Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-13
CAMP FIRE STORIES.
TIE FIRST TO ENLIST.
Who Was the Youngest soldier in the Late
civil WAR;


who was the Youngest soldier in the Late
civil WAR;
Who was the youngest soldier Of tho
war of the rebellion? is a question that
Is being discussed quarter of a century
after the war is over, There must have
been one. of course. Considering the
number of enlistments it is not to be
wondered at that there should be COM
petition for the honor.
The Tribune has undertaken to assist
in answering the question. II will
print the claims OF any and all where
they are made in good faith and accom-
panied by photographs Of the claimants
In answer to its inquiries 1t has re-
eeived three replies The first is from
Charles IT, Wynn OF Sioux Falls. 5. d.
He properly says that there were boys
Younger than himself who enlisted as
musicians or drummers. The Tribune
asked for The youngest soldier not the
youngest musician or drummer
Charles H. Wynn says he enlisted, and
served ont three years. lie says he was
born in Monroe County, New York,
April -, 1913, and moved TO Danyille,
Vermilion County, Ill. when he was
ten or eleven wears old According to
his own narrative he ran away from
home (Danville) and enlisted at Catlin.
Vermilion County, April I, 1862, being
at the time of the date of his enlistment
thirteen years, eleven months and
seven days old. He enlisted in
Company of the well-Inown Thirty
fifth Illinois Regiment of Volunteers,
regiment that made record for its hard
fighting and service during the war,
This regiment was commanded during
its term of service by Lieutenant-Colo-
mel William Z. Chandler, now living at
Danville, H., who, with his own hands,
at the head of his regiment, planted the
Union colors on Missionary Ridge at
that famous charge. The same year
Mr.. Wynn enlisted he was severely
wounded and taken prisoner at the bat
tie of Stone River, Tenn. and engaged
in all the subsequent battles of his regi-
ment except that ofChickamauga, which
he did not take part in on account of his
wound and capture at Stone River. He
served in the ranks. carrying his gun
| during his term of three years service,
except about month he was detailed
on special service as courier for General
| JEFF {. Davis. After the war Mr.. Wynn
attended school at the State University
| at Ann HarbOr. Mich, and in 1870 set
tied at Hamburg. Ia, where he ppac-
ticed his profession of law until 1881,
when he moved to Sioux Falls. Oak.
| He is senior member Of the legal firm Of
| Wynn & Young Mr. Wynn is Demo
erat in politics, and was the nominee Of
his party at the last election for the
/ office of circuit Judge. He never applied
! to the Government for a pension. and is
a cousin of Mrs. Grover Cleveland.
J. L. Kaplinger, also of Sioux Falls.
| 5. d., lock and gun smith, says he was
| born at Norwich. Ct. April , 1919. At
| ,he age of nine years he removed with
| his parents TO Williamsburg. Hampshire
| County, Mass There he was attending
school when the war broke out, and from
The first manifested a determination to
| become soldier Despite the entreaties
VI his relatives he went TO the front and
Unlisted under Captain Hayden in Com
,any IL. Thirth-scventh Regiment Of
| Massachusetts Volunteers, August .,
1
| three months and twenty-seven days old,
md the required age for enlistment be-
ng eighteen, he was obliged to conceal
ais age, task which occasioned him
! much uneaSiness; but he succeeded and
vent with his regiment to be mustered
INTO active service the eth OF September,
| 1862, at Camp Briggs, Pittsfield. Mass.
There his regiment was assigned to the
Army of the Potomac. Sixth Corps and
placed in Franklin'S left grand division
front Of Fredericksburg. Though a
ad of only thirteen summers, young
Kaplinger showed sreatcourage through
| put his entire service. and few men in
! the war saw more rough campaigning
Than he. serving, as he did. under GEN
erals Mcclellan. Hooker. burnside,
Meade Grant and Sheridan and partici-
pating in the battles of Fredericksburg,
Charlottesville, Gettysburg, the Will
lerness, SpottsylVania, Cold Harbor,
| Petersburg. Winchester aud Cedar
Creek. He also served with his regi-
ment in front Of Fort Stevens at Wash
lngton and helped TO stem General
Early's rebel raid on The capital. and
accompanied his regiment TO New York
IN 1865 to quell The famous riot Mr..
Kaplinger was mustered out Of service
July 3. 1869 at Realville, Mass. after
serving in the army nearly three years.
After the war he went to Boston. where
he learned the gunsmith's trade. Twelve
| years later he removed to Troy n Y,
and subsequently, to ST. Joe. Mo. He
went TO Sioux Falls two years ago and
engaged in business He is member OF
Custer Post Of st. joe Mo. and takes
just pride in his record as a soldier.
Geo. L. Bennett. Of Chicago, comes to
the front with the following statement
He was born in the city Of New York
December l. 1889. His parents are living.
He enlisted in the United States service
the l4th OF December SOL at the age oil
nine years and seven days, as a private
in Lieutenant Neils l4arson'S Company
b, First Regiment New York Marine
Artillery Volunteers. and was honorably
discharged January IL. 1868, having
served one year. one month and three
days. He was with the Burnside expe
dition, and participated in the battles
of Ronoake Island and Newberne. n. c..
being presented with pony by General
Reno on the battlefield of Newberne.
The records at Albany, y. y, New
York City and Washington. d. c.. will
prove Mr.. BENEFITS claims. that he is
the youngest in the service, as far as
heard from, and is justly entitled to the
honor. Chicago Tribune.
THE average membership of the G. A.
R. posts in the several departments
with the exception of one Or two of the
smallest departments. will show that
the one-half the posts have a member
ship of 30 or less, and that % per cent
of the posts will show membership oil
25 or less. The attendance is so small
that post meeting in some instances
is seldom held. hence the failure of the
officers reports to department headquar
ters.
The following was once asked at {
party: Suppose three snakes, each o
which is swallowing another by the tail
so that the three form circle-then n
the swallowing process continues the
circle evidently grows smaller and
smaller Now, if they thus continue tC
swallow each other what will eventual
y become of the snakes?"