The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
BOYS ~ THE VAR.
Thousands OF Hrave Lads In Roth Arnlcs-
Gen. HOMnrd's Rrcolle ctIous.

COPYRIGHT. 1892.
Many boys were IN the army in one capacity
or another. Tho drum corps Of each regi-
ment had several boys from Il to IL years OF
age. There were boys who accompanied their
fathers. like Gen. Shernan's son. whose inter-
esting story appears In his memoirs: they
were usually in the camps or bvouacs during
the intervals which obtain In every army
between battles. Some boys. like Charley
Weise. who lost his arm at Gettysburg. were
taken care OF and paid by some officer Of sufli-
cient rank to AFFORD such tender luxurles.
Many entered the army as young as
II. 10. and 10 years OF age. as did the
present Secretary OF War. the Hon. stephen b.
Eikins. l think he had q commission at lb.
Certainly the story OF his first encounter with
the enemy beyond tho Mississippi. commando
ing Kansas men. where the greater proportion
Of his detachment was killed or wounded Is
full romantic interest. ?rnDablyno boy in the
service had MT the 81 ose 81 the wtra larger field
y company in the Held that did not have some
hoys under y years 6" age 50 tat tns agGre-
On Z the Cnnfedefmt, Eide the i pro""rt'on y
youths from fourteen to twenty was Larger
thnn with us. 1t was declared thst Gen. q W:
from eight to ten thousand strong was mad,
ur. Of |old men and boys tina, they mnrcned
to their cause which cannot be moderated.
The boys Of our , side, t. their credit, were ss
tfsapns tie tie country as tSs cn
:. knew col Alpheas ). Hardse. ~ author e
him tSsee years. west o pS Tf Wner h
the q Sqdets in
He had a little. boy who was about 10 OF II
wears wears; q age when the family l,ft West Point.
service the last year OF the war. and certainly
81 P cur saHm 1a hs He tss slap 81 bsIt hs t
Gen. JOSEPH + Johnston was there in chief
command and Mi!Iie :, father hsd wing Of
the war. He spoke to me cheerfu!ly. put the
sadness of his face was to-, evident not to 10
me aud mentioned his remaining family. The
GGsGnea d, by the great war were tho most az
w MET persons have hoar1 the sSt,o,y Of little
VILE. the Td n,ummer Coy OF shiloh" his
S t%s s fs q ~ fa
was too small to enlist. but was received asa
Sh dS SS Gss hs' h as
i!fer in any tune the ilfcr could play. The
soISs Sec xns Hs4y ona Of w m drum aaa
aeS E Xtsr tie en r stsf DAY ps
S""s Tor s al s ash s S%S f not
nd hin HI1y II the morning he heard be-
81 drum The lad nd s Ws WITH his BACK as"nse
n tree and drummed to call attention to his
situation. As soon rs the Sergeant approach
and brought TO him. .Thon the boy pointed TO
his legs. a shell mad carried away both feet.
RED him back TO: to the o. lsld hosptal; but w
shock was too great: the little fellow died
Charley Weise was u German lad. He was
'front.' s Winter aH' T snd g rs e saw
him In what was called Camp California. near
1amas sr he i9y CO
Volunteers The Colonel gave him a pony.
which he rode back and forth from the Colo
nels tent and my own, became very much in.
thick-set. square shouldcred lad. He always
had bright smiling iare when he handed
me- an qfIictal letter or took II message from
At Gettysburg Boney. as ho was called blythe
soldiers, probably from some resemblance to
the Little GrpG wa was hodn n g,s se s",ta
Of Fair Oaks and was then on tho star Of Gen.
George "; Balloch. The horses stood with
their heads d9w Snd nodGy haa GaWn one
shell s'T y his , eft arm mar the elbow and
haspta and put undsr the harsa %" one 81 the
army Mrs (. ssm aS aA Wbe she was BATH
%sp sayns POOR &sAH Boy Sq Poor S2 b"y He Hs
nm yin rssn%te es hsEs
Tia" ABOUT e PPM Pom POM that a's a sy ss
pathetic connection followed with much IN
my Washington bureau. Some years after
wis s3d SI!a Ai5sr Tx 1p,,s fook Ps
notice OF the death Of Charles Wese.
o. o. HOWARD Major General