The National tribune., 1899-08-31
A DRUMMER=BOY
AND HIS DOG.
Bright Record of a Youthful Sol
der as interviewer With That
of a Fine Regiment.

In times of war there are patriots and
heroes among the boys as well as among
the men, and such was Joseph Henry
Munroe, born in Boston, Mass, Feb. 8,
1S49.
His father was sea Captain, and died
in Valparaiso, Chile. when Henry was an
infant. Soon after his fathers death his
mother emlgrated West. and on that bright
morning in April, 1861, when the Con-
federate Gen. p. T. Beauregard pulled
the lanyard which sent a ball whizzing
into Fort Sumter. Henry and his mother
We're living in Burlington, Iowa.
When the news came that the Stars and
Stripes had been fired upon the people of
burlington were aroused and men began
to enlist. All around Henry's home were
patriotic men and women, and soon he
was filled with the spirit of patriotism,
and wanted to be soldier. He was scarce
II years of age, small, slender, and frail,
with keen blue eyes, thin lips, and arms
not larger than the drummer's sticks: and
he wanted to enlist as a soldier to fight for
the flag, liberty, and freedom.
The Burlington Blues" were having
drills daily, and the most attentive and
prompt person on hand was little Henry.
One morning he appeared with his little
drum and asked to be the drummer-boy OF
the company. We needed some one to
beat time for us when parading the streets,
and it was soon learned that our little
pdlTlOt COtilu keep JIe DeSC Oh time. f1eEIy ;
mother permitted him to go to the hall
where the soldiers drilled merely to please
them; but he did not go solely for pleasure
he wanted to be a real soldier and go to the
war with the men.
On July II, 1861, the companies had
recruited each 100 men, a regiment had
been formed, and encamped at Camp War
rem. A Regular Army officer came to the
camp, examined the men, and required
them to take oath and make pledge to
defend the flag and obey the laws of our
country, even though death should be the
result. Among the first to step to the
front and pledge his life and sacred honor
to defend the flag was this little drummer.
The officer whose duty 1T was to take
the oath of the men was astonished to see
this little lad march SO firmly and conf
IDENTIFY to the front to take the oath, and he
was not inclined to permit him to go. Henry
was determined, and would not listen to any
word that he should be left behind, and
was finally mustered in, genuine soldier
and no happier being could be found in all
that camp. His dear good mother could
scarcely consent to let him go, but she was
assured that every one of the thousand
men of the regiment would look after and
care for him.
On Aug. 81, 1861, the 9Th Iowa broke
camp, and, with our little drummer boy
leading, marched to Burlington, took
passage on steamer, and soon was swiftly
gliding down the Mississippi. The regi-
ment rendezvoused in Keokuk for few
days, and on Aug. 5, at break of day,
Henry beat the long roll, and with his
company hastened to the cars, and soon
was at Athens, Mo-, where a battle was
raging.
After this battle his regiment was ordered
to st. Louis, No., and in September, under
command of Gen. John G. Fremont, began
the march to Springfield, Mo-, to meet the
invading Confederate Gen. Price. Price
was driven from Missouri, after which
Henry and his command marched to Tip
ton and went into Winter quarters.
Many foraging parties were sent to
procure corn and hay, and such food for
the soldiers as they desired to obtain.
Henry often went along, and on one trip
found a nest of yellow puppies, and, boy
like, secured one and named him jeff. II
jeff was not a very promising little dog,
but, as will be seen farther on, was hero.
On that bright Sabbath morning of April 6,
at tShiloh, when the rebel soldiers, over 40, ,OOO
strong, came stealthily marching through
the woods to attack the Union soldiers,
loudly Henry beat the long roll and call to
arms the soldiers of Sherman's Division,
to which he belonged.
When the sun went down on that Sabbath