The National tribune., 1891-09-24
DRUMMER HENDERsHoTT.
Capt. Ford Insists that after Mueh Research lie
n Fraud

EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: Away from
home TO- some weeks, ! have just seen the letter
OF c. W. Bennett Of Quincy, Mich, in your
paper OF the 81 inst, ] regret that Comrade
! Bennett should have shown himself utterly in
/ capable Of handling an historical topic By
| surprising number Of errors OF statement for so
/ short q note even in the simplest matters, rs
the date Of the first Fredericksburg battle /;
also, that he should so fail 70 comprehend the
/ true issue aud apprCLcni It's moral bearings
As Grand Army editor OF the Detroit EreiHg
journal, 10 WAS my duty 10 make thorough in
quiry into the fact or this case, aud l present
some Of the results below.
Robert Henry HcndersUOtt was undoubtedly
enlisted I'm tie 9th. and af;erward in the Sth,
Mich. lie had 10 business I'm either, Is Chap
lain Taylor. whom your correspondent cites,
says be could never take his place on dress
parade without falling in fit; and he was
. otherwise worse than useless lie was capt
uIed aud paT8lod with the 9th at MurgrceborO
but broke his parole aud enlisted ia tho sth
under false name rs he cOnfcsses i'm both
cases. His regiment Was not at the original
Frcdcrickshur crossing, but lay FAR back on
the hills. The heroic exploits incident to that
. memorable event were mainly performed by
the 9Th Mich, with whom did cross adrummcr
hoy Of 10 years llieudcrshott was l2I as the
dispatches Of that dag show At the late Ma
tIOnal Encampment the survivors of the 9Th,
including many who were iu the boats, heard
aud questioned Hcudcrshott, aud then uuani-
mousIy resolved that he was not the boy with
them; identified as the boy kouudsman John T..
Spillaue Of the Detroit police force, and voted
him the title Of the 80 Drummer Boz Of the Rap
Iahannock.' The next day the survivors OF the
9Th, Hcndcrsho;tS regiment, after sending him
a courteous invitation to Le present, which he
had the discretion not 10 accept. with equal
unaHimiiy, hut much greater severity, branded
D. i'm .fa--
llcudorshott aiterward crossed, but not
under fire. unless from distant cannon. lie was
absent without iCavcand without his dsum, aud
on a mission Of piuudcr which hc began az
once lie may haze set fire 20 a building. as
Bennett alleges though that is a new point 10
me but II So, it will hardly increase his claims
to honor. His much-oxplOitcd capture Of
Confederate soldier was merely compliance
with the request q a wounded man. unable to
get away, TO he helped inside our lines. lie
captured some property, however, and with a
stolen clock on his head was returning, when
an exploding shell made him drOp and break
IL. This was represented by correspondents
with the army as the smash OF Lis drum while
s.ung 10 his shoulder, which prompted the
presentation Of a silver drum 10 him by the
New York Tribune Association. Other embel-
lshmcnts Of his little story helped the boy to
an opportunity which he was shrcwd enough
20 see. He deserted his oOlOTs without waiting
for the discharge applied for, beat his way to
New York, and began iseztraordinary career
Ny conclusions after exhaustive eXamiua-
tons Of the subject, were, and remain as fol-
lows:
!. Hendershott is undoubtedly the parsonage
! for nearly 30 years assuming to be aud CcucT-
ally recognized as the Drummer 10y Of the
BaprlhauuocE"
. He never did any drumming. fighting
capturing, or anything else at the RappahaH-
mock Or anywhere else that gives him the least
title To place in history, the gratitude and
honoTs Of the country, or honorable engage
mcnts 20 the bands Or the Grand Army or
other bodies Of Union veterans.
B. What hc did DO az tie historic river does
eHtit.o him 10 the name of tue Foracer OF tho
l.apUahaanock" la common life we should
Use a Aarsher term.
Neycrihciess, lOug-standiHg inveterate. con-
scieuccless aud shameless fraud dies hard
HESEY a. EoED, Evanston, I'll.