The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-22
YOUNGEST SOLDIER OF THE WAR.
G. b. Livermore Claims the Honor and
Produces Evidence.

" DE- LlVermOTe Cla1snS tho hOuOT anu
Produces Evidence.
Charles b. Livermore, Of this city, thinks that
he is entitled to the distinction OF being the
youngest enlisted soldier In the civil war-an
honor for which there have been not few
claimants. Until quite lately Mr.. Livermoore
has never made any pretensions in this direc-
ton for the reason that he did not have IN his
possession the papers to prove his statement
Recently, while he was looking over old
book that had formerly been the property of his
father, old, weather-beaten paper fell from
between the leaves 1t was his certificate Of
disability for discharge given him when he was
but l. years of age The certificate reads as iol-
lows:
Charlie B. Livermore, OF Captain Whittier's
company ~, of the Eleventh regiment, w. A.
NJ, was enlisted by Lieutenant Benham, OF the
Eleventh regiment of Wisconsin volunteers. to
serve three years. he was born in Earlville, in
the state OF New York; is l. years OF age, four
feet six inches high. light complexion, blue
eyes, light hair, and by occupation, when en-
listed. student
C. s. WOOD, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding
Regiment: II certify that l have carefully ex-
anime the said Charlie b. Livermore. of Cap
tain Whttiers company, and find him incap.
able of performing the duties OF soldier be-
cause OF age, being IL years OF age.
EDWARD EVERETT, Assistant Surgeon.
When the war broke out Charlie Livermore
was living with his parents at Berlin, Green
Lake county, Wis. He had been beating drum
for several years and his services were in de-
mand by all OF the regiments organized in the
vicinity. He refused all offers until finally
Lieutenant Benham, who was neighbor, en-
listed him for the Eleventh regiment as a
drummer boy. Before the regiment was out
side of the state the young recruits discharge
was secured by his friends on account Of his
age.
He did Tot enlist again, but joined the army
with his father, Rev. L. S. Livermore, who was
chaplain of the Sixteenth Wisconsin volunteers,
and went 10 war riding the old family mare,
Kitty. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing,
both father ana wrote letters to the wife and
mother at home. Mr.. Livermore still has these
aud prizes them very highly. preserving them
from the attacks of time by keeping them in a
frame behind glass. The one from himself to
hi, mother is boyish scrawl done with a lead
pencil. 1t reads:
Dear Mother: / am not killed or wounded, but
come within one OF being shot in the head. In
the morning when We was attacked father and
got our horses and rode out on the fed. We
father sent me back to camp and told me to stay
there. done so as long as could, the hospital
had all gone and then | started for the landing,
but | thought OF fathers sword. put the spur
to old Kitty and rushed back to get it. but had
got to the tent and [ pulled the sword, but
my pulling scared old Kitty and she run like
fun. One of the reble cavarly saw me run and
fired, the bullet just grazed my cap, mean the
rim. but did not hit me, so am all right. Tell
Ardin how came from being killed. So good
by. C. B. LIvERNoRE