What was the purpose of a drummer boy in the Civil War?
Responsible for beating out vital battle orders and communication signals, they were placed in harm’s way from the beginning of the fight to its conclusion. And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain.
Did drummer boys in the Civil War get paid?
The story tells us that the officers contributed some of their pay so he could earn a soldier’s salary of $13 a month. They had a little uniform made for him, too, and later they had a rifle cut down to size for him.
What was the average age of a drummer boy in the Civil War?
around 18
Who was a famous drummer boy during the Civil War?
John Lincoln Clem
How many drummer boys served in the Civil War?
Some report14 over 100,000 young boys under 15 actually volunteered for the Civil War, with around 300 less than 13 years of age and 25 who were 10 and under.
What is the legend of the drummer boy?
One of the legends of Shiloh was of a young drummer boy who died on the battlefield. Cast as a young lad who had run away from home to seek adventure, the drummer boy was representative of the many young and untrained soldiers who fought in the war
What was the average age for a drummer boy?
The average age for a drummer boy in the Civil War was around 18, and by 1864, the Union Army had forbidden the recruitment of boys under the age of 16, but still many joined to do their part and to become solders one day.
Did Army drummers get shot?
When the fighting began, drummers generally moved to the rear and stayed away from the shooting. However, Civil War battlefields were extremely dangerous places, and drummers were known to be killed or wounded
What was the role of a drummer boy in the Civil War?
Responsible for beating out vital battle orders and communication signals, they were placed in harm’s way from the beginning of the fight to its conclusion. And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain.
Who was the youngest soldier killed in the Civil War?
around 18
How old were the drummer boys of the Civil War?
As a result thousands of young boys between the ages of 13 and 17 fought in the Civil War. Many of these boys were killed or wounded in battle. The youngest of the boy soldiers usually ended up being drummers or messengers.
How old was the youngest boy in the Civil War?
The youngest soldier to fight in the Civil War was a boy named Edward Black. Edward was born on May 30 in 1853, making him just 8 years old when he joined the Union army on July 24, 1861, as a drummer boy for the 21st Indiana volunteers.
Who was the oldest drummer boy in the Civil War?
Lincoln Clem
How old was the youngest drummer of the war?
Twelve-year-old
Who was the most famous drummer boy?
John Clem
What were drummer boys in the Civil War?
They were stretcher bearers. They walked around the battlefield looking for the wounded and brought them to medical care. Many young boys marched off to war looking for adventure, but they found hard, dangerous work along with it.
Did the Confederate Army have drummer boys?
The bravery of the youngest soldiers in the Union and Confederate forcesthe drummer boyswon the hearts of their countrymen. … And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain.
Who was the most famous boy soldier during the Civil War?
Johnny Clem
Did they have drummers in the Civil War?
The bravery of the youngest soldiers in the Union and Confederate forcesthe drummer boyswon the hearts of their countrymen. … And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain.
What happened to the drummer boys in the Civil War?
Drummer boys played important roles in the Civil War, and some became soldiers. Johnny Clem, a sergeant by the time he was 12, was one of the youngest Union soldiers. … Many of the youngest boys served as drummers; they weren’t supposed to be fighters, but they did a very important job during the Civil War.
What is the legend of the drummer boy at Shiloh?
Among the many Civil War legends is the story of the Drummer Boy of Shiloh, a young lad who threw down his drum in favor of a musket. The stirring story, however, is shrouded by conflicting evidence. As the legend goes, a young drummer at Shiloh grabbed a musket during the heat of the battle
What was the point of a drummer boy?
Responsible for beating out vital battle orders and communication signals, they were placed in harm’s way from the beginning of the fight to its conclusion. And when the battle was over, drummer boys were also relied upon to police the field, helping to carry wounded men to the hospital tents, and to bury the slain.
Is the drummer boy story real?
It’s not certain who wrote the song, but the Little Drummer Boy is believed to have been written by Katherine K. Davis in 1941. The song lyrics are said to be based on an old Czech carol. … According to some reports, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone penned the lyrics to the song.
How did the story end in the drummer boy?
At the end of the story, Joby swallowed, wiped his eyes and cleared his throat, he settled himself. Then, at last, very slowly and firmly, he turned the drum so that it faced up toward the sky. What does this mean? He slowly calmed himself and turned the drum upward.
How old did you have to be to be a drummer boy?
Drummer Boys and Messengers Boys as young as 10 years old are on record as serving as drummers during the Civil War. Drummers were used for communication on the battlefield.
