Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-31

~ NoiulST at l.
There are only - officers ON the ac-
tive list of the army below the grade
OF general who served in the Civil
War. All Of these with one exception
VIII soon be retired The exception
Is that of Col John l.. Glenn. of the
quartermaster's department. whose age
limit will not be reached until 1915.
This extended time is due to the fact
that Little Johnny Glenn. the drum
mer boy Of Chickamauga," as he was
familiarly known, was probably the
youngest person who ever bore arms
in battle
Col Glenn was also known as John
NY shiloh, from the fact that in the
battle of Shiloh lie rode to the firing
line on a caisson by the side of vet
eran artilleryman, and then performed
an act of daring in such n brave and
cool manner that il gave him a name
in history. He drummed the charge
at Shiloh when he was only II years
old, and with his short musket he kill
ed the Confederate colonel who de
manded his surrender Mt Chickamau-
ga. He is a popular officer, not only
with his fellows of the army, but in
social circles as well, being as genial a
man as he Is chiyalrous soldier.
Col. Glenn was born in Ohio on Aug.
Ii, 1851, and in May, 1861, before he
was 10 years old, he offered his serv-
ices to the Third Ohio Regiment as
drummer, but the mastering officer de
clined to enlist him because of his size
and his youth. Later he offered his
services TO the Twenty second Michi-
gan, and. though enlistment was re
fused, he was permitted to accompany
the regiment To the field and to beat the
long rolf In front of Shiloh in April.
1862. His solderly manner and con
duct in that engagement SO won the
confidence and admiration Of the Off.
GERS of the regiment that in May, 1868,
he was permitted TO enlist as drum.
mer ana was then known as johnny
Shiloh. But il was on Sept %, 1868,
ut the battle of Chickamauga. that he
displayed especial bravery. He had
just passed his 18th birthday anniver-
sary and had laid aside his drum for a
musket, the barrel Of which had been
cut down for his use; and after acting
as a marker" for a time he took his
place in the ranks. As the day closed,
and the army retired to Chattanooga,
his brigade was ordered by the enemy
TO surrender, and Little Johnny" was
himself covered by the sword of a
Confederate colonel. His regiment was
then fred into, and, falling as If shot.
the Juvenile soldier lay close until dark,
when he went to Chattanooga and
Joined his command. But AS he fell
To the ground he fred at the Confed.
crate officer and killed him, and this
demoralized the Confederate command
in such way that his own associates
escaped capture.
For his bravery young Glenn was
made 1t sergeant by Gen Rosecrans
and detailed to the headquarters of
the Department of the Cumberland He
also received n silver medal from the
hands of Miss Kate Chase, daughter
Of Chief Justice Chase. He was after.
ward captured by the Confcdcrates and
held prisoner for 81 days, and after
his release ne was promoted To orderly
sergeant by Gen. Thomas lie was
discharged from the service in Sep.
tcmbrr. 1864, when he returned To his
old home and attended school, being
graduated from the Newark High
School in 1870. President Grant. who
had kept watch of Little johnny" af.
ter the war ended, appointed him a
second lieutenant in the regular army
In 1871 Three years later he went to
the artillery school at Fortress Mon.
roe for a course Of instruction In mill.
tary science, and year later passed
n most successful examination.