Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-10-30
a Soldier mt ~.

Ihere are only II officers on tho ac.
1--WE iist or the army below the grade
OF general who served in the Civil
war. All OF these with one exception
VIII soon be retired The execution
Is lhat OF Col. John r. Glen, Of the
quartermaster's department. whose ape
ilnit VIII not be reached until 1915
rms extended time Is due to the fact
that Little Johnny Glen, the drum
mer boy of Chickamauga, as he was
ramiliarly known, was probably the
youngest person who ever bore arms
in battle.
Col. Glenn was also known rs John
ny SHILOH from the fact that In the
battle OF Shiloh he rode to the firing
line on caisson by the side of n vet
eran artilieryman, ana then performed
an act of daring In such a brave and
cool manner that 1t gave him name
III history. He drummed the charge
ut Shiloh when he was only IL years
old, and with his short musket he kill
cd the Confederate colonel who de-
manded his surrender at Chickamau-
ga. lie Is n popular officer, not only
with his fellows Of the army, but In
social circles rs well, being as.,eenial Il
man ms he Is chivalrous soldier.
Col Glen was born In Ohio on Aug.
13, 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 MIGHT
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 soldierly 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 and was tAen known as Johnny
Shiloh" But 1t was on Sept. %, 1868,
at the battle of Chickamauga, that he
displayed especial bravery. He had
Just passed his 10th birthday anniver-
sary and had laid aside his drum for
musket, the barrel OF which had been
cut down for his use; and after acting
as marker" for /: 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 n
Confederate colonel. His regiment was
then fred into, and, falling as II 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 fired ut the Confed-
crate officer and killed him, and this
demorallzed the Confederate command
in such way that his own associates
escaped capture.
For his bravery young Glenn was
made Il sergeant by Gen. Rosecrans
and detailed to the headquarters of
the Department of the Cumberland. He
also received silver medal from the
hands of Miss Kate Chase, daughter
of Chief Justice Chase. He was after
ward captured by the Confedcrates and
held prisoner for 63 days, and after
his release he was promoted to orderly
sergeant by Gen. Thomas. lie was
discharged from the service in Sep
tember, 1864, when he returned to his
old home and attended school. being
graduated from the Newark High
School in 1870. President Grant, who
had kent watch OF Little Johnny" af-
ter the war ended. appointed him
second lieutenant in the regular army
in 1871. Three years later he went TO
the artillery school at Fortress Mon
roe for course of instruction III mil
tarv science and a year later passed
H., most successful examination.