Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-29

Michigan Infantry. I then went to De-
troit and re-enlisted in the sth Miehi-
gan Infantry. under Capt. Hogan. l
played for recruits in the old Sailor
nue. for several months. Chaplain Tay-
lor went to the front with some re-
cruits. I went with him and joined the
regiment at Fredericksburg. Va, De-
went down to the Rappahannock river.
I pushed one of the boats off the shore
that was loaded with soldiers: slipped
and fell in the river alongside the boat.
the city with several other soldiers. 1
went into a residence and captured a
clock and several other small articles
and took them to the pontoon bridge
Ave or ten feet and threw the things
on the wide seat on one of the boats
took them over to our regiment and
gave them to Chaplain Taylor. 1 was
die.
After I recovered, and much against
Chaplain Taylor's wishes, 1 recrossed
the pontoon bridge. which was COM
eral guns on the bank. 1 picked up
one and went up in the city to the
right of the bridge with several other
soldiers. Three of us went into a resi-
dence with the intention of burning 1t
down. There was high board fence
around the yard, the gate being hitched
to the corner of the house. AS l opened
the back door l saw man with a dou-
ble-barreled shotgun. watching a chance
to shoot. 1 pulled my gun and ordered
gun and said: For Gods sake. don't
shoot; 1 will surrender" l called the
two other soldiers and said I had a
Johnny. They insisted on my taking
the man to Gen. Burnside. which I did.
One of the soldiers carried the shotgun
and the other helped me watch my
prisoner. When we arrived at the Lacy
House Gen. Burnside's headquarters)
porters gathered around me and my
prisoner.
Gen. Burnside made his appearance
and l delivered the prisoner to him.
proposed three cheers for Robert Henry
Henderson, of the Sth Michigan In
fantry. the Drummer Boy of the Rap
pahannock.' This is the first time !
the Rappahannock' There were sew
eral other officers who proposed three
cheers for me after Gen. Burnside made
his speech. There were many news
paper men that questioned me. They
sent different messages through the
country and I am not responsible for
the correctness of them. / was made
thirteen-year-o hero there and then.
whether / deserved 1t or not. Among
above feat was Col. Steel and Capt
Bath of the 7th Michigan Infantry.
December 10 l went into the charge
on Marye's Heights and received a
wound in my right leg. A soldier by
the name of Hold Chaplin OF Montevideo.
Mimi. helped me back to the Lacy
House. On the 14th Gen. Burnside sent
a man with me as far as Washington.
D. c. Chaplain Taylor went to the
train with US. Gen. Burnside sent mo
Infantry. while l was at his home in
Providence. r. I. After I left my regi-
ment the second time I never returned
to 1t. Horace Greeley sent word to
Gen. Burnside that II he would send me
to New York he would make me a pres
ent of as fine a drum as could be made
On my way back to Washington. D. c.,
l stopped in New York and received
the drum. Gen. Winfield Scott made
the presentation speech in the Cooper
Institute. have carried the drum over
fifty years and l propose to keep it I'M
til the dead march is played for Rob
ert Henry Hendershot, the original
Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock.
The above statement. in short. is the
truth as to how I gained the name and
title