Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-01-22
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
THE FIRST TO ENLIST.
who was the Youngest Soldier in the Late
Civil War?

Who was the youngest soldier of the
war OF the rebellion? is a question that
Is being discussed quarter of n 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. 1t 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 it has re-
ceived three replies. The first is from
Charles II. Wynn, OF Sioux Falls, S, 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
Charlen III. Wynn says he enlisted, and
served out three years. He says he was
born in Monroe County, New York,
April %, 1s4s, and moved to Danville,
Verrtilion County, ILL.,, when he was
ten Or eleven years old. According to
his own narrative he ran away from
home (Danville) and enlisted at Catlin,
Vermilion County, April 1, 1862, being
at the time of The date of his enlistment
thirteen years, eleven months AID
seven days old. He enlisted in
Company 1 of the well-known Thirty
fifth Illinois Regiment of Volunteers,
regiment that made record for it's hard
fighting and service during the war.
This regiment was commanded during
10 10, x>fg Nv n 81
mel William p. Chandler, now living at
Danville, ILL.,, 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 tho bat
tie of Stone River, Tenn, and engaged
in all the subsequent battles of his regi-
ment except that of Chickamauga, 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 a month he was detailed
on specia- service as courier for General
jeff c. 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 prac-
ticed his profession of law until 1881,
when he moved to Sioux Falls, Oak.
He is senior member of the legal firm of
Wynn e. Young. Mr.. Wynn is Demo
crat 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,
S. D., a lock and gun smith, says he was
born at Norwich, CT, April 5, 1s49. At
the 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 determination to
become soldier. Despite the entreaties
of his relatives he went to the front and
enlisted under Captain Hayden in Com
pany Fl, Thirth-seventh Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteers, August 2,
1869. AS he was only thirteen years
three months and twenty-seven days old.
and the required age for enlistment be-
ing eighteen, he was obliged to conceal
his age, a task which occasioned him
much dneasiness: but he succeeded and
went with his regiment to be mustered
into active service the 7th of September,
1862, at Camp Briggs, Pittsfeld, Mass.
There his regiment was assigned to the
Army of the Potomac, Sixth Corps, and
placed in Franklin's left grand division
in front of Fredericksburg. Though
lad of only thirteen summers, young
Kaplinger showed greatcourage through
out 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
derness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Winchester and Cedar
Creek, He also served with his regi-
ment in front of Fort Stevens at Wash
ington and helped to stem General
EarlY's rebel raid on the capital, and
accompanied his regiment to New York
in 1868 to quell the famous riot. Mr..
Kaplinger was mustered out of service
July 8, 1865, at Readville, Mass, after
serving in the army nearly three years.
After the war he went to Boston, where
ne 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 soldier.
Geo. p. Bennett, of Chicago, comes to
the front with the following statement:
He was born in the city of New York
December Z, 1852. His parents are living.
He enlisted in the United States service
the 14th of December, 1861, at the age of
nine years and seven days, as private
in Lieutenant Neils Larson's Company
B, First Regiment New York Marine
Artillery Volunteers, and was honolably
discharged January II, 1868, having
served one year, one month and three
days He was with the Burnside expe-
dition, and participated in the battles