Year: 1862

discharged in six weeks


| In an hoar after, our company led the
Iowa First out of camp, our drum and fife
playing "The girl left behind me-" Ed.
die, as we called him, soon became great
favorite with all the men in the company
When any of the boys had returned from a
horticultural excursion Eddies share Of the
peaches and melons was the first apportioned
out. During our heavy and fatiguing march
from Rolla to Springfield it was often anus.
ing to zee our long legged ffer wading
through the mud with our little drummer
mounted on his back-and always in the po-
siton when fordng streams.


During the fight at Wilson's Creek WAS
stationed with part Of our company on the
right of lotions battery, while the balance
of our company, with part of the Illinois
regiment was ordered down in deep ravine
upon our left, in which it was known por-
tion of the enemy was concealed, with whom
they were soon engaged The contest in the
ravine continuing some hours, lotion sud-
denly wheeled his battery upon the enemy in
that quarter, when they soon rotreated to
the high ground behind their lines in less
than twenty minutes after, lotion had driven
the enemy from the ravne, the word passed
from man to man throughout the army,
Lyon Is killed" and soon after, hostilites
having ceased upon both sides, the order


came for our main forces to fall back upon
Springfield, while part Of the Iowa First
and two companies of the Missouri regiment


were to camp upon the ground and cover


the retreat next morning.


That night was detailed for guard duty, {,
my turn Of guard closing with the morning
call. When went out with the officer rs a
relief, found that my post was upon high
| eminence that overlooked the deep ravine in
which our n en- had engaged the enemy until
Totten's battery came to their assistance
1t was dreary, Lonesome beat. The moon
had gone down in the early part of the


night, while the stars twnkled dimly through


a hazy atmosphere, lighting up in,perfecty


the surrounding objects Occasionally |


would place my ear near the ground and lis.


ten for the sound of footsteps, but all was
silent save the far-off bowling of the wolf,
that seemed 10 scent upon tie evening air
the banquet that We had been preparing for
him. The hours passed slowly away, when
at length the morning light began to streak
along the Eastern sky, making surrounding
objects more plainly visi BILE. Presently
heard drum beat up the morning call At
first thought it came from the camp of the
enemy across the creek, but as l listened
found that it came up from the deep ravins;
for few moments it was silent, and then rs
it became more light heard it again. /
listened the sound Of the drum was IA
miliar to me-and l knew that 1t was


+ Our drummer boy from Tennessee


Bea'n. for help the reveille


was about tn desert my st to go to his
assistance when discovered the officer of
the guard approaching with two men. We
all listened to the sound, aud were satisfied
that it was Eddie's drum. l asked permis-
sion to go to his assistance. The officer
hesitated saying that the orders were to
march in twenty minutes. promised to be
back 10 that time, and he consented. !
Immediately started down tbs hill through
the thick underground and upon reaching
the valley followed Che sound Of the drum,
and soon found him seated upon the ground,
bis back leaning against the trunk of
fallen tree, while his drum hung upon bush
in front ofhim, reaching nearly to the ground.
As soon as he discovered me he dropped his
drumsticks and exclaimed: 20, Corporal, l
am SO glad to see you! Give mo a drink
reaching out his hand for my canteep which
was empty. Immediately turned to bring
him some water from the brook that I
could hear ripping through the bushes
near by, when, thinking that was about
to leave him he commenced crying, saying
Don't leave ME, Corporal-I can't walk"


was soon back with the water, when ,
discovered that both of his feet had been
shot away by a cannon ball. After satisfy /
ing his thirst. he looked up into my face
and said :-"You don't think I will die, Cor
poral, do you? This man said I would not
lie said the surgeon could cure my feet
/ now discovered man lying in the grass
near him. BY his dress l recognized him
rs belonging to the enemy. 1t appeared
that he had been shot through the bowels,
and had fallen near where Eddie lay
Knowing that he could not live, and seeing
Tho condition Of the boy he had crawled
% him, taking off his buckski,. suspenders,
md corded the little fellows legs below the
suee, and then lay down and died While
he was telling me these particulars, heard
.he tramp Of cavalry coming dowE the ra-
rine, and in a moment scout of the enemy
VAS upon us. and l was taken prisoner. |
'equested the officer to take Eddy up in
ront of him, ard he did SO. carrying him
With great tenderness and care. When wo
cached the camp of the enemy the little
GLOW was dead. r.J


--s s~->.S. ".'