief, found that my post was 2pon high
eminence that overlooked the ueep ravne in
which our men had engaged the enemy until
Tottens battery came to their assistance. 1t
was dreary, lonesome beat. The moon had
gone down in the early part Of the night, while
the stars twinkled dimly through hazy at
mosphere, lighting up imperfectly the sur
rounding objects. Occasionally would place
my ear near the ground aud listen for the
sound of footsteps, but all was silent save the
far off bowling of the wolf, that seemed to
scent upon the evening air the banquet that
we had been preparing for him. The hours
passed slowly away, when at length the morn
ing light began to streak along the eastern
sky, making surrounding objects more plainly
visible Presently | be I'd drum beat up the