Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-05-08

cloths and went directly 70 the spot, arrived
in time to hear the officer in charge inquire
Do you know Of . boy that can enlist ~
. drummer? Without waiting for any r.
ply to be made, Billy stepped promptly for
ward and said III will 20, sir" His man
ner at once pleased the recruiting officer and
be Immediately enrolled him in "Union
| Blue" told him where he might 6nd some
breakfast, and bsde them 90 and dispose
| of his little effects and return to him sgain.
The command 70 which the drummer
boys regiment vas assigned. vas then oper-
sting in Eastern Tennessee. In November
g. During al those days Of terrible 6ght-
ing, The drummer boy performed his pan
with manly courage. Many . dying man
pillowed his head on his little knee, aad
| many less disabled, we're assisted to tbs hos.
pital. Two cauteens Of cold wster we're
slung over his shoulder, bringing many .
God bless you. little fellow" weary snd
wounded soldiers. 1t was on the last day Of
this memorable battle, when the tide Of vic,
tory was turning in favor Of the Federalarms,
and the complete route of the enemy was
close st hand, that - The drummer boy vas
running across an exposed portion q the
field to the assistance Of soldier exhsasied
By the loss Of blood, - vas his in tke isg
and brought 10 the gTound. He ssavlsd .
thickss nsa. By, dragging his broksa lss
with great pain.
broken limb and IN stack Of fever which
followed. Il vas not till the opening Of the
Spring Campaign Of 1864, that b was re-
turned to his regiment, recently tEsnsfered
TO the Army Of the Potsmsc. Again he
swung his drun On his back and with the
troops Of that noble army, set out for the oc-
cupetion Of that !" line" on which Lieuten-
ant General Grant sfought It sut." How
we'll be did his duty, how brave he Vas, bow
noble and kind, in ell those months of activ-
ity and unprecedented battles that followed,
let the testimony Of hundreds who saw him,
and knew him best, bear witness. In camp,
quiet and unassuming; on parade, prompt
and soldierly on the march. ever in his
place and in battle, an angel visitant at The
side Of many sufferer. Was not the pray.
er Of that lonely night answered? Had be
not accomplished greater work than myr-
isds whose heads are greyf
Toll, exposure and pivafiou wrought fear.
fully upon the constitution Of the drummer
boy, and diseases laid . heavy hand upon
him. Many we're sorovful when the ambu-
lance bore his fevef-stricken form to the
hospital for rough and hard>handed soldiers
had learned to love this little fellow all the
more since they knew his history. Perhaps
the reader is young in years like Billy. Wers
you ever sick-nigh unto death-so hacked
with pain and tortured With suffering that
none had hopes Of your recovery? Your
bed, doubtless, was soft and downy, in your
own cosy little room-your every want
promptly and carefully attended to BY father
ful family physicisn-and the whole neieh>
borhood deeply anxious for your recovery.
Il vas hard for you to be sick under such
erent the circumstances with Billy. the drum
mer boyi He was away in . Washington
hospital, without one soft hand beneath his
aching head, or laid upon his throbbing TEN.
ple-not one familiar voice to sooth with
words Of cheer-net one anxious watcher By
his bedside lin . strange land and among
strangers. A nan Who bad long bsaysd IL
storms Of life, and many times felt tie cold
shoulder jossle Of . selfish world, might have
endured i. But hsra's boy, scarcely this.
teen years Of age! What Of him7
To some it might havs seemed an aet Of
mercy 10 have taken the lone vanderse to
land Of perpetual rest-to the everlasting
home With father and mother, on the banks
ofthe River Of Life. But it was not 20 q.
dered. Fur days life hung as if By single
thread. Then, slowly, there came change.
Activity returned to his brain, aud new life
to bis eye, and gradually the drummer boy
regained his strength. One day, - every
ward Was thronged with patients, the sur
geoa in charge dismissed Billy from the hos
pital, without . word Of explanation, and
With no paper to direct his return to the Reg
meut Thus hs wandered about the streets
ofthe great city. Il was cold November
day, and the Northwest wind that swept
along Peunslyvania Auenue, pierced his
fragile frame most cruelty, and seat chill,
as Of agus, to his very finger tips.
More than ever Billy felt how sad thing
it il to be frisndless and alone. Even the
privilege Of braving shot and she'll On the
battlefield for the sake Of eoantsy@thst
country which his father disd 70 cave
seeded nov 70 b denied him. The cruel
order ofa thou9htless surgeon had deprived
him Of the companionship Of whole regi>
ment Of men be had learned to love. How
cold and gloomy and dssslate seemed al
the vide verld around him. How gladly
would be have welcomed death and been ..
rest. But no such deliverancs came.
Without. scareslv, reAsctiag Why, Billy
followed pale and hAgsard looking woman
into the ante>roou Of the Excessive NAM
sion, whoss uissioa vas in behalf Of . sol>
der brother doomed 70 die; and vaguely
dreaming that the great head Of he melton |
might render pity, b stood awaitiag tAs re-
suit The historian says-" The President
sav him standing, locking feeble AID faint
and. Gene here, my boy, and tell me What
you want" Sure enough here was friend
In the psrson Of our lamented Lincoln.
Let ~ paass in this narrative for . mo-
ment to contsmplats The beauty oftAat scene,
when the President Of tie great Repablic for,
got the momentous questions Of legislation
in his interest for little p le>facsd wander
or. Angels from their shining ssats On high,
gaze with delight while they chant in stsains
Of heavenly music, swell done. good and
faithful servant" Billy followed the tall
man to chair, and - he sat, placed his
little hand in the broad palm, aud with bow
ed hsad and timid accents said /;
Mr.. President, Am drumner boy.
salistsd in July, 1868, and have bsen with
ny regiment, except vixen sick oe woundsd,
ever sincs. For soMs time since ! hsse
bssa sick In the hospital, and the surysoa,
fcs some cause or other. has turnsd NJ away
this norning, with 70 direclisas 70 return 70
ny regimssS. an Geld, nick and lssely,
and csae 70 - If yos voald do something
foe me-"
The President was touched BY this simple
story Of patriotism, suffering, and neglect,
and tear was seen to glisten in bis eye,
and be teuderly asked the drummer boy
where be lived.
81 have no home
"Where il your father p
He died soldier at Vicksburg.'
"Whsre is your mother p
my mother is also dead. I have No
mother, No brother. no sister, and" bursting
into tears,l mo friends-nobsdy cares for
me-"
A. NJ. =.