Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-01-17
A8WAR
RHEidMSNgRNX{B5S
ONE OLD SOLDIER REMAINS
Colonel John Lincoln Glenn, Who En-
listed at Age of Ten Years,
Still in Service.
By DIR. ANDERs DOE.)

CBy DIR. ANDERS DOE.)
More than 100000 men took part
on the side of the north in the great
American Civil war from 1861 to
1865. They are all now out of active
service. having fallen before the g
limit. One only is left, and that one
is Col. John Lincoln Glenn, first quar-
termaster of the central division OF
the United States army, with head
quarters at Chicago.
The American Civil war has been
called a "boy-war,' on account of the
extraordinary number of youths, rang
ing in ages ON fourteen to twenty
years, that had Joined the army. or
all these Johnny" Glenn vas the
youngest. He was ten years old when
he left his home in Newark, o., and
presented himself for service as a
drummer boy. He was so little that
he was chased away, and was given a
box on the ear when he came back
home. But Johnny would not stay
away. He always came back, and in
the bloody battle of Shiloh we find
him as drummer boy at the front OF
the regiment = the Twenty-second
Michigan.
The took place the battle of Chick
amauga one of the bloodiest battles
of history. ..
1t was here that the Norwegian
regiment, the Fifteenth Wisconsin,, Of
which all Norwegians in America are
proud, was almost completely ami
hilated, and its leader, Col. Hans
Hegg (born in Lier, Norway, found
a hero's death. On the day following
he was to have beer promoted to the
post, of ~brigadier general.
Here Johnny Glen was at the front,
as usual, and got the name" the Drum
mer Boy of Chickamauga,' a name by
which he is known up to the present
day. A shell struck the drum from
his hands, SCATTERING it, and Johnny
sat down and cried. But he could not
long sit quiet, while the battle was
going on all around him, SO he took
d gun from a dead soldier n COM
menced firing. On came the Confed-
crates storming, and when they saw
Johnny Glenn with the u they burst
out laughing, but Johnny took aim and
killed the leader. They took Johnny
Glen and gave him a spanking, put
him on horseback and rode Off with
him. Like a prairie fire the news
spread that Johnny was captured, and
the whole regiment started in pur-
suit, soon coming back carrying John
ny with them in triumph. The battle
was won, and when the troops were
inspected. the general called JOHNNY
and asked him what had become 81
his drum. Johnny told him 1t had
been struck by a shell. Johnny,
said the general, ANY one who can
not take care of his drum cannot BIZ
a drummer any longer" Johnny
cried. But" added the general,
from now on O will be sergeant
with the regiment"
Johnny went through the whole
war and the day peace was concluded
he looked upon as a dreary day. He
was a veteran" with medals and hon
orary diplomas when he was fourteen
years old.
visited Colonel Glen at his office
and presented myself as the CORE
spondent of the Aftenposten Chris
tiania, Norway. The colonel is
courteous and genial. He is broad
shouldered and we'll proportioned,
with a sprinkling of gray and a charm
ing smile.
Yes, | am the last of the veterans"
said he. II am now s%ixty-one years
old, and in three years | shall also
fall before the age limit.
Yes, | remember well Col. Hans
Hegs. He was the leader of the Nor
wegians and their ideal. He was held
in high esteem and SO was the FIT
teenth Wisconsin. While only a boy
at that time / remember it as II it
was yesterday. They went into the
battle as to a play, and very few came
back. The Fifteenth Wisconsin
marched in front, exposed to the
murderous fire, and thus bore the
orunt of the battle"
| then asked if he would give me a
message for the land Of Colonel Hegg,
whereupon he sat down and wrote the
following greeting to Norway:
1T recalls to my memory the days
of my youth when | think Of the
brave Norwegian, Hans Hegg of the
Fifteenth Wisconsin regiment, and
his honorable death at Chickamauga
He would no doubt have been pro-
noted the day following If he nae not
found a hero's death. My greeting 10
our friends, the Norwegian nation,
who has given so many brave Amer
'nani citizens, our very best.
Most respectfully,
JOHN L. GLEN,
- Czzz.l $3.50