Year: 1862




We shall be discharged in six weeks"


In an hour after our company led the
Iowa First out Of camp, our drum and fife
playing "i'he girl 1 left behind me- Ed
die, as we called him, soon became a great
favorito with all the men in the company
When any Of the boys had returned from
q horticultural excursion, Eddie's share of
the peaches and melons was the first ap-
portioned out. Daring our heavy and ia
tiguing march from Rola to Springfield,
it was often amusing to see our long-legged
hfer wading through the mud with our
little drummer mounted upon his back and
always in that position when fording
streams.


During the fight at Wilson's Creek, 1
was stationed with part Of our company
on the right of Totten's battery, while the
balance of our company, with a part of
the balance Of our company, with a part
of the Illinois regiment, were ordered down
into eeep ravine upon our left, in which
1t was known portion of the enemy was
concealed, with whom they were soon en-
gagged. The contest in the raviRe contin-
ued some hours. Totten suddenly wheel
ed his battery upon the enemy in that
quarter, when they retreated to the high
ground behind their lines. In less than
twenty minutes alter Totten lad driven
the enemy from the ravine the word passed
from man to man throughout the army
that "Lyon is killed. and soon after, hos
tiities having ceased on both sides, the
order came for our main forces to fall
back upon Spring gfeld, while part Of the
Iowa First and two companies of the Mis-
souri, regiment were to camp upon the
ground and cover the retreat next morning.


That night L was detailed for guard du-
ty,my guard closing with the morning call.
When went out with an officer as a relief
l found my post was upon high emf
nence that overlooked a deep ravine in
which our men had engaged the enemy
until Totten's battery came to their assist.
ance. 1t was drcary, lonesome beat
The moon had gone down in the early
part of the night, while the stars twinkIed
dimly through hazy atmosphere, light,
ing up, imperfectly, the surrounding OBJ.
jects. Occasionally [ would place my ear
near the ground and listen for the sound
Of footsteps, but all was silent save the
far. off bowling of the wolf, that seemed to
scent upon the evening air after the ban
| quct that we had been preparing for him
The Fours passed slowly away, when at
length the morning light began to streak
/ along the eastern sky,making surrounding
objects more plainly visible. Presently
heard q drum beat up the morning call
AT first thought it came from the oamr
of the enemy across the creek, but as
listened l found that it came up from the
deep ravine; for few minutes it was ST.
lent, and then as it became more light
heard it again l listoned-aud l knew
that it was


Our drummer boy from Tennessee


beating for help the reoetle.


l was about to desert my post to 90 to
his assistance when l discovered the off.
Ger fthe guard approaching with two men
We all listened to the sound, and were sat


sGed that it was Eddies drum. | asked
permission to 60 to his assistance. The
ollcer heSItated, saying that the order.
were to march IN twenty minutes prom
ised TO be back III that time and he con-
scented, L Immediately started down the
hill through the thick uudergrowtA, and
upon reaching the valley l followed the
sound OF the drum, and soon found him
seated upon the ground. AS soon as he
discovered me he dropped his drumsticks
and exclaimed. ooh, Corporal, am SC
glad to see you Give me drink, reach
lag out his hand for my eanteen, which
was empty. Immediately turned to
bring HIM some water from the brook
which | could hear ripping near by, when
thinking | was about to leave, he COM
menced crying, saying "Don't leave me
Corporal-I can't walk"


was soon back with the water, and
discovered that both his feet had been shot
off by g cannon bail, After satisfying hi.
thirst, he locked up into my face and said
"You don't think l will die Corporal, do
your This man said would not-hesaid
the surgeon could cure my feet" l now
discovered a man lying in the grass neal
him. BY his dress [ recognized him as
belonging to fhe enemy. 1t appeared
that he has been shot through the bowels
aud had fallen near where Eddie lay
Knowing that he could not live and seeing
the condition of the boy, he had crawleC
to him, taken off his buskin suspenders
and corded The little fellows legs below
the knee, and then lay down and died.
) While he was telling me these particulars
heard the tramp Of cavalry coming dow
| the ravine, and in moment Il scout 0
the enemy was upon us, and was takei
prisoner. requested the offcor to TAX
Eddie up in front of him, and he did so