The Tomahawk., 1918-05-30

zS&6a draft at twenty-one years has called
6W~TS&e attention to the extreme youth of the
~ 4 M men who made up the forces that
~ IN fought and won the Civil war.
N~1@3 It may truthfully be said that the
f. war was won by an army of school
boys The younger generation proRabl.' is not
aware Of the fact that nearly million of those
who carried muskets behalf Of the Federal cause
were less than sixteen years of age when they en-
listed. Statistics show that there were exactly
844,S91 boys under that age in the Federal army
There were Isl, 43S under eighteen years OF age
and of the total enstments of 2,77S3O9 there were
9,79S under twenty-one years of age.
Not only were the great majority of privates less
than twentyone years Of age, but the records sho"
that companies regiments and brigades were COM
manded literally by schoolboys. At the close OF
the war, it is said, it was the exception to IND
brigade or division commander who was more than
thirty years old.
Brig Gen. John L. Glen is generally credited
with being the youngest soldier on record. He was
born in Newark, O., August 49, 1851. He was not
quite ten years old when he entered the volunteer
service as drummer at the beginning of the war;
Two years later when he still not quite twelve
years old, he was regularly enlisted and took mis-
place in the ranks. He was made sergeant Tor
bravery displayed in the battle of Chickamauga
and served until the close of the war. lie returned
to school when the war ended and graduated from
the Newark high school. In 1871 he was appoint
ed second lieutenant in the regular army and re-
manned in the regular service until 1919 when ne
was retired with the rank of brigadier general.
Among the heroes who were awarded the con-
gresional medal of honor for vaor shown upon the
field of battle there were many who were mere
children. veteran officer Of the Federal army
writing in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, recalled
some interesting history connected with some OF
these youthful heroes. The writer gave the follow
ing account of some of these unusual cases:
Robinson 3. Murphy was born May IL, 1S49
c;o;0r Of foo hooiY nj
war and the official statement of the action tor
which he gained his congress medal reads:
cat Atlanta, Ga, July %, 1864, being orderly to
the brigade commander, he voluntarily led two
regiments as re-enforcements into line of battle
where he had his horse shot from under him.
"He enlisted August 6, 1862, at the age of twelve
years, two months and twenty-four days. in the
One Hundred Twenty -seventh Illinois Volunteer
infantry, and was made orderly to the colonel OF
the regiment. In January, 1864 he was made or
derby to Gen. J. A. J. Lightburn, and participated
in several hardfought battles. In the army he was
known as Bob When he performed the wonder
full feat that gained him the medal he was only
fifteen years old The circumstances under which
young Murphy led two regiments into battle were
as follows:
saThe division in which General Lightburn COM
manded was that day on the extreme right OF the
army which was being fanked by the enemy
Young Murphy was sent to the right by his general
to find out the situation and finding that the ene
my had aanked the right wing and was driving
them he rode on his pony down the line and met
General Logan, who commanded that day, and
begged him with tears in his eyes for REINFORCE
ments telling him they were cutting eur right all
to pieces The general replied: have ordered
re-enforcemeats from the left, and here they come
now, and if you know where they are needed, Bob,
show them In And that is how he came to lead
the two regiments that day. General Lghtburn
wrote regarding Bob that he was not only brave
rLoh n
for one of his age, as soon found out. 1 could
arise
"And here is another very little chap who gained
his medal, Orion p. Howe, born December -, 1o4S
He enlisted early in the war and was wounded at
vicksbufg and three times at Dallas, Ga. His rec
ord is a brilliant one, and General Sherman tells
the story in letter of August 8, 1853:
Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps, Camp on
Black River, August 8 1853.
Hon. E. Stanton Secretary Of War. ..s-.
".Sfr: I take the liberty Of asking through you,
that something be done for a lad named Orion f.
Howe of Waukegan, Ill, who belongs to the Fifty
nth Illinois, but at present is home wounded L
think he is too young for West Point but would be
the verv thing for a mfdshipman. When the as
eaut Mt Vfcksburg was at its height the 18th OF
Nav and was in front near the road, which
formed nv line of attack, this young lad came up
to mo- wounded and bleeding, with good, healthy
hovs cry: General Sherman, send some cartridges
"a Colone. Malmburg; the men are nearly all out
.1Ubat,s the matter, my boyr "They shot me in
az loo sir hut can 90 to the hospital. Send the