The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-04-04
From the n. Y. Independent.
THE ORUMMER-BOY OFTHE RAP
PAHANNOCK.
BY GEORGE W. BUNGAT.

BY GEORGE W. BUNGAY.
Recently, bright by. with dark eyes
and rudy cheeks, came to my desk and
gave me brief history of his adventures
at the battle of Fredericksburg. He was
neatly dressed in a military suit of gray
cloth, and carried in his hands pair of
umsticks-his drum was destroyed by
the fragment Of shell Immediately after his
landing on the river bank, in that hurricane
of sulphury fire and iron hail on the 18th Of
last December.
The reader viii distinctly remember that
for several days curtain of thick fog
rose up from the waters Of the Kappa
hammock, completely hiding from view
the artillery that crowded the shelter
ing ravines; but the preparation for the
great fight, so hopefully commenced, was
continued amid the thunder Of cannon and
the volcanic eruptions of exploding batteries.
The hazardous work of laying the pom
toon bridges was frequently interrupted by
the murderous fire of rebel sharpshooters,
concealed in the stores and dwelling houses
on the bank of the river. To dislodge these
men, and drive them out of their hiding
places, seemed an impossible task. at a
given signal, our batteries opened with
terrific FIRE upon the city, crashing
through the walls of houses and public
buildings, not sparing even the churches in
which treason had been taught, as para
mount to Christianity. In this storm of
shot and shell, which plowed the streets
and set the buildings on fire, the sharp
shooters survived, like salamanders in the
flames, and continued to pour deadly fire
upon our engineers and bridge builders.
In this dilemma, it became evident that
the bridges could not be laid except by a
bold dash. Volunteers were called for, to
cross in small boats; forthwith, hundreds
stepped forward and offered their services.
One hundred men were chosen, and at
once started for the boats. Robert Henry
Henderson,, the hero of our sketch, was
then member of the 9th Michigan act
ing as drummer. Seeing part of the 9TH
Michigan preparing to cross the river, be
ran ahead, and leaped into the boat. One
of the officers ordered him out, saying be
would be shot. The boy replied that he
didn't care-ke was willing to die for his
country. When he (lhe boy) found that
the captain would not permit him to remain
in the boat, lie begged the privilege of push
y
ed. Whereupon, instead of remaining on
shore, he chung to the stern of the boat,
and, submerged to the waist in water, he
crossed the Rsppahannock. Soon as he
landed, fragment of shell struck his old
drum, and knocked it to pieces. Picking
up a muSket, he went in search Of rebel
relics, and obtained a seoesh flag, a clock, a
knife, and bone ring. On opening back
door in one of the rebel houses, he found a
rebel wounded in tho hand, and ordered him
to surrender. He did so, and was taken by
the boy soldier to the 7th Michigan. When
the drummer-boy rccrossed the river from
Fredericksburg. Gen. Burnside said To him,
in the presence of the army: boy, glory
in your spunk; if you keep on this way a
few more years, you will be in my place
Robert is a native of New York, but
moved with his parents to Michigan when
he was an iufant His father died ten or
twelve years ago. leaving his mother in des-
titute circumstances, and with family of
four children to support and educate. Some
fifteen months ago, "our drummer-boy
went from Jackson Michigan TO Detroit,
with Capt. G. V. Deland, in the capacity of
waiter in the 9Th Michigan. With that reg
imeut he went to Louisville, West Point,
KY. and EliEabethtown, Ky..-at the last
named place be was appointed drummer
boy. Since that time be has been in six
battles, as follows: Lebanon, Murfreesboro,
Chattanooga, Shelbyville, McMinnsville aud
fredericksburg. At the battle of Murfrees-
boro, where the Union forces were taken by
surprise before daylight 10 the morning. af-
ter beating the long roll, and pulling the
ffer out of bed to assist him, he threw aside
his drum, and Selling a guu. fred sixteen
rounds at the enemy from the window Of
the court house, in which his regiment was
quartered; but our msn were compelled 70
surrender, and they were all taken prison
ers, but were Immediately paroled, and after
wards sent to Camp Chase, Ohio.
Soon as the news came from the Kappa
hammock that Robert had lost his drum in
that terrible tempest of FIRE and iron, the
Tribune Association promised to make good
his loss. and give him a new drum. HIS
mission here at the present time is twofold-
to receive his present of the new drum, and
to find employment he having left the army
in consequences Of ill-health). This brave
boy is scarcely fourteen years Of age.