The news & observer., 1905-11-05


memory of Andre Estienne, "the little
drummer of Arcola," recalls one of
the most heroic episodes in modern
history, and illustrates the eXtraordi-
nary value of the spirit stirring
drum" Napoleon Bonapartes career
may be said to have been built upon a
drum for the battle of Arcola was
won by the beating of Andre Es-
| tienne'S drum, and Napoleon always
| dated his confidence in his own for
tune from this battle which he won in
! 1896 in Italy. Bonaparte hemmed in
with a small army at Verona between
| two greatly superior forces, sailed out
at night and with fourteen thousand
men fell upon the rear of fifty thous-
and Austrians. The battle lasted sew
enty-two hours. On the Ind day of
the fighting the Austrians obtained
such position that they completely
and murderouSly swept the bridge of
Arcola which the French had gained,
and which they must hold to win the
battle. No officer was near; but Andre
the little drummer was there lie
, went to his sergeant and told him
that he would cross the bridge with
his drum and beat it on the other
side But you will be killed. said
the sergeant, mo man can live there.
But see here, can you SWim?' That |
can said the drummer Then swim
across with your drum" The drum
isn't water tight exclaimed the drum
mer, and it would get water soaked,
and | could not beat it When | got
across" The sergeant was equal to the
; emergency. lie was a capital swim
mer. Plunging into the water he bade
Andre mount his shoulders, holding
his drum clear of the water. In this
way they crossed the river. Andre
beating his drum all the way over.
Once on the other side he pounded
it in a way we'll nigh to wake the
dead. The Austrians who were mass
ed near, were nearly all raw recruits.
Hearing what they took to be drums
Of an advancing force of the French.
they fed in dismay. This left the
bridge clear and the French rushed
over. Some of the other drummers
Joined with Andre. and Austrian flight
became rOut The French swept on
with Andre still drumming, at their
head. The entire Austrian forces beat
a hasty retreat. and their Napoleon
was victorious, giving the little drum
mer "the credit of his great victory.
During one of the great battles
around Richmond in the late Civil
War. a little drummer boy was Killed
while beating his drum at a furious
since the war / witnessed this heroic
scene on the stage in theatre. | had
a little drummer boy, (Johnnie Mitch
elD to enlist in my company from
Wake county, in the FIRST North Car
olina Regiment. and saw him heroi-
cally beating his drum in front amid
the clash and roar of arms. when OS-
car Mitchell, of my command. and
brother of the wife of the late Ia
fnll in of
his regiment. a musket ball penetrat-
ing the center of his forehead. 1t
was in this battle at Ellison's mill.
Va that Col Stokes fell mortally
wounded near my side, and died soon
afterwards.
Col. MontfOrd Sidney Stokes was
born in Wilkes county. He was the
son of Gov. MontfoTd Stokes, who was
for several terms a secretary in Con-
gress and elected Governor in 1880 of
North Carolina, and was appointed by
General Jackson as Indian agent in
the Territory of Arkansas, where he
died in 1912. COL Sidney Stokes was
Major of the North Carolina regi-
ment in the Mexican war, and served
SO gallantly that at the close of the
war his officers and soldiers presented
him with splendid sword. His ashes
are entombed in the picturesque cen,-
etery in the town of Wilkesboro,
where he first saw the light Peace
to his ashes. who knew his duties, and
knowing them dared maintain them.
The county that bears his name
was formed out of Surry in 1889 and
was named in honor of his uncle,
Col. John Stokes of Revolutionary
fame, an elder brother of the GoYer-
nor.
Referring again to the battle at Ell
lyson's Mill, June 26th, 1862, in which
Col. Stokes was killed, | am forcibly
reminded of that terrible conflict and
loss of life where so many of my
dear comrades in arms fell Not only
the Colonel of my Regiment but
Dowell, of Bladen county was severe
| ly wounded. the Major. L. Skinner.
of Chowan county was killed also
Capt Wright, of Wilmington. COM
manding Company f., Capt. Reevy, of
Martin, of Company H., st. Patrick
II. Grandy, of Company D., were all
| Killed, and many other officers of
the Regiment wounded.
My Company 81" suffered greatly.
My First Sergeant, young DR.. John
| w. Hartsfield, of Wake was killed at
| the head of his Company. He was a
young man of great promise and uni
versally esteemed at home and in the
army. 1t may interest your readers
at this late day to call the Honor
| Roll of this company in this battle.
| The following were killed, and all
! from Wake county: Oscar Mitchell,
as before mentioned, Isham Mitchell,
| Joseph Rowland, John S. Smith. Jas.
| Belvin W. F. Mussengale. and the
wounded were: Elijah Belvin, Lewis
Browning, VIM. Buffalo. Jas. Grady,
Atlas Jones. w. H. Pace, John Pully,
Henry Perry, Archibald Pearce, Sid
ney Pearce, J. w. Powell, Wesley
Young and Malcomb F. Scarboro. and
probably others, as this list is taken
| from an old memorandum.
My First Lieutenant. w. d. Scar
boro. one of the best and most pa
trotic men l ever knew, died in Fred
erick City in Maryland. september
GOTH 1864. His brother, John {.
Scarboro, was also a member OF this
company and was wounded in the
great battle of Malvern HILL also at
Winchester, and ~2ce the war has
devoted himself to the great work OF
Ieducation in North Carolina, and there
was another brother in my Company.
Nv F. Scarboro-four brothers of
| immense physical strength, being all
;,,n in, 1n;rr ~