Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-18
THE DRUMMER BOY.

| h~hNiAAb ipANNos lilt MtdlutI WINS
scorchlng hot, the mountain trails were
crushed Into streams of dust, and the
bronzed, blue-clad men suffered at
times. very much from want of water.
I belonged to the cavalry. and shall
never forget the shout that went up
from my men when. after having
marched "a hours without water. we
halted on the crest Of hill from which
we could see. far below, green fields
where the wagons We're parked and <ie
horses grazing and the blue smS>e pill.
lars that marked the camp fires of the
Infantry; but more beautiful to our
eyes than all. was the broad majestic
Tennessee. sweeping westward about
the hills. We rode down and were
greeted with a cheer by our comrades
In the valley. Here we made camp for
the night, our plan being to ford the
Tennessee on the morrow and pass
down through Wills valley in the direc.
ton Of the Chickamaugu, n river soon
to be made immortal by the desperate
battle to be fought upon It's banks.
The cavalry brigade went into camp
near the Fighting Fifteenth" Infantry
and here for the first time 1 saw
"Neddy" Watts. the diminutive drum
mer boy, who had become the idol Of
the bronzed soldiers. He was a bright
boy OF fourteen, dressed In Il rusty blue
uniform, and small for his years. looked
wholly unfit for the hardships of such
campaign. But he was as CHEEKY and
bright as If he considered this desperate
work the merest play. learned from
the men Of the Fifteenth that Neddy'a
mother died when he was little child,
His father, the color sergeant OF the
regiment was killed at Stone river
eight months before this. How the boy
CHANGED to drift down from Cincinnati
to the army was not clearly explained,
but certain It is that as soon as hq
appeared in the camp Of the Fighting
Fifteenth, and announced himself as
the son of Sergeant Watts, he was at
once adopted and made tn drummer
Of the color company.
At day break the next morning the
infantry began TO ford the river. 1t
was up to the waist OF the tallest man.
As our bugle sounded, Boots and
Saddles" bethought me Of the boy.
was mounted on powerful horse
and, being but youth myself. ans
comparatively light, 1 determined to
give the lad litt. Being a commits
stoned officer. had the license TO do
this. The advance OF the Fifteenth was
already In the river when I rode I'm II,
the boy, who had his drum on his baeI,
while a tall, bearded giant was pre-
pairing to carry him over ON hls
shoulders. Neddy was delighted at ma,
proposition. and when my purpose was
understood by the soldiers, hundred
strong hands We're reaody to lift him in.
to the saddle behind me.
AT this poInt the ,rarressoo 10 s,,u,.
half n mile u,ide en- -
good cbonca IN ,.u, 10 So
went over 7 found r,r,, 60 49,,
nocent, as II he had never l,noH,n Wv ,na
want ~ gsrsrams ,a,nar,, A ,'',,i,. s"e
or a loving mothers care. When I set |
him down on the opposite bank he drew
himself up like n soldier. and. with a |
military salute. said, II thank YOU very
much for the ride. captain. and hope
to see you again. ."I hope 10 meet
you, too, Neddy," replied; good bye.
and God bless you" and so we perted'
When I saw Neddy Watts again n
was under the most trying cIrcum.
stances and on the awful feld Of
Chickamauga. 1t was Sunday. the 2otb
of September. and on the nrs,,,ons da,.
the right and len y,,nas =, 10Y
had been unexnscted,,. so+ VI ,,,, ou' ariny
enemy and routed on,, ,, upo o,.. ~. 'ns
-, 49, 'ou's' 'nls 'he center re-
that gallant soldier Genorop ', ,r,'n'i. VI
and ON it's stabllitv ma $50 , nol'ius
the fate of the army ~ ,Sa 1 r,i's',,
land. Along with Gen.ra, , n.y. Sua"psr-
the regiment OF the ache 'D yr'.' Was
When the hattie Res , son ri .,
liant regiment resnoraoT Wv VI n ,he sa,,
call; now there ware on,,. 10 % , .ne rol,
among them was Ma. 20 u iet'' ana
drumer bow. Us 'ne
Tho oo,,a,,.,. ,.,