The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-01-16
A BABY SOLDIER BOY.

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Charleston News and Courier.
Mr., Charles p. Scharloock who is en-.
gagged in the drug business at the cor !.
ner of East Bay and Calhonn streets,
was probably the youarest soldier in
the Confederate service. He entered
the army as drummer boy when only
in his 11th syear, and served until
near the close of the war, when he was
sent home from the fields of Virginia
on account of his extreme illness. Mr..
Scharloock was born in Moultrieyille
on the goth of June, 1850, and he beat
the longroll for the soldiers on Sulli-
vans Island the morning the Star of
the West crossed the Charleston Bar.
Young Scharloock as member ofthe
drum corps did service in the litter
corps, and displayed bravery and for
tltude rarely ever to be found in one
80 young. AS true Southerner, even
while confined to his bed with a des-
perate case of typhoid fever, he was
Wllllng, nay, anxious, to assist in the
rescue Of Charleston.
a Reporter of The News and Cour-
Ter called on Mr.. Scharloock for an &C.
count OF his services in the Confeder-
ate service, which he recultantly gave,
saying he cared for no notoriety.
Mr.. Scarloock said that by the re-
quest of Capt. Marley, of the Darling
ton Guards, his father consented to let
him beat the drum for Capt. Wariey's
command, which was stationed on
Sullivans Island, near the Huger
house. When the Darlington Guards
were ordered away they wished young
Scharloock to accompany them, but to
this his father would not consent. He
theh joined Capt. DeTreville', CONS
pany in The st S. @. V. Soon after
the bombardment of Fort Sumter
young Scharloock was, with his COM
mand, ordered to Edisto. The com
pany remained at Eding's Bay until
after the fall of Hilton's Head, when
the command was stationed at Fort
Moultrle.
While at Church Flats his time OK.
pired and young Sharloock returned
to nis family, which during his absence
had become fatherless. Soon after
his return to Sullivan's Island he was
engaged bj Col. VIM. Butler to in
struct u drum corps. IL 1862 he went
70 Virginia, where he remained for
only short time-his mother refusing
to aslow one Of so tender an age to be
away from homo. Even while at home
he had to go into service and Joined
the Union Light Infantry, under Capt.
Samuel Lord, and upon the organiza-
tlon of the band was transferred to it.
and in the band of the Union Light
Infantry this youth served until the
end Of the war.
When in his 18th year ho witnessed
The terrible assault on Battery Wag-
ner. Io was detailed to the litter
corps, where he assisted in caring for
the wounded. Though mere strip.
Ing young Scharloock, after the
storming OF Battery Wager, was trust
ed with the carrying of numerous let.
ters to the friends and relatives of
those engaged in the fight. Schar-
loock was in Fort Sumter when the
great night assault was made on it.
Alter this incident the "Brick- bat Bat
talion,' as his command was called,
was sent to James Island, and while
there became II part of the 9th South
Carolina regiment. While stationed
at Legare's Point, the regiment was
reviewed by the late President Jeffer.
son Davis. Young Scharloock played
in the band which greeted President
Davis, and the remark was made by
the late President that the drum ofl
Scharloock was almost as large as It's
player.
In March, 1864, young scharloock
accompanied his command to Virginia,
under Col. Gailiard. The regiment
immediately entered into active ser.
vice and left Petersburg for Walthall
Junction, where, soon after young
scharlock beat the assembly, the
bloody fight at Walthall commenced.
Duiing this fight Scharlock was de-
tailed to save6 the instruments; he
found it necessary to remove them un-
der large chestnut tree, which made
1t necessary for him to cross an open
field four times. He was under con-
stant fire, but escaped, as did his in
unhurt.
From Walthail the regiment was
sent to Drurv's Bluff, where Schar-
loock acted as cook for the surgeons.
While preparing a breakfast for DR..
Presley and the. other surgeons piece
of shell fell into his frying..pan and
buried the pan, pancake and all. At
Drury's Bluff, while out foragiug,
young Schrloock had quite pathetic
experience with two dying Union
soldiers. He gave them water, called |
the attention OF his officers to the men
and did all that was possible for their
comfort.
From constant exposure and hard
ship the lad gave way and feRill. He
was sent to a hospital, recovered, reN
turned to his duty, but fell seriously T
Ill again. The physicians sent the |
young drummer boy to his home in
South Carolina, where he would re-
ceive the attention of loving hands.
Scharloock was at home at the time
of the surrender of Charleston. AL
though he had but partially recovered
from an ATTACK of typhoid fever. he
would have returned to his command
had not his mother prevented him.
During the burning of Charleston
young Scharloock assisted the Char
lesion engine companies in their bat,
tle against the raging flames. At the
close ofthe war Scharloock was but ID
years and 20 months old.