The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-05-30

NIX. PRESlDENT, WAS Dle COnulCt. some
In The WAR. of the striplings
who bore muskets were surprisingly
youthful, while there were drummer
boys Of amazingly tender years. Per
haps the youngest drummer was John
ME Brooks, later John F. Brooks, Esq,
who practiced law at Ellsworth, Kan.
Johnnie went into the service as drum
mer boy at the age Of nine years. He
served from July, 1868, to August,
1865. But he was not enlisted. His
father was fifer In the musicians
corps, and the boy went along to beat
drum. One Of Johnny's sad duties
was to beat the dead march in Indian
apolis when the body Of President
Lincoln was borne through the streets
there to lie in state for a brief time
during the journey from Washington
to Springfield. Thirty years after
the war this drummer boys congress
man introduced a resolution to have
the secretary Of war muster in and
discharge John F. Brooks, so that he
might get the regular pay for his two
years of service.
Only few months ago an applica-
ton was received by the New Jersey
adjutant general for a civil war vet.
Grams medal, as provided by the state
Legislature, for Daniel Williams, who
was believed to have been the young.
est drummer boy regularly enlisted.
Williams went into the volunteer serv-
Ice when he was eleven years, five
months and sixteen days old. That
was in 1862. He served with both
New Jersey and Pennsylvania volun-
teers. Mr.. Williams now resides in
Washington.
One Of the most remarkable records
for a drummer boy is that made by
John L. Glen, now colonel in the
regular army. Glen was the famous
drummer boy Of Shiloh" After Gen
era1 Grant became president in 1869 a
youth scarcely eighteen years Of age
gained admittance to the White House.
"Mr. President" he said, 81 came to
request you to admit me to the Mill
tary academy at West Point"
"Why don't you take the regular ex.
animation" asked the president.
II have done SO, but I failed to
pass" admitted the boy.
I '"That is very unfortunate" said the
president, "but you should have studied
harder
"Mr President" said the applicant,
while the other boys who took the
examination with me were in school
was In the war;
"Whatv' exclaimed the president.
''What warp
''The civil war. served four years.
The soldier president looked the
youth in the eye. John Glenn produced
his papers, showing that he told the
truth. President Grant commissioned
him as second lieutenant in the regular
army.
Another drummer boy whose record
shines brightly was J. G. Julius Lang.
bein, who in later life became well
known city Judge In New York. When
a mere boy he enlisted as drummer
In the Ninth New York volunteers
known as the Hawkins zouaves, regi
ment which did some Of the ;fercest
and most picturesque fighting Of the
war He was the youngest drummer
boy from New York state and was said
to be the third youngest In all the
Union armies. Langbein served chiefly
in the Virginia campaigns. Like the
big soldiers In his regiment, he was
dressed In the zouave uniform, with
baggy knee trousers and short, flarins
/ jacket, his head covered with tas
, seled cap. So slight and childish Lang
bein looked that he seemed out of place
among the strong, rough men around
him, but every man In the regiment
loved the little drummer boy. One big
| soldier who had sweetheart up home
named Jennie declared that the boy
looked like .tthe girl he left behind
him." SO the drummer was known by
/ his grownup comrades as Jennie"
Langbein. .s-st
Adjutant Barthol omew Of "Jennie's'
regiment took a particular interest IN
| the boy. He had promised Langbein's
mother, that he would look after the
little fellow as well as he could. At the
battle OF Camden, or Sawyer's Lane
near the southern end Of the Dismal
swamp canal. the, Hawkins zouaves
| made desperate charge. A fragment
Of exploding shell plowed q frightful
furroW in the neck of Adjutant Bar
tholomew, who, crazed BY the shock
and pain, staggered outside the Fed
aral formation and wandered aimlessly