Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-29
HOW BOYS OF 81
LIED ABOUT AGES
TO ENTER SERVICE
The Sons of Veterans Promise
1000 Men in Line at the Grand
Army Parade Next Week at
Detroit-Boy Scouts Plan to
Help Entertain the Veterans

Detroit, Aug 2s.-Ninety per cent
tend the national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic are of
that type who. as striplings in their
teens, became men in a day.
Il was II years old when l enlisted
in the Civil War;" said one of Detroit 8
best citizens. Il lied about my age,
said / was q and my lie was not dis
puted. Nearly all Of US did that same
thing. If we did not succeed in enlist
ing the first time, we tried again and
again until we got through.
The nations crisis appeared to
make US men. How do We look upon
the boys of 16 and II today? We think
them children, and they are. Now and
then a boy or girl of this age. with
the responsibilities of a man or wo-
man thrust upon them, becomes a man
or woman in mind, long before their
time, but there were hundreds Of
thousands of them"
One of Detroit's youngest veterans
Of the Civil War, and possibly the
youngest in the country. is J. N. Ham
burger, of the internal revenue depart
ment. Mr.. Hamburger enlisted at the
age of II years as a drummer boy in
the William S. Wilson Zouaves, a
New York organization formed in
1861, for three months service. When
mustered out. Hamburger enlisted in
the Twenty-fourth Maine volunteers
and later in the Twelfth New York
infantry as a bugler. He was hon
orably discharged in 1866 because of
wounds received in the siege of Port
Hudson in 1863.
We will have at least 1000 men in
line at the national G. A. r. encamp-
ment in Detroit" said John E. Sautter
commander of the National Sons OF
Veterans, who came on from Aspin-
wall, Pa, to make arrangements for
the national camp.
The Sons of Veterans, for the past
three years, have acted as the official
escort OF the veterans in the annual
national parade, and never has there
been more than about $50. Commander
Sautter, however, assures Col. A. O.
James,. adjutant general of the Ma
tional G. A. r., that they will have at
least 1000 in line, and possibly more.
The Sons of Veterans precede the
veterans in the line of march and fol-
low Immediately behind the police es-
cort, which will number 27o men 70
of them mounted. also the largest DO.
lice escort by ten times, ever given
in Detroit. in any parade.
One thousand Detroit boy scouts are
ready for their part in the entertain
ment OF the Grand Army veterans and
other visitors to the city during the
encampment Of the Grand Army ~
the Republic, August 81 to September
5.
They are just back from their camu
on Russelrs island, where DR.. : n
Sowerby. feld secretary, and his as.
slstants have been schooling them in
what they should know to be of greet
est service at the coming encamnnent
They have been drilled In the 90.
osraphy or the city, in first aid wor,.
and In discipline. DR.. Sowerby havine
nsd the assistance of one West point
and two Annapolis graduates IN tbs
letter work - Liz
DIR. Sowerby will detail his scouts ~
work in the information booths q, 49,
depots and boat landings ana ,,,,,l
have sufficient number in sergio. 49,
tnaf personal guides may be given ali
visitors who ask them. Others will, he
at the hospital tents. at the warriors
headquarters and places OF meeting r.
90 whatever they are asked r. a.
They Will take the tickets at the boats
on the afternoon Of the big excursion
at the evening boat ride and in the
srano stands. They will act as usb.
ers at the armory the nights =, the
campfires. 'he
On the day Of the parade tbev ,,,,,
oe s.aeoneo all along the line 81
narcn with pals Of coffee and water
ior the veterans. During the time the