Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-03
cheer by our comrades

greeted with a cheer by our comrades
in the valley.
The cavalry brigade went into camp
near the "Fighting Fifteenth infan-
try, and here for the first time [ saw
''Neddy" Watts, the diminutive drum
mer boy, who had become the idol
of the bronzed soldiers. He was
bright boy of IA, dressed in rusty
blue uniform, and small for his years,
looking wholly unfit for the hardships
of such a campaign. But he was as
CHEEKY and bright as if he considered
this desperate work the merest play.
I learned from the men of the Fiji
teenth that Neddy's mother died when
he was little child. His father, the
color sergeant of the regiment, was
killed at Stone river eight months be-
fore 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 he ap-
peared in the camp of the Fighting
Fifteenth, and announced himself as
the son of Sergt. Watts, he was at
once adopted and made the drummer
of the color company.
At daybreak 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. I was mounted on a powerful
horse and, being but youth myself,
and comparatively light, determined
to give the lad lift. Being a com
missioned officer had the license to
do this. The advance of the Fifteenth
was already in the river when [ rode
up to the boy, who had his drum on
his back, while a tall, bearded giant
was preparing to carry him over on
his shoulders. Neddy was delighted
at my proposition, and when my pur-
pose was understood by the soldiers
a hundred hands were ready to lift
him into the saddle beside me.
At this point the Tennessee is fully
half mile wide, so that I had good
chance to talk to Neddy as we went
over found him sweet and innocent,
as if he had never known the want of
a generous fathers protection or
loving mothers care. When I set him
down on the opposite bank he drew
himself up like soldier, and with
military salute, said: L thank you
very much for the ride, captain, and
hope to see you again. II hope to
meet you> too, Neddy,' I replied;
''good-by and God bless you" and so
we parted.
When I saw Neddy Watts again it
was under the most trying circum-
stances and on the awful field of Chick
amauga. 1t was Sunday, the goth of
September, and on the previous day the
right and left wings Of our army had
been unexpectedly set upon by the
enemy and routed. Only the center re-
manned intact under the command of
that gallant soldier, Gen. Thomas, and
on its stability and valor depended the
fate of the army of the Cumberland.
Along with Gen. Thomas was rem
nant of the Fighting Fifteenth. When
the battle began 600 of that gallant
regiment responded to the roll call;
now there were only 1917 left, and
among them was Neddy Watts, the
drummer boy.
The cavalry brigade to which I was
attached was dismounted and sent to
the front to aid the infantry in hold
ing the hill of Chickamauga. As we
lay upon the ground waiting for the
enemy I glanced along the line and
near the colors I saw the diminutive
form and the rusty drum of the boy
I had helped across the Tennessee.
The enemy were about 800 yards