Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-23
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
The FIRST TO ENLIST.
Who Was the Youngest Soldier in the Late
Civil War?


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.
Charles III. Wynn says he enlisted, and
served out three years. lie says he was
born in Monroe County, New York,
April %, 1S4S, and moved to Danville,
Vermilion 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 and
seven days old. He enlisted in
Company 1 of the well-known Thirty
fifth Illinois Regiment of Volunteers, a
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 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 the 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 special 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 81 Young. Mr.. Wynn is a 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., lock and gun smith, says he was
born at Norwich, Ct, April 5, 1919. 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 a determination to
become soldier. Despite the entreaties
of his relatives he went to the front and
enlisted under Captain Hayden in Com
pany H, Thirth-seventh Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteers, August 2,
1852. As he was only thirteen years
three months and twenty-seyen days old.
and the required age for enlistment be-
ing eighteen, he was obliged to conceal
his age, task which occasioned him
much uneasiness; 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 a
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..
lkapinger was mustered out of service
Jun 8, 1865, at Readville, Mass, after
serving in the army nearly three years.
After the Wa he went to Boston, where |
he learned the gunsmirns 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 a member of |
Custer Post of St. Joe, Mo-, and takes |
just pride in his record as a 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 hOnorably
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
of Ronoake Island and Newberne, n. c.,
being presented with pony by General
Reno on the battlefield of Newberne.
The records at Albany, N 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
Tribune,