Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-07-31

for admission to the Third Ohio Regi-
ment He was rejected because of his
youth While the regiment was ON its
way to the front Johr1y installed him
self on the train, aud when it arrived
in Cincinnati offered his services to
the Twenty third Michigan. He was
straightway enrolled as a drummer
boy.
Many We're the experiences through
which little Johnny Glen, now Major
Glen. of Atlanta, Ga. passed during
his experience as a drummer boy. His
drum was smashed by shell at Pitts
burg Landing, but it was at Cllcka-
manga that he performed the deed of
valor which made him famous.
The Union troops had fallen back to
Chickamauga, leaving brigade behind
10 guard the position. Johnny's regi-
ment was among the troops which com
posed the brigade. They were lur-
rounded by the Confederates, and
colonel in gray uniform and on horse
back dashed forward and commanded
| the little fellow to surrender. For an
swer Johnny seized the musket from
fallen comrade and shot the colonel
| from his horse.
For this act of gaIlantry Gen. Rose
Grams made him a sergeant. Grant
honored him in 1871 by making him
| second lieutenant. He was graduated
from the artillery school at Fortress
| Monroe, in 1874. and subsequently, by
| the appointment of the Secretary of
War. became military instructor at the
| Galesburg University. In 1895 he was
| made major and quartermaster.
But it must be remembered that
Johnny was not soldier, but a drum
mer boy. Gilbert Van Zandt known as
| Little Glib. in army circles, was another
drummer boy, and at the age Of 10 en-
listed in the Seventy Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. He was in all the en-
| gagements during Shermans famous
march TO the sea At Nashville his
colonel had small sword made espe-
| cially for him.
| Ask any man in Mason City, Iowa,
| who was the youngest soldier of the
Civil War on the Union side, and he will
| tell you that it was J. E. Francisco of
| that city. The Wisconsin Legislature
| settled it a few years ago by granting
| him medal comforting hat title upon
| the recipient.
| There seems to be little doubt that he
| really merits that distinction, for he
was not drummer boy, but carried a
| musket from his first enlistment to his
| mastering out. He was born in 1S49,
| and when he enlisted in 1864 he had
| three brothers at the front He was
tall and stalv-art for his years; life on
| the farm had hardened his muscles
| and at 13 he was as strong as most
men twice his age. He was anxious
| to enlist, and he ran away to Madison
only to be brought back by the CON
stable. his next attempt was more
| fortunate.
| Rut there have been few contestants
for the honor of having been the young
est soldier in the Confederate ranks.
That distinction is almost universally
conceded to rest with C. F. Robertson,
now of Bridgeport, Ala. Isaac r. Mil
Ter. now living in Milledgeville. Ga, is
| sometimes spoken of as the youngest
| Confederate soldier, but he was really
a year older than Robertson at the time
| of enlistment But the second place
| may safely be accorded to Isaac Mil
| Ter, both on account of his youth. and
| his great war record. which, IL not
equal in point OF eventful interest to
| that of Robertson. is nevertheless re-
! markable
| Young Miller was member of the
| Fist Tennessee, was in p battles and
was captured at Gettysburg in Pick
ett's famous charge. DIR. Y. S. Aber-
meth of Hill City. Tenn, enlisted il. the
| same regiment when he was a year
younger than Isaac Miller, being. at
the time. only 10. lie was not in active
/ service at any time, but served on duty
In hospital.
| Christenburg +. Robertson was the
| same age as Abernethy and one year
younger than Miller, when. on the call
of Georgia for volunteers, he shoulder
ed his gun and marched away. Not only
was Robertson the youngest Confed-
| crate soldier. but he is probably the
youngest man now living on either side
who saw four years of continuous fight
| ing in that war as real soldier
He served four years. never once
going home He was in 80 battles and
more than a hundred skirmishes He
was at Chickamauga, Fredericksburg
and the Wilderness. He was several
| times wounded. once terribly. having
| his ribs on both sides crushed IN.
| The last two years Of the war the boy
| served on staff and secret scout duty.
He probably holds the record for cap
ture. having been fte times taken prls-
oner and each time succeeding in max
ing his escape.
! One such escape gave rise 10 most
interesting incident On Aug. IL. 1864
ne was taken prisoner at Front Royal
| Va, and made his escape on Aug. IL by
crawling in culyert on 8 pike between
| Winchester and Charlestown, Va.
The Yankee cavalry were marching
about 100 prisoners ahead Of them. the
guards were Sleepy and the night dark
Young Robertson slipped into the cuI-
vert unnoticed by his sleepy captors
and lay there till they had passed by
A letter to his mother. written OH tue
dry of his escape, says: ut is with
| almost a broken heart that | write you
| this note that viii tell you am pris-
oner Of war. ] was taken at Front