The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-11-13
DRUMMER BOY OF
SHILOH TO RETIRE
Colonel John Glenn to Be Pen
stoned With the Rank
of Major General
WENT TO WAR AT AGE OF 10
One of Seven Texas Veterans
Who Are Yet on the Ac-
tive List.

san Antonio. Tex. Nov. 12.-Col-
onel John L. Glenn may retire from
the army with the rank OF major gen
eral. If he does, his friends say. it
viii be nothing more than just. a fit
ting recognition of a remarkable case
of bravery in a lad who fought
through the civil war at an age when
most boys are tied TO their mothers
apron strings. Colonel Glenn Is now
chief Quartermaster of the depart
ment of Texas and is stationed at Fort
Sam Houston. He has risen 10 that
position through the various suC-
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 added
several interesting chapters 10 history,
beginning with the romantic exploits
of his bOyhOOd days when he earned
the title of The Drummer Boy of
Shiloh" and up TO the time when, as
chief quartermaster Of the Philippines.
he saved the government S2.5O0,0O0
by the way he handled his depart
ment. without Gripping it in the least.
There are probably no survivors Of
the great conflict between the north
and south who do not remember Lit
tie Johnny" elem. He was born in
Newark. O., August 10. 1851, and was
mOtherless and alone when the war
broke out. In 1861, when 10 years old,
he offered his services as a drummer
boy. but owing To his small size he
was not accepted.
Beat Drum at Shiloh.
Again and again he tried 10 get TO
the front as a drummer boy, but
without avail He boarded the train
with regiment that was going TO the
front and begged them 10 take him,
but they declined. The boys persist
ence finally attracted the soldiers and
they permitted him to ride with them.
Reaching the front. he eventually was
assigned TO a regiment and given a
drum. AT shiloh, while in the thick
est of the fight, the little drummer
was sounding the rolls when a piece
OF shell smashed his drum. narrowly
missing killing him. When but .
years old the yOungster Was given
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 attacked by
mounted officer but shot the man
from his horse and succeeded in es-
Gaping.
The tiny drummer was captured
near 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 Tallahassee Fla, and sent 10 Camp
I Chase for exchange. Upon reaching
the lines Of his army again he found
( General Thomas in command and was
received with the Warmest enthusi-
asm, the general making him an or
derby sergeant and attaching him TO
his staff
Goes 10 West Point.
In addition to the battles at Shiloh
and Chickamuga. he was at Perry
Vile, Stone River, Reseca, Kenesaw,
Peachtree Greek, Atlanta, Nashville
and others. Besides the three balls
that passed through his hat at Chick
amauga he was struck with the frag-
ment of shell upon his hip and once
by ball Upon the latter occasion
ne was in the act of delivering a dis
patch from General Thomas To Gen
eral Logan at Atlanta when a bail
strick his pony in the head and
Z
until the end of the war, when he was
hOnOrably mustered out, went TO
school and later was appointed a ca
Diet at large at West Point by Presi-
dent Grant.
Under the law Colonel elem may
serve five years before he is retired.
/ although he is eligible to retirement
now. AT present he is one of seven
( veterans of the civil war on the ac-
/ tive list in the army, and before the
end of five years he viii be the only
one, the limit service of the others
! expiring two years hence. The high
/ esteem in which Colonel Glenn is held
| is best shown by the breaking of an
ancient rule among the members of
/ the Grand Army of the Republic
when at their last general encamp-
ment they laid aside precedent and
adopted a resolution asking that Col
Onel Glenn be made a brigadier gen.
/ eral before his retirement. in order
/ that he might retire as major gen.
eraL The Old soldiers, many of whom
personally recall the little drummer
| boy. could not resist the impulse TO
| help one of their comrades in arms
/ if a mere resolution could do it,