The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-05-24

~ 1t may truthfully be s6lO that the
won by an army OF school
boVsL 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 exactly
644,601 boys under that age In the Federal army.
There L1bl 43s under eighteen years Of age,
and OF the total enlstnents OF 277S8O9 there were
R15e.7es under twenty-one years Of age.
Not only were the great majority of privates less
than years of age. but the records show
that companies regiments and brfgades were COM
snAndsd literally by schoolboyS. At the close Of
de war. 1t is said 1t was the exception to find
bagade or division commandsE WHO was more than
6{fT years Old,
Htg. Gen jopn L. Uem is generally credited
w1h being the youngest soldier on record He was
bosp tp AewR1k O, August a8, 1851 He Wss nQt
quite ten years old when he entered the volunteer
servtcs drummer at the beginning Of the war
Two year, later. when he wns still not quite twelve
vears old, he WAS regularly enlisted and took his
paacs In the ranks. BE was made a sergeant for
tESVerv Displayed In the battle Of Chickamauga
end served until the close of the war He returned
10 school when the war ended and graduated from
the Newark high school In 1871 he was appoint
ed a seeond lieutenant In the regular army and re-
matnsd In the regular service until 1915. when he
vaS retired with the rank Of brgadier general.
Among the heroes who were awarded the con-
gTsnonal medal Of honor for valor shown upon the
osld Of batue there were many who were mere
writing N the Philadelphia Public Ledger recalled
SQms Mtrestps history cunnectsd with some Of
hase youthful hsroes- The writer gave tha follow.
ing sccount Of some Of these unusual cases: lf1i
aRobinson B. Murphy was born May Il. 1s49
as a s. "s % 8 e } ss asea OF ss fes
witch he gained his congress pedal reads: =
"'At Atlanta, Ga. July 2s 1894. being orderly to
the brigade commander. he voluntarily led two
regiments as reenforcements into line of battle
where he had his horse shot from under him.
He enlisted August 6, 1862. at the age of twelve
years. months and twentyszour days. in the
One Hundred Twenty seventh Illinois Volunteer
infantry, and made orderly TO rhe colonel of
the regiment. In January. 1854. he was made
dsrly to Gen. ]. A. ]. Lghtburn. and participated
In several hardfought battles. In the army he
known as Bob When he performed the wonder
full feat that gained him the medal he was only
hfteen 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 the extreme right of the
army which being fanked by the enemy.
Young Murphy was sent to the right by his general
10 find the situation, and finding that the
NY had hanked the right wing and was driving
them he rode his pony down the line and met
General Logan, who commanded that day, and
begged him with tears In his eyes for REINFORCE
u,ents, telling him they cutting right all
to pieces. The general replied: I have ordered
re-enforcenents 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 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. 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 20, 1646
he enlisted early in the war and was wounded at
vicksburg and three times at Dallas, Ga. His rec
ord Is q brilliant one, and General Sherman tells
the story In letter of August 8, 1858:
headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps Camp on
Black River August g. 1883.
"Hon. E. Stanton, Secretary Of War.
"'Sir: take the liberty OF asking through you,
that something be done for lad named Orion p.
Howe Of Waukegan, H.. who belongs to the Fifty
fifth Illinois, but at present Is home wounded.
think he is too young for West Point but would be
the very thing for midshipman. When the
sault at vicuburg at its height, the 10th Of
May. and In front near the road. which
formed my line Of attack. this young lad came up
to me, wounded and bleeding. with a good, healthy
boys cry: General Sherman. send some cartridges
to Colonel Malmburg; the men are nearly all out"
'Whats the matter, my boyT 'They shot me In
the leg sir, bat can 20 to the hospital. Send the