Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-03-17
LA PLATA, MARYLAND, MARCH II, 1899.
DEATH OF THE DRUMMER BOY.
A Pathetic story of the Little Drummer
Last Call.

Last Call.
A pathetic story Of the civil wal
was related by n corporal Of an Illi-
nois regiment who was captured by
the Confederates at the battle of Will
sons Creek.
The day before the regiment was
ordered by General Lyons to march
toward Springfield the drummer fell
i'll. There was no one to take his
place, and while the captain was won
dering how he should supply the lack
pale, sorrow-stricken woman APP
peared at bis tent door begging an
interview. She brought with her a
little boy of twelve or thirteen years,
whom she wished to place in the regi-
ment as drummer boy.
Captain, 'she said, after the boy
had been accepted, che won't be iH
much dangeE, will he?"
''No, l think not" replied the
officer. 1--WE shall be disbanded in II
few xeeks, 4 am confident"
The new drummer soon became a
fayorite, aud1 1there was never feast
of fruit Or Sother hardly procured
dainties that 'SEddie" did not get his
share first. The soldiers were stirred
by the child's enthusiastic devotion,
aud declared that his drumming was
different from that of all the other
drummers in the army.
After the engagement at Wilson's
Creek, where the Federals were de-
feated, Corporal B., who had been
thrown from his horse, found himself
lying concealed from view near
clump of trees. As he lay there with
his ear to the ground he heard the
sound of drum, distinct, but rather
faint. In moment he recognized
the stroke of Eddie, the boy drum
mer, and hastened toward the spot
whence the sound proceeded. In a
clump of bushes, proppel up against
a tree, he found the boy. His drum
was hanging from shrub within
reach and his face was deadly pale.
"Oh, corporall' said he. "I'm so
glad you camel Won't you give me a
drink Of water, please?"
The corporal ran to a little stream
close by and brought the child a
draught. just at this moment there
came au orler for retreat and the cor
poral turned to go.
Don't leave me-" said the little
drummer. 81 can't walk. Seer and
he pointed to his feet.
The corporal saw with horror that
both feet had been shot off by eau
non ball.
He said the doctors could cure
them, - continued the boy, pointing
to the dead body of a Confederate
soldier who lay beside him. ''He was
shot al to pieces, but he crawled over
here and-tied-my legs up so they
-would-wouldn't bleed sor' And
Eddie closed his eyes wearily.
The corporal's eyes were blinded by
mist of tears as he looked down.
The Confederate soldier, shot to death
and in the agonies of the last strug-
gle, had managed to take off his sus-
peuders and bind the boys legs above
the kneesk
As the corporal bent down to raise
the child body of Confederate troops
came up and he was prisoner. With
a sob in his voice he told the story,
and the Southern soldier tenderly
lifted the wounded drummer ON to
his own horse, swinging the drum be-
fore him. When the little cavalcade
reached camp Eddie was dead, but
the little drummer's last call had
aroused the nobest feeling in the
heart of one who was his foe-one
whose last act was an effort to save
and comfort the boy enemy who was
faithful to his duty. Boston Globe.