The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-27
The Michigan Drummer Bov
From the Detroit Free Press. Dec On

From the Detroit Free Press, Dec, %
Everybody who has read of the recent tran,
actions at Fredericksburg has felt Thrill, :,
admiration for the brave Michigan drummer Nv.
who crossed the river under murderons a.,
with the 'forlorn hope" Of the Seventh. gon
ever much we may praise the courage Of the nv,
who volunteered to throw themselves into -.
shell FIRE" of those terrible batteries, what sb,n
we say Of the child who has nothing to ,s;.
but everything to risk in the perilous unde,,,N
king9 1t is courage and nanliDess tina. ia tra,
sublime. ...s.
The brave boy returned to this city last even.
ing, in company with we'll known citizen NJ
this county, who had previously known him, and
home. From the boy himself We learn some i.
teresting incidents in his history. His p.me h,
Robert Henry Hendershot. Mis- father is dead
His mother, poor woman, at present resides II
Jackson. he was thirteen years of age on ,hs
first OF June last. He first enlisted at Po,.
Wayne, as a drummer boy in the 9th Infaptrv
when it rendezvoused at that place. BE re-,
NAMED with the regiment, and was Captured
when most of the regiment was taken, after
sharp engagement, at Murfreesboro. He via
paroled and sent TO Camp Chase, Coumbu,
where he was discharged from the service on a.
count of epleptic fits. He returned to thisci.,,
and it will be remembered that he created
much enthusiasm by his appearance on the
platform at public meeting held in the mar.
ket to encourage eDstments. He at that time
enlisted with Col. Fenton, 90 a drummer boy
in the 9th Infantry. He remained with the req
ment until after the terrible battle OF Fredei-
icksburg, at which he won the reputation oia
hero There he was the drummer boy Of The
9th, instead of the It'll.
He gives simple and modest account Of biz
conduct at Fredericksburg. When the work on
the pentoons bad to cease in consequence Of the
destructive FIRE Of the rebel sharp-shooters coz.
cealed in the houses on the other side, voluu-
teers were called for to 60 over and clear them
out. One hundred men OF the Michigan Seventh
at once volunteered to 60. The drummer boy
Of the 9Th said he would 60 with them. He Il
once ran down the river bank, though the shot
and shell we're falling like hail, unhitched boat
and jumped in. Aiterward two LieuteDants got
in in the boat and told the boy he must not 20,
that it would be but risking bis life for no pur-
pose He said, II wish to 60, and if die it
will be for my country" The officers told him
be must not, but to get out of the boat and push
it of. He did so, but chung on beh nd until be
reached the other side. On reaching the bank
his drum was struck by . shell, and blown 10
atoms. He saw a rebel flag flying in the town.
and went for it. He got q portion of it, which
he now keeps ss . souvenir. On his way up the
street he picked up gun. He entered house,
and, seeing q rebel sharp shooter, who had his
forefnger shot off, he told him to surrender, or
he would shoot him. The rebel Immediately
threw down bis gun, and the boy took him and
delivered him to the Seventh. Ee captured a
variety of things which struck his fancy, among
which was an old clock, which he prizes highly.
On returning to this side of the river, General
Burnside stood upon the bank. He took him by
the hand, and said to him, boy, glory in your
spunk. If you keep on in that way, sou will be
in my place before many years"
The boy is more than usually intelligent and
modest, and tells his story with difidence. He
says be is willing to 60 with the army, but tina:
the surgeon will not let him, as he Is subject
to epileptic fits. He has already been in FIVE
battles, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga
Shiloh and Fredericksburg, and surely can claim
exemption from further service. he desires to
90 to school. Being poor be has never had the
advantages of education. Surely boy who has
exhibited such qualities ought not to lack tor
generous friends to give him an education.
His opinion of Burnside is briefly expressed.
"He is nice man, and would as soon shake
hands with private soldier IS with the biggest
officer in the world" He has heard that the
New York Tribune has offered to make him .
present of drum. He goes into ecstacies over
the idea His only anxiety lie that they willueg.
lect to do it. He wants them to find out that
his name is Robert Henry Henderson,, and tina:
he lives in Detroit And when he gets the drum
be is willing to make q trial on it with any
drummer in the world.