The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE YOUNGEST SOLDIER.
The Little Drummer Boy Of the RappahannOck.

The Little Drummer Boy Of the Rsppahannock.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There has
been considerable dispute about the youngest
bow in the Union army, aud for some time that
honor has been claimed by Avery Brown, VINO
lives in Elkhart, Ind. he was eight years ana
u months old SO il is said, but his record Is
not well authenticated. No regiment is given,
and some Of the other details are wanting VI
course, il was not lawful TO enlist SO young
person, and the only way he got in was through
friends who took him as drummer boy. but
II now. seems to be pretty well settled that the
youngest lad 10 enter the Union army was
native of Pennsylvania In fact, he was born
ia Philadelphia in 1851. When the war broke
out be was living with his parents at BHTllng-
ton, \. j., and he answered President Lin
coins first call for troops by seeking the place
Of drummer boy in Co. {. 30 n. j., three
months volunteers. His parents so strongly
objected to his being taken, that the recruiting
officer refused 10 enlist him. This was IN April,
1861, aud Daniel Williams, for that was his
name. was then not quite 10 years old.
However, at the second attempt he succeed
Cd better. The following year, on Sept 1, he
was taken BY Co. l. oath n j. nine-m0nths
volunteers. Ills record on entering stood thus:
" Daniel Williams aged Il; hight, four feet one
inch" Subsequently be had added 10 his name,
If not to his official record, the title OF " The
Drummer Boy of the RsppahannOck.n This
title was given him by Gen. French, because
be was so brave and enduring, as well as so
small Here is what he went through On his
first campaign: At the beginning Of the Win
ter he went South, remaining IN camp near
Fort Ethan Allen, Va, until, the last week III
November his regiment broke camp and
marched some 20 miles through Maryland I'M
til Liverpool Point was reached, when they
embarked upon barges, which were towed
across the Potomac to a point near Acquia
J.. Il ID
and most disagTeeable nights Virginia ever
experienced-rain, sleet and snow, with the
wind blowing d fierce gale from the northwest
The country through which the Path n. j.
passed was III many places almost impossible.
1t was 0f.en necessary for the Pioneer Corps 10
make roads for Gen. Casey's Division, to which
theregimeut was temporarily attached. it was
Oh The night Of Dec. 3, 1862, that the troops
made landing at AcquIa Creek, a. Alter re-
manning all night experiencing weather hardly
exceeded during the war, they resumed the
march 10 army headquarters. The boys regi-
meut served IN the First Brigade, Third DI-
vision OF the Second Corps, under Gems. Coucb,
French AID Aimball, respectively il fought
in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancel-
Iorsyillc losing in the former battle 800 killed,
wounded and missing The little drummer
boy came out all right. He served two months
over his enlistment and was h0noTablY dis
charged al Beverly, Nj June % 1868.
But he had not seen enough OF war. He left
the service in June but was back again In
time TO serve through the Gettysburg cam
paign. This time he belonged TO Co 9, 5ist
Pa.-thTee- months militia. When his services
as drummer were not needed he helped the
wounded as best be could. After remaining
nearly two months ia camp at Gettysburg
clearing the fields Of the blood stained vet
Grams, the regiment departed Tor Philadelphia,
and was mustered out Of service by order Of
Gov. Curtin Sept. 10, 1868.
Even a second discharge, however, did not
satisfy the zeal Of the little drummer boy.
He enlisted again the next Winter, this time
for three years. lie went cut with Co. X OF
the 23d Pa, better known as Bimey's Fire
Z0uaves." This was a hard-fghting regiment,
and Ci6 gallant service, participating IN almost
every battle, from 1851 to 1866, Of the Army OF
the Potomac. The 23d was assigned to the
Third Brigade First Division, Sixth Corps
II this regiment, the little drummer went first
into tie Wilderness palgn-NoTth Anna
South Anna, Cold HarBOT, Petersburg, Weldon
Railroad. Va; Fort Stephens, d. c.; Smoker:
Gap, HalltOWn, Winchester, Cedar Creek, sail
Ors Greek, and the surrender at AppemattOx
Va, April 8, 1865. Wasn't that q record for
LAD hardly YET in his teens? More than that
IN al OF his 30 months service he was never
day ia the hospital; was never on furlOugh
and never once away from his regiment. Thesg
facts are CLEANED from the official records pre-.
served IN Washington The Drummer Boy
OF the kappahaunOc6 is now man grown
and is al LOuOred member of Lincoln Post No
3 Department Of the Potomac