Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-30
LITTLE EDDIE,

The record, and desolations Of our great
war which do not appear alone in the empty
sleeve, we see in every village, not in the
blackened ruins that mark the pathway Of
our great armies.
The most incurable wounds, and the losses
hardest to be supported, were suffered by the
mothers who gave up darling and only sous
to the sacrifice.
What mother can read the following story
Of the enlistment and death Of " Little Ed
die the Drummer Boy" without feeling that
neither glory nor public honors can ever make
up her loss or heal her lacerated heart We
give the story as the soldiers tell it.
A few days before our regiment received
orders to join Gen. Lyon, on his march to
Wilson's Greek, the drummer of our compa-
ny was taken sick and conveyed to the hos
pital, and on the evening preceding the day
that we we're to march, negro was arrested
within the lines Of the camp and brought be-
fore our captain, who asked him what busi-
ness he had within the lines.
He replied;
d" know drummer boy that would like
to enlist in your company, and | have come
to tell you of it."
lie was Immediately requested to inform
the drummer that if lac would enlist for our
short term OF service, he would be aioWei
extra pay, and to DO this, he must be on the
ground early in the morning. The negro was
then passed beyond the guard
On the following morning there appeared
before the captains quarters, during the beat
ing Of the reyeille, a goodlooking, middle
aged woman dressed in deep mourning, lead
ing by the hand sharp, sprightly y-looking
boy, apparently about twelve or thirteen years
of age. Her story was soon told
She had come from East Tennessee, where
her husband had been killed by the rebels,
and all their property destroyed She had
come on to st. Louis in search Of her sister ;
but not finding her and being destitute Of
money, she thought if she could procure q
situation for her boy as drummer for the short
time we had to remain in the service she
could find employment for herself, and per-
hays find her sister by the time we were dis
charged.
During the rehearsal of her story the lit
tie fellow kept his eyes intently fixed upon
the countenance of the captain, who was
about TO express determination not to take
so small a boy, when he spoke out
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 ffer to come forward"
In few minutes the drum was produced
and our ffer, tall, round-shoudered, good
natured fellow from Dubuque mines, who
STOOD when erect, something over six feet in
height, soon made his appearance.
Upon being introduced to his new comrade
he stopped down, with his hands upon his
knees, that were thrown iorwardinto an acute
angle, and after peering into thelittle fellows
face a moment, he observed
My little man, can you drum ?7
Yes, sir" he replied, 4" drummed for
Capt, Hill, in Tennessee"
The ifer Immediately commenced straight
ening himself upward, until all the angles Of
his person had disappeared, when he placed
the fife at his mouth and played the " Flow
ers of Edinboro," one of the most difficult
things to follow with the drum that could have
been selected and nobly did the little fellow
follow him, showing himselfto be a master of
the drum. When the music ceased, our cap
tain turned to the mother and said
Madam, | will take your boy what is
his name ?"
Edward Lee" she replied then, placing
her hand on the captains arm, she continued;
Captain, if he is Killed" here her matern.
al feelings overcame her utterance, and she
bent down over her boy and kissed him upon
the forehead as she arose, she continued /;
" Captain you will bring him back with you,
won't you"
" Yes, yes" he replied, we will be certain
to bring him back with US. We shall be dis
charged in six weeks"
Ia an hour after our company led the Iowa
First out of camp, our drum and fife plying
+" The girl left behind me-"
Eddie, as we called him, soon became
great favorite with all the men in the COM
pany. When any Of the boys had returned
from horticultural excursion, Eddie's share
of the peaches and melons was the first to be
apportioned out. During our heavy and ia
tiguing march from Rola to Springfield, it
was often amusing to see our long legged fifer
wading through the mud with the little drum
mer mounted upon his back, and he was al
ways in that position when fording streams.
During the fight at Wilson's Greek | was
stationed with part Of our company on the
right of Totten's Battery, while the balance
Of our company, with part of tho Illinois
regiment, was ordered down into deep ra-
vino upon our left, in which it was known
portion Of the enemy was concealed, with
whom they were soon engaged. The contest
in the ravine continuing some time, Totton
suddenly wheeled his battery upon the enc
my in that quarter when they soon retreated
to high ground behind their line.
In less than twenty minutes after Totten
had driven the enemy from the ravine, the