Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-07-26
DRUMMER BOY OF SHILOH.
War Record of w. II. Mcrphon, who
mt the Age of 90 stiII Holds
That Title.


w. Fl. Mershon, of Marion, Ind, re-
Gently celebrated his fifty-fifth birth
day anniversary, but if he lives as
long as Methuselah he will still be the
Drummer Boy of Shiloh" the brave
boy who led the attack at that battle,
saved his captains life, and captured a
confederate colonel. 1t all happened
in about 60 seconds on the famous
field of Shiloh-a fierce charge of the
Thirtieth Indiana volunteer slirmish-
ers on the flank of southern battery.
VIII Mershon was the trumpeter, de-
tailed from the drum corps, and rush
ing through n dense underbrush came
out a few feet ahead of the company.
The boyish heart stood still as he
found himself in the presence of con-
federate colonel, who was on horse
back, reconnoitering the field. He in
stantly covered the boy with his re-
volver and commanded him to surren-
der. Mershon threw up his hands,
showing he was unarmed.
AT this instant Mershon's captain
sprang from the thicket and the con-
federate, thinking the boy was weap-
onless, Immediately covered the fed
eral officer. But as he made the move
ment Mershon drew revolver from
his hip pocket and got the drop on
the colonel.
1t was a dramatic tableau, and the
boys in blue who at that moment
swung into line, rolled on the ground
and kicked up their heels in an ecstasy
of delight as the youthful trumpeter
ordered the gray-headed officer to sur
render. The crestfallen southerner
obeyed, and the captain ordered him
taken to the rear. The charge was
continued and the battery captured
lieutenant colonel, a major, and the
colonel being prisoners.
But Mershon received injuries that
eventually put him on the veteran re-
serve corps, as about three o'clock in
the afternoon a shell exploded on
the ground to his right. He threw
himself on his face and escaped being
torn to pieces, though he was seri-
ously injured on hip and spine.
That night as the soldiers gathered
around the camp fire, the story was
told of the pluclly little bugler's be-
ing a prisoner for half minute and
then saving his captains life by cap
turing his captor. In. honor of his
extraordinary exploits he was nick
named the Drummer Boy of Shi-
loh," and when he won the repu-
tation of being the finest drummer
in Uncle Sans service, he bore no
other name in the Army of the Cum
berland and the Army of the Ten
nesSee.
In June, 1864, Mershon was sent to
Chicago and attached to the Fifteenth
volunteer relief corps as drum major
at Camp Douglas, a position which he
held for year. DR.. George +. Root,
the composer, interviewed him on the
incident and wrote 1.-The Drummer Boy
of Shiloh" a song that was popular for
many years. The plates were burned
in the great Chicago fire, and it is now
out of print.
Prof. AIershon was one of the
guards of honor when President Lin
coins body lay in state in Springfield.
Naturally. his fame as a drummer
brought him into intimate relations
with many prominent officers, with
whom he was great favorite. He
served as drummer in the Thirtieth In
diana volunteer infantry from Septem-
Der 13, 1861, to June IA, 1864, and from