Civil War Union Soldier. At age 8 years and two months, he was enlisted as a musician in Company L of the 21st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, one of the first three-year enlistment regiments from the state. At the time of his enlistment up to the present day he is believed to be both the youngest soldier in the Civil War, as well as the youngest soldier in the history of the United States Army. His regiment was assigned to Major General Benjamin F. Butler's Spring 1862 expedition to seize New Orleans, Louisiana, and he served in the campaign until he was captured at the August 5, 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge. He was later freed with other Union prisoners when the city capitulated on August 20, 1862, and he marched with his regimental band into the taken city. He was discharged from his service on September 11, 1862, a veteran of a full year in the War. However, he soon re-enlisted with the 21st, which had been reorganized and renamed the 1st Indiana Volunteer Heavy Artillery in February 1863. He continued his service to the end of the war and beyond, finally being mustered out with his unit in February 1866. He lived only a short time afterwards, passing away at age 17 in 1872. The drum he used during the war was carefully preserved by his mother, and was passed down to successive family members until it was donated to the Indianapolis Children's Museum, where it can be seen today.
Civil War Union Soldier. At age 8 years and two months, he was enlisted as a musician in Company L of the 21st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, one of the first three-year enlistment regiments from the state. At the time of his enlistment up to the present day he is believed to be both the youngest soldier in the Civil War, as well as the youngest soldier in the history of the United States Army. His regiment was assigned to Major General Benjamin F. Butler's Spring 1862 expedition to seize New Orleans, Louisiana, and he served in the campaign until he was captured at the August 5, 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge. He was later freed with other Union prisoners when the city capitulated on August 20, 1862, and he marched with his regimental band into the taken city. He was discharged from his service on September 11, 1862, a veteran of a full year in the War. However, he soon re-enlisted with the 21st, which had been reorganized and renamed the 1st Indiana Volunteer Heavy Artillery in February 1863. He continued his service to the end of the war and beyond, finally being mustered out with his unit in February 1866. He lived only a short time afterwards, passing away at age 17 in 1872. The drum he used during the war was carefully preserved by his mother, and was passed down to successive family members until it was donated to the Indianapolis Children's Museum, where it can be seen today.
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