GDG- Johnny Shiloh - the movie, book and reality (?)

[Richard & Sue Ann Schaus]

Hi,
The minimum age for enlistment as a soldier was 18, although many
younger than that were able to enlist.  One source says that 25 boys
enlisted in the Union Army at age 10 or under.  A parent's permission
would easily nullify the age 18 requirement.  There was no minimum for
drummer boys and musicians.  Getting in as a musician or drummer boy was
dependent on musical talent and boys of 12 and up could be taken.
Drummer boy Charlie King, Co F, 49th PA was 15 when he was killed at
Antietam.  According to William Frassanito in "Antietam The Photographic
Legacy of America's Bloodiest day", Charlie King was the youngest
soldier from either side to die as a direct result of combat during the
Civil War.
According to "These Honored Dead", Henry Barker, Pvt, Co E, 11th MA, was
18 years old when he died on 12 July 63.  If he was actually only 14
that would make Barker the youngest to die as a result of combat in the
CW.
It seems that the age limitation for drummer boys was often determined
by the regimental commander, as was the case with Johnny Clem's attempt
to join the 3rd OH.

VR, Rick Schaus



-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at gdg.org [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at gdg.org] On
Behalf Of Kathy Cronin
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 6:37 PM
To: GDG
Subject: Re: GDG- Johnny Shiloh - the movie, book and reality (?)

Esteemed GDG member Contributes:

Any idea what the minimum age was?  Henry Barker of the 11th MA was 14 
when he died at GB.

Kathy Cronin



Richard & Sue Ann Schaus wrote:

>Esteemed GDG member Contributes:
>
>Hi,
>
>Sorry, I had his age wrong in my earlier post.  Johnny was 9 years old,
>not 11, when he ran away to enlist.
>Sorry about that.
>
>VR, Rick Schaus
>


You may unsubscribe by going to
http://roundtop.arthes.com/mailman/listinfo/gettysburg