The evening times., 1896-03-11
G's INFANT RECRUIT.
Had the Face Of Hal by, hut WasEvery
Inch q Soldier.
Chicago Tinies-Herald

|
| There was very little fellow in Com
pany q, farmer boy. He was not quite
16 and small Of his ase-a baby-faced
chap. No one took deeper interest in the
drill. He missed no duty, even sought
extra duty that he might show that ne was
fit for a soldier and he the more certain
that he would be ccepted.
what are you going to do with that
round faced baby" asked a six foot pinery
man.
| man.
| DO you think they will take me, cap
| tain?' sked the hoy the morning the mus
teriDg officer arrived. Il hope so. Henry"
| THANK you. captain" What distress there
| was on the little ones IA &c when the mus
| terng officer said: .'Step this way. young
| gentleman as Henry passed for examina-
| ton.
Are you old enough for soldier"
Yes. SIR Are you eighteen? Il
| will be eighteen on my birthday, sir"
| Does your captain want YOU in the COM
pany?" Ask him, please" There is not
"A man in the company who l think will
make a better soldier. II will please me
greatly TO have you muster him in said
Capt. Northrup when called. I'VE will
take him. said Mcintyre. And the round
faced boy OF Company q was baby in
fact-cried like one--but he cried for JOY.
He seemed only too gild TO have Il chance
TO be shot at.
Little as he was no man in his company
had u larger kDapsack; he never fell out
on march, no matter how long or how
no, the day. He egneyer. missed battle.
Captain there is good material in Henry
for a non-commissioned Officer" said the
sergeant. Rather too young, isn't he !
He is old enough to he as good i soldier
as there is in the regiment
The next evening when the regiment
was on dress parade, He adjutant read off
the promotion OF Private Henry c. Matraw
TO be a corporal 'What q hero he was
at Gettysburg. in the Wilderness, and at
Spottsylvania. He had grown some. but
was still mere boy. In August, 1864,
the captain commanding the regiment
the field officers We're dead or prisoners
said: Sergeant Major, | Will dictate Il
letter to the governor asking for the COM
missioning of several officers TO fill vacan-
cieS.'' He said among other things: The
first and second lieutenants OF Company q
have been killed in battle. j respectfully
request that First Sergeant Henry c.
Matraw be commissioned first lieutenant
of said company" In the same letter
leutcnants We're recommended for captains.
and the sergeant major was named for
adjutant
The commissions came in due time. That
evening five of the young fellows went 10
the tent of one of their number and cele-
brated-celebrated all night. 1t was at
time when the surgeons counselled against
drinking much water. and when il was easy
TO fill canteens at the cOmmssary's. The
next day they went to the corps headquar-
ters, found the mastering official. were
sworn into the service as officers, put on
shoulder straps, and took their new sta
tions What proud day it was for the
youngsters; what n handsome officer Com.
pany G's boy soldier made! All, me, that
was long, long ago.
A few months later Company and Com
pany ID were consolidated. In the next
battle the captain was killed. Matraw Sue
ceeded him. He was the youngest and
smallest captain the regiment ever had;
it had none Drawer.