El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-26
Many Boys Fought On Both
Sides In Great Civil War

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ten years and seven months old, he
enlisted as a drummer in company D,
of the Seventy ninth Ohio infantry.
Little .aGib- and His sword.
Glib" as he was called in the army,
was hugely popular with his regi-
msnt, and earned a high reputation
for bravery. At Nashville his colonel
had a small sword made for him. and
the regiment presented him with a
drum II was said OF him that there
was no better soldier in all of Sher-
mans forces He served through all
the battles of the famous march to
the sea
A. 8iIledgville a captured pony was
given TO him. and thereafter he served
as orderly to the general In June,
1865. he was mustered out in Wash
iuEton. and was Informed that his
pony, as cOnfiscated Confederate
property, must be taken from him by
the government. The idea of such
thing was 10 him a great grief, and
he sought an interview with president
Johnson, hoping that something might
be done 10 prevent his beloved horse
from falling into alien and perhaps
unkind hands.
The president. having no notion OF
what he had in mind, said, We'll. my
son, what do you wante brevet.
suppose"
No indeed replied the boy. 1T
is my dear pony. have brought him
all through the campaign. and now
they are going 10 take him away
from me"
They shan't do it replied the
president. And on the spot he signed
an order directing that the pony
should be GIBBS property and that II
should have free transportation TO
Port William, Ohio.
Glib" at last accounts. was cashier
OF a big hotel in Chicago. When
asked 20 explain his relatively youth
ful appearance. he would say that he
was scared out OF ten years growth
in the war"
Follows Fathers Advice.
Alexander Scott Is today a chief Of
division in the Patent Office at Wash
lngton- As young boy. living in
New Bedford. Mass, he was overtaken
by the fever Of patriotism, and en-
listed The last thing his father said
TO him. when he went TO the war. was,
Always be in the thick of the fightr'
At the battle of Winchester young
Scott was detailed to stand guard
over some army property. That was
MS duty, and TO desert II would of
course be an almost unforgivabie mill
tary oftense- SO he stood guard until
ms reg iment made char ge that was
destined TO be famous in history. The
temptation was too great, and he
joined the charge. fighting until the
battle was won.
he was cOurtmartialed. When
called upon for his defence tears
streamed down his face. and between
sobs he faltered out: You may shoot
me i you like; but Dad told me when
I ieft home that when there was any
iiShting going on I must always be I
IN the thlckest Of it-and I was. II
you want your stuff guarded when I
mere Fighting 70 be done, you must I
get somebody else 70 DO it."
The verdict was an acquittal
Young Virginia Hero.
In the army Of Northern Virginia /
there was boy soldier who, in a |
llerce engagement. was shot through I
the lungs. His colonel called out to
his men to dismount, and, as he /
sprang from his own steed, the /
youngster cried to him, 4 will hold I
your horse"
The colonel paused amid the flying 4
bullets on can't do thai, lad he /
said lou are dying
know am. colonel" he replied, /.
but J can mold the reins when I am 1
The colonel placed the bride in his /
nand and went ahead. When the 1
fight was over he hurried back. and 4
found the boy lying dead, the reins I
stin wrapped tightly around his limp I
right hand.