The National tribune., 1881-05-01

ne place for babies yonder pointing in the direc
tion Of Morgan's Heights. Young Hendershott
slderaby angered by this remark and he aerward
pained said he made up his mind just to go anyhow.
As the last boat showed off he sprang into the water
sezeu hoa OF the gunwae ana IN this manner was fer
ried into the town In the charge that followed he
bore musket and did his duty like the doughty
knight among them all. During the engagement he
severely wounded in the face, but would not and did
leave the field unti after nghtfa If alive he yet
upon cheek long deep scar extending from temple
chin as lasting meeno of his baptism of fire and
blood In 1868 the late ii. G. Eastman of Poughkeepse
then president of business college, and subsequently
mayor of that city, gave him scholarship in his nstitu
ton and became his patron Since the close of the war
he has been lost sight of but until youthful
claimant puts in appearance the of Hendershott
must stand the rolls the youngest soldier of the
Republic
Since reading the above we learn from Wash
ngton paper that there is another claimant for be-
ing the youngest soldier-William O'Meara. who
speaks next?
1861, when the first call for troops made and was
then eleven years and seven months old Here my dis
charge had not it before for years until got it
from my mother the other day."
Mr. OMeara thereupon produced from his pocket a
yellow and wrinkled paper signed by Charles Everett,
lieutenant colonel Fifth Battalion District of Columbia
Volunteers, dated July Is, 1861 stating that William
Meara had enlisted in Captain John McDemotts com
pany, Jackson Guards for three months and hon
oraby discharged The document described him be-
ing twelve years of age and four feet four inches high
:" was not quite twelve years old" explained Mr..
out Wnen the muster 0flcer came around the
captain told TO say was twelve years old When went
up enlist the officer told 60 home, but wouldn
GO On the next day made drill master of the
pany had belonged to company of boys raised
when Ellsworth went through the country, and knew
something about it,
" Did you any service ~
Some. was the first United States solder-that is
volunteer sodier-who put his foot Virginia soil''
How is that ~
Our company, you know organized for the de-
fense of the District We on duty at the Long
Bridge. Word TO guard the Virginia end of the
bridge the report that the rebs going to
burn the bridge Our company volunteered to 60 over
aud Went. Boylike, ran ahead of them and the
first To reach the other side
g Did you any other service?''
Our battalion afterward went up the river Seneca
and the first killed in the in ranks and
saw them killed. They two Germans and they
belonged to Captain Gerhardt's company. They were
the first killed in the field anyway and think the
first men killed during the war"
Did you re-enist when your three months up -
g. No. my mother colared and sent me away to
school don't much about this matter for my
sake but for the credit of the District think ought
TO be known. And the drummer boy, picking up his
hat bade farewell to the reportoral sentinel Thus the
District has the credit of producing the very youngest
der of the late of whom any record has been dscov
ered but it is doubtful whether this glorious Republic
will appreciate the fact by increasing the District appro
priatons.