, 1870-07-30
4 DRUMMER BOYS STORY.

He Heads n F0rforn Hope and CNj1R
lures a Rattery-ConErrss s;fH
Him n Medul-Gsc in Made a Sccd1
L1cusennnt--nurdc In sHe HcutDf
PussIon-E1ts PnFdon-
Fyom th< .Ss,cask ~ ~ Adrtrtiaev.
Through the loug-continued and welI-lirect-
ed enorts OF Ex-Governor Ward. the remain
der OF the sentence OF William Mngee. tue
famous drummer boy OF fcHArk. who, about
q year ago, was sentenced to prison for fve
Year,, has been remittod, and the gallsnt
young hero has by this time probably stepped
forth from his prison d3ors into the free auy
to take up his walk again among his fellow
men. and, AZ his friends confidently trust, to
lead career As brilliantly honorable and use
ful in tho future "a in the paat- The story Of
Hillian Magee IL 81 much like rnuAnce OF
the days OF mighty exploit snd achievement
Attested by the published histories Of the
war, and the of1icial documents narrating the
actiou OF the various branches OF the govern
ment in Lis honor.
The sop Of widow living in Beaver street,
II this city, Wilinm MAgee, when mere lid
third New Jersey Regiment. It was not long
before his daring exploits in the presence Of
the enemy attracted the attention OF his supe-
tiof officers. While Hood, in tho fall Of 1864,
with an army Of a, 600 men, held General
Thomas imprisoned in Nashville. General Nil
roy, with handful OF men, kept his commits
uication open On tho railroad at Murfreesa>oEo,
thirty miles awav. Tue place WAS soon snr-
rounded. and, isolated and leleagucred, the
n1en lost all hope Of escape. But It va. de-
termired to strike one blow for tieliyerance,
and 'sforlorp hope" oi rlng1e regiment
NAe Organized.
William Magee was then only An orderly to
General Van Cleve, but the command Of the
forioEn hope WAS committed 10 him. He sal-
lied forth, and dashed upon = rebel battery on
tho nearest eniueuce. The boyi.h conmand-
er's charge war a gallant one hut the fire Of
the enemy was resistlces. and his column fell
Lack. but Lis Leroic spirit WIS lot to bo
crushed ly temporary mishap, nor was hi.
suFeri6rH confidence in him tlakcu. Select
ing I new regiment, lie again rushed upon tue
foe, again met tho withcrirg fire. Stiff press
ing on, however, victory at last was his. 1t
wa. no ordinary victory, but the turning point
OF The crisis. and the tigusl for that series Of
quickly succeeding battles which finall, drove
Hood from Tennessee.
Amid the commentators OF al the leading
officers Of the department, the Newark boy Of
18 waA decorated with a medal Of honor from
Congress, transmitted through the War De-
partment. Upon The close Of tto war the
| young hero wat appointed Second Lieutenant
in the Twentieth United States Infantry, hut,
On examination, it was found that be WAa def
cient in several stuiiee. having never enjoyed
! educational anrantagee. Through the aid Of
Governor Ward he secured M extension Of
| time, and, applying himself to bis books with
| the same intelligence and ialomitabIa pluck
that had marked his conduct in the field, he
| wsn soon ready to appear again before the Ex-
amuinE ltoarl, and this time passed triumph.
antly. At the ago Of 10 the Newark drummer
| boy donned the uniform Of an officer in the
| regular service.
Dn! now came disastrous turn iii tho tide
Of hi. extraordinary cateer. While with biz
| regiment, which was living at Baton Kourc.
La, lie was charged by thu assistAnt surgeon
| of tho regiment with stealing his watch,
Sasee sorety felt tl!e erievous insult. 1t was
the titst blur which had over been cast upon
his hohos. In q moment OF anger he Visited
the quarters Of the surgeon and demanded re,
irsctlon. This teing refused. Lieutenant
Magee str1tck his defame1 with cowllide
wEirh he had brought for the purpose. Tht
surgeon started for his pistol. which was 1ylua
nesr, when AfaGce drew his own weapon anG
fired. The shot WIS fatal.
Magee w1s tried for nansla,Ehter hv q ciyi
court, snd acquitted. Then the friends OF the
surgeon procured Magecs arfaGnnent before
a general court-martial At Washington, aud by
this tribunal. being found guilty Of conduct
preju1icial to the discipline Of the army, llo WAT
sentenced tp be dismissed from tile service, aui
Imprisoned five years ia the State Prison a
Saltwater, Minp. One ye1r aud three month";
OF this term lave elapsed, during which siaget
t gain the warm interest in his behalf OF tL'
t;nyesnor Of the State and NIL the prison all
t1!ositle4. Meanwhile his carly and ste1lfas
i1ie1.l, GoyeEno. Ward, has been attiycl,
working At Washington, and the result is zee,
in the raldon which has just been sent Ii
Saltwater. However Just the renteuce an.
cn1ldiSn The punishment. all will rejoice tla
the young man is now free. TO 1rein over a ;ai,
career In wl1ie!, he has DISPLAYED suc1 r.
ma1katle ta!ents.