The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-19
MAJ. HENDERSON, AN ImPosToR.
ssThe Drummer Boy OF the Rappahan-
mock" Did Not Cross the River.

Detroit Special.
There was an extraordinary scene at last
nights reunion of the Seventh Michigan
infantry, when Major Robert II. Hender-
shot. known to Grand Army history as
THE Drummer Boy of the Rappahan-
mock" was called upon to prove to the
satisfaction of the regiment that he had
really CT ossed with the Seventh. General
Alger was among those present.
The major, deliberately dressed and dec
grated with many medals and badges, pro
duced the letters he possesses from Lin
coin, Burnside, Grant, Horace Greeley and
others. The presiding officer said that he
wished full justice to De done Mr.. Hender-
shot, and if he was deserving of
the title he bore he should be glad
to have it known. Mr.. Henderson,
was then subjected to a severe cross
examination, and became badly confused
as to facts concerning the incident upon
which he claims to base his title, and upon
the location OF places and regiments. He
was asked how far away from the bridge
was the Eighth Michigan, TO which he be-
longed, on the 18th of December, 1852. The
major declared it was about three-quarters
of mile, whereas in reality the regiment
was FIVE miles distant. He stated that he
was of & rowing disposition and was
skirmishing around on his own hook when
he fell in with the Seventh, although at
that time heavy and disastrous lire was
being sent into the Union camp by the
rebels. Hendersnot declared he had no
drum with him at the time and could not
tell with which of the live boats he crossed
the river. He finally said he crossed in
the water. holding on to one of the boats
on that historical December IL.
G. III. Robinson, of Boston, supreme
secretary of the order of Egis, q member
of the Twentieth Massachusetts, some of
whom accompanied the Seventh Michigan !;
DR.. ]. w. Sawyer. of Saugus, Me-, of the
Nineteenth Massachusetts, which was also
present on that day; III. w. Brazier. of
Minneapolis, and several. Bay state COM
rades declared that no sign was seen of
young Henderson, on December IL.
Captain Williams called upon any of the
$50 members of the regiment to raise his
hand If they had seen any boy climbing
to boat during the crossing of the Rap
pahannock. Not hand was raised. Mr..
Williams then asked those who were sure
that Mr.. Henderson, did not cross with
the Seventh to raise their hands, and every
member present held his hand aloft.
Early in the proceedings there were calls
for John I. Spiilane, who was the little
drunmer boy of the Seventh Michigan,
and is now roundsman of police in this
city, and Spiilane came forward amid
cheers and occupied a seat on the plat
form. Several of the Seventh testified that
Spillane was the only drummer boy who
crossed the Rappahannock under tire on
December Ii, 1862. Spillane was ordered
out of one of the iirst five boats by Lieu
tenant-Colonel Baxter because of his
youth, but pluckily stuck to the boat, and
was among the first to reach the Frede-
ricksburg bank under the rebel sharp
shooters ramparts.
The meeting, in closing, unanimously
rendered the title of ''the drummer boy of
the Rappahannock" to Comrade Spillane.