Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-02-22
Stlistellaneous.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
LITTLE EDDIE, THE DRUMMER.
"REMINISCENCES OF Wilson's cREEK.

CAMP BENTON, December 20.-A few DAYS
before our regiment received orders to Join
Geo. LyoO, On his march TO Wilson's Greek
the drummer boy of our company was taken
SICK and conveyed to the hospital, and 90 the
evening preceding the day that we we're 10
march negro was arrested within the lines
OF our camp and brought before our Captain,
who asked bin, "W bat business he had within
the lines 2" He replied, III know o drummer
that you would like to enlist in your company,
| and have come TO tell you Of it," He was
Immediately requested to inform the drummer
that il be would enlist for our short term OF
service be would be allowed extra pay, and
to do this be must be on the ground early 10
the morning. The negro was then passed
beyond the guard
On the following morning there appeared
before the Captains quarters, during the
beating of the rereiHe. good'lookng, middle
aged woman, dressed in deep mourning,
leading by the hand sborp, sprg billy 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 oil her property
destroyed She had come to ST. Louis 10
search OF her sister, and, not fudpg her, aud
being destitute Of money, she thought if she
could procure situation for her boy ss
drummer for the short time that we had to
remain in the service, she could fud employ.
ment 'or herself, and perhaps fDd her sister
by the time We were discharged.
During the rehearsal of her story the little
fellow kept his eyes intenty fixed upon the
counteoaDce OF the Captain who was about
to express determination not to take so
small boy, when he spoke out, Don't be
afraid, Captain, | can drum" This was spo.
ken with SO much confidence that The Osptoin
Immediately observed with q smile, well.
well, Sergeant, bring the drum, and orGer our
ffer to come forward" lu few moments
the drum was procured, and our ffer, tall
round-shouldered. good.uatured fellow, from
the Dubuque mines, who stood, when erect
something over six Ieet 10 height, soon made
his appearance.
Upon being introduced to bis new comyade
he stopped down, With his hands resting upon
his knees, that were thrown forward into al
acute angle, and after peeriug into the little
fellows face moment he observed, "My little
maO, can you drum 2" Yes. SIR" be replied,
81 drummed FOR Captain Hill, 10 Tennessee" !"
Oar tfer Immediately commenced strsighten
ing blmself upward until all the angles in bis
person bad disappeared. when he placed his
fle 10 his mouth and played the BLOWERS Of
Peterborough" Que Of the most difficult things
to follow with the drum that could have been
selected, and nobly did the little fellow follow
him, showing himself to be master of the
drum. When the music ceased our Captain
turned TO the mother and observed, M adam
will take your boy. What lie his name 2"
Edward Lee" she replied then placing her
hand upon the Captains arm. she observed,
Captain, i be is not killed" lere her
maternal feelings overcame her utterances,
and she bent down over her boy ond kissed
him upon the forehead. A she ptoss she
observed, Captain you will bring him back
with you, won't you p Yes, yes" be replied,
I'VE will he certain to bring him back with
us. We shall be discharged in six weeks"
In al hour after our company led the Iowa
First out Of camp, our drum aud ffs playing
The girl left behind me-" Eddie, as we
called him, soon became great favorite with
all the men in the company. When any OF
the boys had returned from a horticultural
excursion, Eddie's share Of the peaches and
melons WAS the first appor,iohed out. During
our heavy and fatiguing march from Rola to
Springfield it was often amusing TO see our
loug.legged Gier wsding through the mud with
our little drummer mounted upon bis back
and always IN that position when furding
streams.
During the fight at Wilson's Creek was
stationed with part OF our company on the
right OF TotIen's battery, while the balance
OF our compsDy, with part Of the Illinois
regiment, was ordered down into a deep
ravine upon our left, 10 which it was known d
! portion OF the enemy was concealed with
whom they were soon engaged. The contest
10 the ravne continued some hours. Totteu
suddenly wheeled his battery upon The enemy
I 10 that quarter, when they soon retrea,ed Ia
the bigh ground behind their lines. lD less
than twenty inmates after Totten had driven
! the enemy from the rbvine, the word passed
| FROM man to man throughout the army
Lyon is killed." and soon after, hostiltles
having Ceased upon both sides, the order
! came for our main forces TO fall back upon
| Springfield, while q part Of the Iowa First
aud two companies of the ii issouri regiment
were to camp upon the ground and cover the
! retreat the next morning.
That night was detailed for guard duty
my turn of guard closing with the morning
call. When went ou: with the officer as q
relief, found that my post was upon high
em!neDce that overlooked the deep ravine ia
which our men had engaged the enemy unt
! Totteus battery came to their assistance
| 1t was o dreary. lonesome beat. The moor
had gone down in the early part of the uieht
while the stars twinkled dimly through hnzy
atmosphere, lighting up imperiecty the sur
rounding objects. Occasionally ! would place
my ear near the ground and listen for tht
sound of footsteps, but all was silent save The
far of bowling Of the wolf. that seemed &c
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 ligh. began 10 streak along the eastern
tsky, making surrounding objects more plainly
visible. Presently ! beard O drum beat uT
the morning call. AT first thought il caus
/ from the camp OF the enemy across the creek
but us ! listened found it came up from the
deep ravlne for few inmates it was silent
aud then as it became more light heard il
again. j listened-the sound Of the druu
was familiar to me--sud ] knew that II wss
Our drummer boy from Tennessee
Beating foI help hereveille.
! was about to desert my post to go to hiI
assistance when discovered the officer of tb'
guard approaching with two men. We al
listened to the sound, and were satisfied tha
it was Eddie's drum. asked permission L
go to his assistance. The officer hesitAted
saying that the orders were to march 10 twen
ty minutes. ] promised TO be back in tha
time, aud he consented. immediately start
ed down the bill through the thick under
growth, and upon reaching the valley fol
lowed the sound OF the drum, and soon fOun,
him seated upon the ground, his back leaniui
against the trunk OF fallen tree. while bi
drum hong urop q bush 10 front OF bin
reaching nearly to the greund. As econ 8