Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-05-30

which the United States is now rails
ing Its armies placed the minimum
age Of men to be included in the
G&6N draft at twentyone years has called
49, SI~&e attention to the extreme youth Of the
IN men who made up the forces that
~ ~ fought and won the Civil war.
A~s@ 1t may truthfully be said that the
war was won by army Of school,
boys. The younger generation probably is not
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 1151, 43S under eighteen years Of age,
and of the total enlisments Of 800 there were
2,1b9798 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. 1t is said 1t was the exception to find
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 1S, 1851. He was not
quite ten years old when he entered the volunteer
service as a drummer at the beginning Of the war.
Two years later, when he still not quite twelve
years old. he was regularly enlisted and took his
place in the ranks. He was made sergeant for
bravery displayed in the battle Of Chickamauga
and served until the close Of the war; He 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-
NAMED in the regular service until 1915, when he
was retired with the rank of brigadier general.
Among the heroes who were awarded the con-
gresional medal Of honor for valor 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
J I'm tho
ing account Of some of these unusual cases:
"Robinson B. Murphy was born May II, 1849.
1 He enlisted as musician at the beginning of the
war 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 g. 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, 1854. he made or
derby to Gen. j. A. j. Lghtburn, and participated
in several hard-fought 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:
"The 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
/ 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 in his eyes for reinforce
ments, telling him they were cutting our right all
to pieces. The general replied I have ordered
re-enforcements from the left. and here they come
now, and If you know where they are needed. Bob,
And %botf To- ho 10 loo
the two regiments that day. General Lightburn
wrote regarding Bob that he was not only brave
and faithful but displayed remarkable judgment
1 for one of his age as soon found out. could
4 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 brilliant one, and General Sherman tells
the story in letter Of August 8, 1868:
Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps Camp on
Black River, August g. 1868.
!" Hon. q. Stanton. Secretary Of War.
"sSir: take the liberty Of asking through you,
that something be done for lad named Orion P.
Howe of Waukegan. ILL.,. who belongs to the Fifty
fifth Illinois, but at present is home wounded I
think he is too young for West Point but would be
4 the very thing for midshipman. When the as
saut at Vicksburg at its height, 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
, "What's the matter, my boy?" .'They shot me in
the leg, SIR, but can go to the hospital Send the