The Washington herald., 1913-03-09

10 u
critical moments. Johnny was then
drumming and fighting under Gen
George II. Thomas. 1t was the worst
battle in all his experience. Military men
say that Rosecrans. the Federal com
mander, was defeated technically. Gen
Daniel II. Hill, who lead a corps under
Bragg, the Confederate. afterwards de-
clared that ..the barren victory" at
Chickamauga, sealed the fate of the
Southern Confederacy." The second day
Rosecrans and seven Of his thirteen di-
visions were driven from the field. Thom-
as held the left, where Johnny was
fighting like a gladiator in the ranks.
With 5000 men, Thomas was meeting
the fierce onset of Bragg's whole army.
Thus he became known as the Rock of
/ Chickamauga" One of Johnny's COM
rades afterwards heard the boy exclam,
as they were slowly falling back: mo
! one man is going to capture me now or
hereafter
| Toward night. on that horrible second
day." Col Glenn told me. Thomas, un-
der orders, retired in the direction of
Chattanooga. My brigade remained in
! the rear to check the Confederates. We
charged the enemy and drove him up a
hill. Then We were suddenly surrounded
and ordered to surrender We attempted
to escape by flight and as my legs were
| shorter than those OF my comrades I was
| left behind in the race. Furthermore
We had quit the hill up which We had
chased the Confederates and were climb
ing one of our own on the other side
or narrow valley. Progress was slow
| at best.
How He Shot the Colonel.
Il heard the noise OF coming hoofs and
then man say: Surrender, you damned
little Yankee Turning, 1 saw a Con-
federate colonel. his sword raised in the
air as If he meant to strike. 1 had
| cooked my musket as the sound Of his
voice. Stopping. my gun thrust fore
ward to the position when a charge is
made with the bayonet, i waited for an
instant He came right on, his sword
over his head. Then pulled the trigger
The sword dropped from his hands. His
imp body fell TO the ground. I had put
bullet into his breast
But he wasn't dead. l learned after
ward that, although severely wounded, he
recovered. tried TO find out his name.
but failed. He thought, / suppose, that
there was no honor in being shot by a
twelve-year-old boy. 1t was a sad fate.
L am ready to admit. His case was
something like the old French veteran
who followed Napoleon all through his
wars only to he drowned in a goose pond
when lie returned home. 1 left the col
onel on the ground and resumed NV re-
treat By this time the Confederates were
In front, behind. and on both sides OF US
Men were falling by the hundred SO ii
seemed. A bullet went through my cap
Nevertheless, I went on. The first bullet
was followed by a second and Immediately
thereafter by third
Il dropped to the ground. My comrades
thought l had been hit. Fortunately for
me. they were mistaken. Three bullets
through my cap. so I argued. meant that
1 should be killed if kept on my feet
So. as ! have said. I lay down. Also I
closed my eyes. In an hour or two I
sneaked away in the night and Joined my
regiment. The next morning was taken
TO the headquarters of Gen Thomas. He
heard my story and the testimony of eye
witnesses and made mo a sergeant on the
spot. l felt very proud Of myself was
now regular soldier. Boys beat drums
/ said to myself, but only men are per-
mitted to fight"
Thomas Tells Grant About II.
did You thank Gen. Thomas" I asked.
Il don't remember: probably not. From
what I heard afterward I think I was
somewhat disappointed. Gen. Thomas de-
tailed me as his orderly. l slept near his
tent and was within call day and night.
One morning Gen. Grant came to see
Gen. Thomas. had made his acquaint-
ance at Shiloh. 1t was a great moment for
me when / walked into the presence of
Gen. Thomas, saluted. and announced the
arrival of Gen. Grant. l stood at atten-
tion, and then Gen. Grant asked: Where
did you pick up Johnny and why is he a
sergeant
x,Ia %
bullets In my cap and my escape in the
night was repeated while 1 tried to look
unconcerned. And what do you suppose
Johnny said when l promoted him to
be a sergeant Gen. Thomas inquired
Why, he looked me in the face and
asked: is that all you are going to
make me?' Grant was a reserved man,
but he laughed at my impudence.
Thus ] became known in the news
papers, at least. as the Drummer Boy
of Chickamauga.' Among my comrades !
however, ] was often called Little Pap
Thomas I tried to live up to the latter |
title In my own opinion, / was the |
greatest man I'm the Army of the Cum !
berland, except, of course, the com |
mander himself. Patriotic ladies in Chi !
cago made me a sergeants uniform OF |
hroadcloth. which I kept for important |
occasions. officers and soldiers, to my |
annoyance. patted me on the head in |
approval and with affection. Then came
my fathers letter and his blessing
AN ordinary boy" I said. would |
have been ruined by the praise OF a
whole nation?'
Il would have gone to destruction, l
am sure, had it not been for the sound
advice and fatherly treatment Of Gen.
Thomas. Johnny he said. just at the
time when 1 was feeling as big as
Hannibal or Julius Caesar. you must
stop drinking if you want to be a man. "
He Also stopped Gambling.
stop drinking?'' I asked, doubling II
had heard Alright.
Yes" Col. Glen replied, "and gam
bling. Gen. Thomas pointed out that
drinking and gambling turned men
into vagabonds. The war wouldn't last
always. he said, and when it was over
could go to West Point and become
an officer in the regular army. Your
future depends on yourself. Johnny he
remarked. Don't wreck your life by
forming bad habits
no more. But l didn't get into West
Point, much to my sorrow. When the
war was over and I was honorably dis
charged from military service, Gen:
put me in charge of Lieut.. Pet
tit of Indianapolis, who was TO take me
as far as his home and then send me
on TO Ohio. I remained with him, how
ever, for two years before returning to
Newark. He placed me in school, but
every time an Indiana regiment came to
town / would turn out and do the drum
ming as it paraded the streets for the
excitement of tho inha bita MT |