Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24

company raised in his home town for
the Sd Ohio Regiment, but Capt. McDou-
gal, while praising his spirit laughed at
his desire to be soldier.
Then twice little Johnny ran away to
camps where troops were being mobllized
for the front, and each time his father
followed and took him away. But on the
second trip Johnny gave his father the
slip on the train as it was pulling out
and succeeded in losing himself.
He landed this time in the big military
camp at Covington, Ky. No one would
enlist him, SO he simply enlisted himself
He attached himself to the 22d Michigan
and would not be chased away. The men
provided him with a uniform. equipped
him with gun and drum and, on pay
day, paid him out OF their own tunos
drummer boys pay
Finally in May, 1852, the colonel of the
regiment surrendered to the inevitable
and formally enlisted Johnny.
Through all the earlier engagements
Johnny proved his worth. He and MS
drum were always where they should be,
and when drumming was not needed
Johnny was shooting briskly. 1t was at
Shiloh that he first gained national fame.
There on the shell-swept field, he kept
ever to the front. utterly disdainful Of
danger, rafting out the charge" when
needed, firing when he had a chance, alb
solutely cool and insouciant, an example
of courage that of telling effect on
troops breaking under fire.
Finally came Confederate shell and
burst close TO him. His drum was shat
tered and he was knocked fiat. His es-
cape from death was little short of mirac-
ulous Almost instantly he was up and
firing.
1t was but natural that the army and
the war correspondents made hero of
him.
Then later came Chickamausa and his
promotion all of which gave him added
fame Some months later, when he got a
short leave and returned to his home, he
was made much of everywhere. The
guests at the Sherman House, Chicago,
fitted him out with a splendid uniform.
and his townspeople, at Newark, gave
size of course but with the tip to.ch-
ing the floor the hlt was about the level
of his shoulder. Johnny was proud OF
the saber, but for actual work he pre-
ferred a sawed-off musket.
For long time it was supposed that
the colonel he shot at Chickamauga was
killed. but months afterward the fact
became known that the officer eventually
recovered. But he never TecoVeTeu nom
the surprise the little shaver gave him
by fighting back when called upon to sur
render.
Gen Thomas took a paternal interest
in his diminutive orderly and insisted
that the boy get the foundation Of an
education He gave orders to Col Sand
ford c. kellogg. his aid and nephew, to
coach Johnny in his lessons and ito
make him study" The latter part OF the
instructions kept the colonefs hands FULL
But whenever he could catch Johnny
unprovided with an excuse OF orders to
carry for the general Col. Kellogg would
stand the boy up and make him recite-
Geography was studied in this manner
while aid and orderly We're waiting with
the remainder of the staff, under sharp
Confederate fire for the general to use
them. Mental arithmetic was recited in
the trenches while shells were falling all
about them
During lull in the fighting at any time
Col. Kellogg and Johnny happened to be
thrown together the colonel was likely to
snap the order at the boy: Spell malevo-