The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-30

was won by an army OF school
boys. The younger generation probably is not
aware of the fact that nearly million of those
who carried muskets behalf of the Federal cause
less than sixteen years of age when they en-
listed. Statistics show that there were exactly
81, S91 boys under that age in the Federal army.
There were 1,151,4 3S under eighteen years of age,
and of the total enstments of 2778,3O9 there were
2,159, 1913 under twenty-One years of age
Not only the great majority of privates less
than twenty-one years of age but the records show
that companies regiments and brigades were COM
manded literally by schOoboys. At the close of
the war, it is said, it the exception to find
brigade division commander who more than
thirty years old
Brig. Gen. John L. Glen is generally credited
with being the youngest soldier record. He was
born in Newark o., August 49, 1851. He not
quite ten years old when he entered the volunteer
service as drummer at the beginning of the
Two years later, when he still not quite twelve
years old, he was regularly enlisted and took his
place in the ranks. He made sergeant for
bravery displayed in the battle of Chckamauga
and served until the close of the He returned
to school when the war ended and graduated from
the Newark high school. In 1871 he was appoint
ed a second lieutenant in the regular army and
NAMED in the regular service until 1915 when he
retired with the rank of brigadier general.
Among the heroes who awarded the
gresional medal of honor for valor shown upon the
field of battle there many who
children. veteran officer of the Federal army,
writing in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, recalled
these youthful heroes The writer gave the follow
ing account of some of these unusual cases:
Robinson B. Murphy was born May II, 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 %, 1864, being orderly to
the brigade commander, he voluntarily led two
regiments re-enforcements into line of battle,
where he had his horse shot from under him.
"He enlisted August 6, 1852, at the age of twelve
years. two months and twenty-four days. in the
One Hundred Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer
infantry, and made orderly to the colonel of
the regiment. In January, 1864, he made Or
derby to Gen. ]. A. j. LightburD, 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 that day the extreme right of the
army, which being fanked by the enemy.
Young Murphy was sent to the right by his general
find out the situation and finding that the
my had hanked 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 cutting right all
to pieces. The general replied: have ordered
re-enfOrcements from the left and here they come
now, and if you know where they needed, Bob,
show them in And that is how he to lead
the two regiments that day. General Lightburn
wrote regarding Bob that he not only brave
and faithful, but displayed remarkable judgment
for one of his age, as I soon found out. 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 %, 1913.
He enlisted early in the and 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 8, 1868
{" Hon. E. Stanton Secretary of War.
Sir: 1 take the liberty of asking, through you,
that something be done for a lad named Orion P.
Howe of Waukegan, H.. who belongs to the Fifty
fifth Illinois, but at present is home wounded.
think he is young for West Point, but would be
the very thing for a midshipman. When the as
sault at Vicksburg at its height, the 10Th OF
May, and 1 was in front 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 Malmburg; the 3se nearly all OUT
whats the matter, my boy?" '3They shot me in
the leg sir but can go to the hospital. Send the