The National tribune., 1884-01-24
TIE STORY OF A P0EM
How the Drummer-Boy of Mission
Ridge Came to be Written.

of Mission RIDGE favorite poem at army Re-
unions and with elocutionists throughout the
] country. In doing So short account of its
! history, by the author-Kate B. Sherwood-is
| in point. Mrs. Sherwood was invited in 1881,
by the then Department Commander of Ohio,
| the gallant John S. Kountz, to write poem
| for the grand Music Hall entertainment in
| Cincinnati, January 49, 1882 to be recited by
| the distinguished elocutionist, Elizabeth Mans
| field Irving The poem was written but was
not satisfactory to the author, when. by chance,
she heard Comrade Kountz allude to the cir
cumstances which led to the loss of leg at
Mission Ridge, which circumstances were so
dramatic that she at once asked Comrade
| Kountz to recount them to her. This he de-
| cilned to do, being as modest as he is brave,
and referred her to the comrade who bore him
from the field for particulars.
Desiring of all things to be historically accu-
rate in all her war poems Mrs. Sherwood COM
muDicated with Comrade William Smith, COM
pany g, receiving the substance of the story
as 1t is told, and afterwards, that there might
De no possible question as to its accuracy, re-
celyed his sworn affidavit to the same. The
snbject-matter of the poem was kept secret
from Commander Kountz, who was quite over
come when General J. ID. Cox arose at the even
ing meeting, over which he was presiding and
explained the point to the audience. As Mrs.
Irving advanced, the entire audience of 5000
people rose TO their feet and cheer upon cheer
made the walls ring with the yociferous APP
plause- "The scene," says the press report,
was one of the most dramatic ever witnessed
in Music Hall. The audience was stirred to its
depths, and many veterans were moved to
tears," and, at the close, soldiers and audience
rose to their feet and cheered wildly until
Commander Kountz arose and came to the
front IN acknowledgment when he was greeted
with the music of Hail to the Chief amid
cheer upon cheer, and the waving of hats and
flags"
Commander KountZ, who is well known to
the veterans throughout the Union, as a
Grand Army record second to none, and one of
which the people Of Ohio are justly proud. He
was born in Richfeid Lucas county, Ohio,
March %. 1916. attended the public schools un-
I'll his fifteenth year, when he enlisted as
drummer boy in the 37th O. V. L, and served
IN all the glorious campaigns Of that regiment
until disabled by his wounds. At the memo
rable battle of Mission Ridge, when the drum
corps was ordered to the rear, he threw away
his drum and fell in with his regiment, and
was shot in the front line of battle, where,
when the lines fell back. he lay under the enc
my's guns until borne from the field by Com
rade Smith. The poem, relating the incident,
was recfted at the great Toledo Reunion of the
9th o. V. l., and set the regiment wild, as all
the comrades loved the little drummer boy.
Captain Lambert. of company G. and others
personally thanked the author for her handling
of the subject. and Comrade Smith expressed
much surprise that one not present could be SO
accurate in description.
Comrade Kountz was honorably discharged
April, 1861 returning to his home near Toledo,
Ohio, when he was shortly afterwards chosen
county treasurer, serving two terms, and at
the expiration of his second term was made
county recorder, leading his ticket 200 votes
He was a charter member of old Forsyth Post,
November 10, 1866, and was the first adiutant
OF his Post, serving three terms He was then
elected Commander, then Quartermaster-
General of the Department of Ohio Then he
served for three years as commander of his
Post and has been largely instrumental In
raising the membership from sixty to 400 In
1851 the Department of Ohio elected him COM
mander, and during hisa6minisfration themem-
bershIp IN the State was increased from $50
to 5000. Commander-inChief Merrill refer
ring III Baltimore TO Commander Kolntz's
work in Ohio, said: "0ho the past twelve
months, has presented the most extraordinary
boom our history records. Through the enthu-
slaStic efforts of Commander KountZ Ohio's
thirty Posts and 1850 members of 1881
has been increased in twelve months to 199
Posts and 1929 members"
Comrade kountz is a warm advocate Of re-
lief work in the Grand Army, and one of the
first to call in the aid of loyal women in GREAT
ing and dispensing the charity funds of the
comrades. He is a man of high character and
ability, warm-hearted and generous, and one
from whom no comrade in need of aid ever
turned away empt handed. So much for the
hero of the story, and now for the story itself
THE DRUMMER BOY OF MISSION. RIDGE.
[By Kate Brotcnlee sl.ersoood.l
To John s. Kountz commander of the Depart-
ment Of Ohio, G. A. r., this story OF his experience
at Mission Ridge, while serving as drummer boy
of the 9th o. Y. 1.-the story being that of the SER
gcant who bore him from the fields dedicated.
slight testimonial his courage on the field of
battle, and his fidelity TO the veterans bond of
union, Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty."J
With his face to the foe meath The encmy's guns,
in the charge of that terrible day?
They were firing above him and firing below and
the tempest of shot and shell
Was raging like death he fnoaned in his pain by
the breastworks where he fell
We had FURNISHED our muskets and filed our cam
teens, as we waited for orders that niorn-
Who knows when the soldier is dying Of thirst.
where the wounded are waling forlorn p
When forth from the squad that was ordered back
from the burst Of that furious fire
Our Drummer Boy and his face was aflane
with the light OF a noble desire.
+" Go back with your corps" our colonel had said,
but he waited the moment when
lie might follow the ranks and shoulder a gun with
the best of us bearded men;
And so when the signals from old Fort Wood set
an army OF veterans wild
lie flung down his drum which spun down the hill
Ike the ball OF a Maynard child.
And SO he fell in with the foremost ranks Of brave
old company G,
AS we charged iiy the flank with our colors ahead
and our columns closed up like q V
In the long swinging lines of that splendid advance
when the flags of our corps foated out
Like the ribbons that dance III the ubiant lines of
the march Of a gala day rout.
he charged with the ranks, though he carried no
gun, for the colonel had said him nav
And he breasted the blast of the busting guns and
the shock of the sickening fray;
And when by his side they were falling like hail.
he sprang to a comfade slain
And shouldercd his musket and bore IL as true as
the Land that was dead to pain.
Twas dearly we loved him, our Drummer Boy
with n fire in his bright, black eve
That flashed forth spirit great for his form
he only was just so high
As tail perhaps your little lad who scarcely
reaches your shoulder
Though his heart was the heart of a veteran then
trifie, IL may be, the holder.
he pressed to the 'front.', our lad soIeaI, and the
works were almost won
moment more and our flags had swing DER the
nuzzle of murderous gun:
But raking fire swept the van and he fell mid the
wounded and the slain
With his wan face turned up to Him who feel
eth His children's pain.
Again snd again Our lines fell back and AGAIN with
shiyering shocks
They flung themselves on the rebels works az the
fleet on the Jagged rocks;
To be crushed and broken and scattered aman as