Drummer Boy of Chickamauga

Did you know …

 

One of the youngest Union soldiers was John Joseph Klem.  During the Civil War, Johnny changed his middle name to Lincoln because he liked President Lincoln so much. He also changed the spelling of his last name to Clem.

Born in Newark, Ohio, Johnny was only nine-years-old when he first tried to join the army. They turned him down because of his age.

Johnny didn’t give up. Relatives enlisted in the army. Many army units passed through his town and he tried to sign up. He was still too young.

He asked to join a Michigan unit. He was still too young and they also refused. He followed them, so the soldiers gave him jobs to do around the army camp. He became the drummer boy.

Johnny Shiloh

Johnny played the drum during the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. It was fought in April of 1862 when Johnny was ten. Cannon fire smashed his drum. Newspaper reporters wrote about the drummer boy who had his drum destroyed at Shiloh. They gave him the nickname, “Johnny Shiloh.”

At the Battle of Chickamauga

When Johnny was twelve, his unit fought at the Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia. Many soldiers he knew were captured. He climbed on a caisson, which is a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle that carried ammunition, and rode out of danger. He was captured later in the battle, but escaped.

The newspapers wrote about Johnny again, naming him the “Drummer Boy of Chickamauga.” He became a soldier.  Impressed with Johnny, General George H. Thomas promoted him to lance corporal.

In October of 1863, Johnny was captured while on guard duty. He was exchanged (released) for another prisoner a short time later.

Johnny carried messages for General Thomas. He had his pony shot out from under him. He was wounded twice before his discharge in September of 1864.

He showed great courage during the war.

 

– Sandra Merville Hart