The Clio messenger., 1918-05-24
0uonRKoNe as q SOLDIER


aware of the fact that nearly million of those
who carried muskets on 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 1,151 ,43S under eighteen years of
and of the total enstments of 2,77S309 there were
2l59,79S under twenty-One years of age.
Not only were the great majority of privates less
than twentyone years of age, but the records show
that companies regiments and brigades were COM
manded literally by schOolboys. At the close Of
the war, it is said. it the exception to find
brigade or division commander who was more than
thirty years old
Brig. Gen. John L. Clem Is generally credited
with being the youngest soldier on record He was
born in Newark o., August 13, 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 DID, he was regularly enlisted and took his
place in the ranks He was made a sergeant for
bravery displayed In the battle of Chickamauga
and served until the close of the war. He returned
to school when the ended and graduated from
the Newark high school. In 1871 he appoint
ed a second lieutenant in the regular army and re-
mained in the regular service until 1915, when he
retired with the rank of brigadier general.
Among the heroes who awarded the con-
gresonal medal of honor for valOr shown upon the
field of battle there many who were mere
children. veteran officer of the Federal army,
Writing In the fnllaueipnla GuDllc 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 Il. Murphy was born May IL, 1S49.
He enlisted musician at the beginning of the
and the official statement of the action for
which he gained his congress medal reads
AT Atlanta, Ga, July %, 1854, 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 Twentyseventh Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and was made orderly to the colonel of
the regiment. In January, 1864 he made
derly to Gen. J. A. J. Lightburn, and participated
In several hard-fought battles. In the army he
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
follows:
"The division in which General Lightburn COM
manded was that day on the extreme right of the
army, which 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 fanked 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 I'm his eyes for reinforce
ments, telling him they were cutting our right all
to pieces. The general replied: L have ordered
re-enfOrcementS 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 Lightburn
wrote regarding Bob that he was not only brave
and faithful, but displayed remarkable Judgment
for one Of his age as soon found out. I could
depend on him under any circumstances that might
arise
"And here Is another very little chap who gained
his medal Orion p. Howe, born December 90 1S4S
He enlisted early In the war and was wounded at
vicksburg and three times at Dallas, Ga. His rec
ord is a brilliant one, and General Sherman tells
the story in a letter of August 8, 1858:
Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps, Camp on
Black River, August 8. 1863
Hon. f. Stanton. Secretary Of War.
"'Sir: take the liberty of asking, through you
that something be done for a lad named Orion p.
Howe Of Waukegan Ill, who belongs to the Fifty
NTH Illinois, but at present is home wounded.
think he rs too young for West Point, but would be
the very thing for midshipman. When the as
sault at vcksburg ut Its height. on the 10Th of
May. and was in front near the road, which
formed my line of attack, this young lad came up
to me, wounded and bleeding. with good, healthy
boys cry: General Sherman, send some cartridges
to Colonel Mamburg; the men are nearly all out"
"Whats the matter. my boyT "They shot me In
the leg. sir but can go to the hospital Send the
.