National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-04
MISCELLANEOUS.

|
johnny Glenn, ''The Drummcr-Boy or Chick
hmuugn."
There are but few people who lived during tho
late war, and read current events, who are not
familiar with tho brilliant achievements made
and the invinciblc spirit and soldiery quail
ties displayed by the boy soldier known as
Little Johnny Glenn, the Drummer Boy Of
Chickamauga," who is now a lieutenant in the
United States army. His acts havo been re-
corded in many histories of the war. Losing
speaks of him as probably tho youngest per-
son who ever bore arms in BATTLE" and every
incident connected with his army life pos
scsses peculiar interest TO tho people in gene.
raj. That interest will DO still greater with
our people when II is known that ho Is now IL
resident Of Wisconsin. Such being the case,
we propose to give brief sketch of his en-
trance into the army, aud Of his subsequent
life.
John l.. Clcm was born in Newal X, Ohio
August -, 1851. lie had lost his mother and
in May, 1861, before ho was ten years old
when lie was so small he might have been
placed inside of regulation drum-ofIercd
his services as a drummer to the Third Ohio
regiment, but was rejected OH account OF his
size and tender age. Tho little hero went out
| on the same train with the regiment, and
meeting the Twenty-second Michigan regi-
mont offered his services to that, and was
again rejected but with undaunted spirit aud
determination he followed the fortunes of the
regiment, until at length lie wits beating the
long roll !" in front of Shiloh, in April 1862
where his solderly spirit so won the confidence
aud admiration Of tho officers of the regiment
that, in June or July, 1862, lie was enlisted ut
Covington, KY, us n drummer, aud served
aiterward rs marker"
| At Shiloh his drum was smashed by piece
| of shell, which won for him the appcllaton of
johnny Shiloh" MS u title Of distinction for
| his fearless manner in the bloody battle. 1t
was at ChiCkamauga, that field of glory and
renown for General Thomas, he received the
title of THE Little Drummer Boy of Chicka-
manga" under which lie has passed into his
tory, and his name and title will live forever
in connection with brave acts performed by
him, which for GOODNESS aud uudaunted valor
find no parallel Oh the pages of ancient or
modern warfare in one so young. We give
one act which won for him the highest need
of praise from Rosecrans and Thomas aud
every other officer and private of the Army Of
| the Cumberland.
At the battle of Chiclamauga little Johnny
Glen, having just passed his twelfth year,
exchanged the long roll' of the drum for the
brisk fire" of the deadly musket and Oh the
23d day of September 1863, when the line of
battle was about being formed our little
Drummer Boy, now acting rs a marker"
might have been seen with his trusty little
musket, MS it afterward proved, which had
been shortened for his use seated upon Il
caisson, side by side with artilerymen, going
to the front to form the line aud face the
coming storm of death In common with others.
The line being formed, he now took his posi-.
ton in the ranks, and with his true aud
trusty little musket began putting in the
periods quito ON his own account, blazing away
close to the ground like a FREELY in the
grass. At the close of the day, when the army
was retiring toward Chattanooga, the brigade
to which little johnny belonged was ordered
to hold its position, but, being aftcrward SUR
rounded by the rebels demand for its sur
render was made directly after its charge had
been repulsed, when rebel colonel rode up to
our little hero, who could not fall back as
rapidly us the rest of the line, and made
special demand of him: "IIalt Surrender
| YOU id little Yankee son of b-hw
| Still coming with his sword drawn upon lit
! tic johnny, who had now brought his musket
to an order arms" and, in doing which, slip
ped his hand down the barrel and
cooked it while at order" when our
little hero uninspired to obedience Of tho
chaste summons he had just received,
suddenly swung up his muskct to the position
of charge bayonet" aud fred, when 10 ! our
little David brought down the proud GOliah,
who fell from his saddle, his lips fresh stained
with the reproachful epithet he had just flung
upon n mothers grave in the hearing Of her
child. simultaneously with the performance
of this brilliant deed, the regiment to which
little johnny belonged was fired into by the
surrounding rebels, when he fell us though lie
had been shot and laid there until darkness
closed in, when he arose and made his way
toward Chattanooga after the rest of the
| army