Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-09
Friends of Col. John CIem Predict
His Pensioning With Rank
of Maior-General
WENT TO WAR AT AGE OF TEN
ouartermaster Department OF
Texas One of But Seven Vet
erans Still On Active List
Especial to Tho Herald


SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Nov. S.-Col.
John L. Glen may retire from the army
with the rank of major general. II ne
does, his friends say, it will be noth-
ing more than just, a fitting recognition
of a remarkable case Of bravery III d
lad who fought through the clVll war
at an age when most boys are tleu 10
their mothers apron strings. Colonel
Glenn is now chief quartermaster of the
Department of Texas and is stationed
at Fort Sam Houston. He has risen to
that position through the various sue
cessive grades from the time he was
appointed a lieutenant by General
Grant. In many ways his service IN
two wars was distinguished, and the
story of his achievements has addeu
several interesting chapters to history,
beginning with the romantic exploits
of his boyhood days when he earned
the title of 1.-The Drummer Boy OF
Shiloh" and up to the time when, as
chief quartermaster of the Philippines,
he saved the government $1,000. 900 by
the way he handled his department,
without Gripping it in the least
There are probably no survivors OF
the great conflict between the north
and south who do not remember Little
Johnny" Glen. He was born in New
he
motherless and alone when the war
broke out. In 1851, when 10 years OLD
he offered his services as u drummer
boy, but owing to his small size he
was not accepted.
BEAT DRUM AT SHILOH
Again and again he tried to get to
the front as a drummer boy, but with
out avail. He boarded the train with
a regiment that was going to the front
and begged them to take him, but they
declined. The boys persistence finally
attracted the soldiers and they permit
ted him to ride with them. Reaching
the front, he eventually was assigned
to a regiment and given drum. AT
Shiloh, while in the thickest of the
fight. the little drummer was sounding
the rolls when a piece of she'll smashed
his drum, narrowly missing killing him.
When but IL years old the youngster
was given a musket and took part IN
many fierce engagements, the only
difficulty being his inability to lift the
heavy gun quickly when ordered to
fire. The drummer boy was once at
tackled by mounted officer, but shot
the man from his horse and succeeded
in escaping.
The tiny drummer was captured neal
Chattanooga while detailed to aid in
bringing up the supply train, and held
in captivity siXty-three days, during
which time he was kept on the move
until at length he was paroled at Talla-
hasse, Fla, and sent to Camp Chase
for exchange. Upon reaching the lines
of his army again he found Genera
Thomas in command and was received
with the warmest enthusiasm, the
general making him an orderly SER
geant and attaching him to his staff.
GOES TO WEST POINT
In addition to the battles at Shiloh
and Chickamuga, he was at Perryville
Stone River, Reseca. Kenesaw, Peach
tree Creek, Atlanta, Nashville ano
others. Besides the three balls thai
passed through his hat at Chicka'
mauga he was struck with the
fragment of a shell upon his hip ano
once by a ball. Upon the latter oc-
casion he was in the act of delivering
dispatch from General Thomas tC
General Logan at Atlanta when a bal
struck his pony in the head and wound
ed the little rider. He served until the
end of the war, when he was honor
ably mustered out, went to school anc
later was appointed a cadet at large
at West Point by President Grant.
Under the law Colonel Clem may
serve five years before he is retired, al
though he is eligible to retirement now
At present he is one of seven veterans
of the civil war on the active list ir
the army, and before the end of five
years he will be the only one, the
limit of service of the others expiring
two years hence. The high esteem II
which Colonel Glenn is held is bes
shown perhaps by the breaking of ar
ancient rule among the members Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic wher
at their last general encampment they
laid aside precedent and adopted e
resolution asking that Colonel Clem bC
made a brigadier general before his
retirement, in order that he might re
tire as major general. The old sol
diers, many of whom personally recall
the little drummer boy, could not re
sist the impulse to help one of theil
comrades in arms, if a mere resolution
could do it.