The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-01-31
Little Eddie---The Drummer.

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Little Eddie---The Drummer.
A correspondent OF the Chicago
Tribune, writing from Benton Bar
racks, st. Louis, gives q very touch.
ing story Of drummer boy:
A few days before our regiment
received orders to join General Lyon,
..on his march 10 Wilson's creek, the
drummer OF our company was taken
sick and conveyed to the hospital, -,
and on the evening preceding the
day that we wera to march, negro
was arrested within the lines OF the
camp and brought before our Cap.
tsin, who asked him "what business
he had within our lines?" He re.
piled IL know drummer that would
like to enlist in your COMPANY, and
] have come to tell you of it," lie
was Immediately requested to in.
form the drummer that he would
be allowed extra pay, and to do this,
ho must be upon the ground early in
the morning. The negro was then
passed beyond the guard.
On the following morning there
appeared before the Captains quar-.
tiers, during the beating of the rev.
ellie, a good looking, middle aged
woman, dressed in deep mourning,
leading hy the hand sharp, spright.
ly looking boy, apparently about
twelve or thirteen years old. Her
story was soon told. She was from
East Tennessee, where her husband
had been killed by the rebels, and
all their property destroyed. She
had come to St. Louis in search OF
her sister, but not finding her, and
being destitute Of money. she thought
il she could procure a e!tuation for
her boy as drummer for the short
time that we had to remain in the
service, she could find employment
for hersell aud perhaps find her sls.
ter by the time we were discharged
During the rehearsal OF her story
the little fellow kept his eyes intent.
ly liked upon the con1tenance OF the
Captain, who was about To express a
determination not to take SO small u
boy, when he spoke out, saying,
"Don't be afraid, Captain, | can
drum" This WAS spoken with so
much confidence that the Captain
Immediately observed, with a smile
'Well, well, Sergeant, bring the
drum, and order our tiier to come
forward" In a few minutes the
drum was produced, and our filer
made his appearance, u tall, round
ehouldered, good natured fellow from
the Dubuque mines, who stood
when erect, something over six feet
in height. Upon being introduced
to his new comrade, he stopped
downward, with his hands resting
. upon his knees that were thrown tor.
ward into an acute angle, and after
pecring into the little fellows face q
, moment, he observed, my little
man, can you druml" "Yes, sir"
he replie IL drummcd tor Captain
Hill. in Tennessee" Our tiier i'm,
mediately commenced straighten.
ing himself upward, until all the
angles in his person had disappear
ed, when he placed his fife to his
mouth aud played the Flowers o
. Edenborough," one Of the most dit,
ticuls tunes to follow with the drnm
that could have been selected, bu
nobly did the little fellow follow
: him, showing him to be master oI
the drum. When the music ceased
70 our Captain turned to the mother
and observed. "Madam, | will tax,
4 your boy. What is his name?'-
Edward Lee" she replied; lher
], placing her hand upon the Captain
arm, she continued, Captain, il h,
!, is not killed" here her materns
/ feelings overcame her utterance, ant
I. che bent down over her boy an,
kissed HIM upon the forehead. A
! she arose. she said, Captain, yo,
will bring him back with you, won
# your Eyes, yes" he replied, "w,
= will be certain to bring him bacl
: with us. We shall be discharged il
elk weeks"
In an hour after, our company LEI
: the Iowa First out OF camp, our druu
and file playing "The Girl left be
hind me-" Eddie, as we called
him, soon became a great fsvorit
. with all the men in the company
When any OF the boys had returned
from horticultural excursion, Ed
die's share OF the peaches and mel
ons was the first apportioned OUT
:, = During our heavy and iatiguin,
march from Rolls to Springfield, i
was often amusing to see our long
legged fifer wsding through th,
muI with our little drummer mount
ed upon his back-and always il
that position when iording streams
! The night after the fight OF Viii
7 sons creek, where Lyon fell l wa
lIososln4 60 4