John clem, who had unofficially joined a union army regiment at the age of 9 as a drummer and mascot, became famous as the drummer boy. During the civil war the oftreported tales of brave little drummer boys became symbolic of feats of soldierly virtue and noble, selfless sacrifice. Author ann turner and illustrator mark hess team up to tell the story of a drummer boy who joins the union army in the u. Library of congress more information find this pin and more on military 1860s civil war. For more great articles be sure to pick up your copy of americas civil war. The civil war drummer was one of the most important members on either side for a unit or regiment. Civil war drummer boy based on a true story hardcover book listings on our website do not always reflect the current availability of books on our store shelves.
Almost every city, town, hamlet, or village who sent troops to war. Taken in by the older soldiers, johnny becomes a drummer boy, and later, takes up his own musket. I am always amazed how children focus on the glory of war, not the reality. Apr 03, 2009 this presentation is about drummer boys during the civil war. And the character of the drummer boy, besides being a fixture in civil war camps, became an enduring figure in american culture. Powerful history through the eyes of a young boy when johnny joins the confederate army as a drummer boy, he enters a world full of patriotism and adventure, breathtaking hotair balloons, cannons and campfires. American drummer boy is a wellmade coming of age saga about the civil war and its heroes. The little drummer boy gibson highland bagpipes duration. For that reason alone, he deserves to be remembered as the original drummer boy of the rappahannock. Boys of the civil war essential civil war curriculum. Drummers were usually boys too young to fight but knew the importance of a good drummer. Mar 01, 2018 the civil war affected the lives of everyone in the united states, including the children.
Ive wanted to write a book on the history and experiences of the civil war drummer boy for quite some time. People were fascinated by stories of him and he became a celebrity of sorts. Readers are introduced to william bircher, a 15 year old drummer. The book is the only childrens book written and illustrated by the renowned artist, romare bearden. The role of the drummer was not confined to simple stories. Robert henry hendershot, known as the drummer boy of the rappahannock, was an american civil war drummer boy known for his reputed heroics at the battle of fredericksburg, virginia, in december 1862.
Jun 07, 2016 john clem was perhaps the most famous drummer boy during the civil war. He ran away from home to enlist when he was 9, and he became the youngest boy to fight in the war. Thousands of teenagers joined the army and fought in the war, even though many of them were under 18 years old and some were just over 10 years old. Abbott, with illustrations by steven noble, is a fascinating novel for young readers, featuring blackand. Discover the life of a drummer boy in the civil war with this beautifully illustrated book, civil war drummer boy. Among these brave soldiers was a 10yearold boy from newark, ohio, whose name was john clem. Book listings on our website do not always reflect the current. Civil war, 18611865, 18611865, civil war about the edition when the confederate army calls, johnny puts aside playing games with his sisters and leaves his plantation home to serve as a drummer boy.
No matter what happens, a drummer boy in the civil war must keep playing his drum to relay orders and rally spirits. Drummer boys played important roles in the civil war, and some became soldiers. Infantry regiment moulthrop, photographer, phoenix building, 298 chapel st. As the war rages on, johnny experiences the brutalities of battle as well as the rampant illness and gnawing hunger in between. When you think about it, drummer boys are quite possibly the most important members in an army. The story gives voice to a young boy who learns to play a drum he creates himself, with the encouragement of mr. May 23, 2015 the american civil war museum recommended for you 1. A history of civil war drummer boys part 1 emerging. He has written several books including the civil war. Drummer boy clem during the american civil war little johnny was only 9 years old when he came up with a plan to leave both school and his home in order to join the union army. He has written several books including the civil war in spotsylvania, historic churches of fredericksburg and fundamentals of drumming for kids. Lori van buren times union lori van buren 3 of 8 grave stone information of civil war private bernard ross, albanys little drummer boy is seen in a records book at st.
Chickamauga battlefield war log fashioned into a writing desk ornament with inkwell. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. The best known of those young men was johnny clem of. Drummer boys played important roles in the civil war, and. Apr 04, 2012 alex esselveld, directormotion graphics, larry day, illustrator, peter day, music score and arrangements, greg beyers, strings. Drummers ostensibly held the rear in a battle line during the civil war. A thirteenyear old boy lies about his age to join the union forces during americas bloodiest war. Red cap is a historical fiction book, first published by g. In the illustrations the child, drummer boy ages before the eyes of the reader. It tells about his experience during the war and how important drummer boys were to the army at the time. The importance of drummer boys during the civil war. Sketching out a drummer boy book off beat with michael. It would be good in the classroom to show children a different a view of the army war.
Click download or read online button to get a civil war drummer boy book now. Not much is known about his first year and a half as a boy soldier, so abbott has created a realistic story of what might have happened. The book is told through a modern lens, though the reader does not figure this out until the very last page of the book. Over the last few years ive written dozens of posts here on the subject, collected. Sep 01, 2003 lil dan, the drummer boy is not just a pleasant and educational childrens book, but also an important addition to africanamerican literary history.
Jun 26, 2019 and the character of the drummer boy, besides being a fixture in civil war camps, became an enduring figure in american culture. We usually picture a young boy dressed in his pristine uniform marching at the front of a column beating out a cadence. Yet, despite its good photography and a few good scenes, it is likely to disappoint most viewers mostly due to its unjustified length and the predictability of the plot. A history of civil war drummer boys part 2 emerging.
Abbott, with illustrations by steven noble, is a fascinating novel for young readers, featuring blackandwhite illustrations and photographs throughout. The protagonist is an unnamed thirteen year old rural farm boy. Twelveyearold drummer boy william black was the youngest recorded person wounded in battle during the american civil war. The sacrifice of the civil war drummer boy off beat with. Civil war drummer boy based on a true story hardcover.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Jan 17, 2016 determined to fight for his country, johnny sneaks onto a train filled with men from the 3rd ohio union regiment. Marching to the civil war ann turner, mark hess on. Jul 27, 2016 some believe that the youngest soldier killed during the entire american civil war was a thirteen yearold drummer boy named charles king. It is amazing that a 12 yearold could be so close to the front. Johnny joins the confederate army as a drummer boy and learns to tap out songs to give soldiers instructions and encouragement. I researched what they did, and how important they were during the war. From the cadence of drum signals and lines of soldiers marching and hot balloons used for reconnaissance, to. He had enlisted as a drummer boy in the 49th pennsylvania volunteer infantry with the reluctant permission of his father. John clem, who had unofficially joined a union army regiment at the age of 9 as a drummer and mascot, became famous as the drummer boy of chickamauga where he played a long roll and shot a confederate officer who had. John clem was perhaps the most famous drummer boy during the civil war. Dec, 2011 albert woolson was a former union drummer boy and the last surviving civil war veteran.
Civil war drummer boy based on a true story series by e. No matter what happens, a drummer boy in the civil war must keep playing his drum to. A thirteenyear old boy lies about his age to join the union forces dur. The little civil war drummer boy the gettysburg compiler. Local mans book details adventures of civil war drummer boy. Civil war drummer boy by kristin odonnell tubb writing as e. A civil war drummer boy download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The civil war divided the united states and pitted north against south, brother against brother, and often children against children.
A civil war drummer boy download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Some believe that the youngest soldier killed during the entire american civil war was a thirteen yearold drummer boy named charles king. On the eve of a fateful battle, stephen, a drummer boy in the red legs regiment, thinks of home and the fight ahead. When one young boy, too young to fight, volunteers, he ends up serving as the drummer for the troops. Apr 09, 20 drummer boys civil war margaret thompson. Image courtesy of special collections, musselman library, gettysburg college when i think about the battle. But when the south surrenders the war and johnny returns home, nothing remains the same. Young stephen accompanies his father to a battle reenactment in which the nineyearold plays the role of a.
The book is about a 16yearold from fort dodge who joined the union army during the civil. This book gives children a glimpse of what it was like to be a drummer boy during the civil war. Lil dan, the drummer boy is not just a pleasant and educational childrens book, but also an important addition to africanamerican literary history. Powerful history through the eyes of a young boywhen johnny j. It is a wonderful book that does not talk down to children. The audio version of this civil war story is read by maya angelou, in her calm and soothing cadence. Im tempted to claim to be biased, having harassed the author when she was child and friend of my baby sister, but bias has nothing to do with how much i loved this book. Civil war drummer boy is a very powerful and real story told with none of power or reality missing. This article was written by anthony patrick glesner and originally appeared in the january 2004 issue of americas civil war magazine. Determined to fight for his country, johnny sneaks onto a train filled with men from the 3rd ohio union regiment. The illustrations in the book reflect his trademark artistic style, and as a result, the book not only sheds light on the civil war.
This book by ted lewin chronicles the experiences of the little drummer boy red legs in the american civil war. Civil war drummer boy by kristin odonnell tubb writing as. John lincoln clem was a young patriot who chose to fight with union soldiers during the civil war. A short motion graphics film about a very young southern drummer. Find my wood carving patterns when you subscribe site at. Jerry rowe, of fort dodge, shows a copy of his recently released book the hard luck drummer boy. As a civil war survivor he says what many other veterans of more recent wars have shared with me of their experiences. His brother, jed, has already gone ahead to him into battle, and the boy. On the eve of a fateful battle, stephen, a drummer boy in the red legs.
Guaranteed original civil war artifacts, located in the heart of downtown gettysburg. Lincolns drummer was published in 1995 and orions, the drummer boy of vicksburg, in 1997. Born in antwerp, ny on february 11 in 1847, he died at the age of 109 on august 2 in 1956 in duluth, minnesota. A book about a yr old boy who joins the army and becomes a drummer boy.
Gettysburg, pa 17325 capital of the confederacy civil war show. Taken in by the older soldiers, johnny becomes a drummer boy not to mention the. The importance of drummer boys during the civil war journey. Jul 17, 2017 the sacrifice of the civil war drummer boy it is very easy to forget about the blood and carnage experienced by the civil war drummer boy. Photo found of barney ross, albanys civil war drummer boy.
John lincoln clem, at age 9, ran away from home and attached himself to an ohio regiment as a drummer boy. The book takes placed during the american civil war in 1862. When johnny joins the confederate army as a drummer boy, he enters a world full of patriotism and adventure, breathtaking hotair balloons, cannons and campfires. Never underestimate the heart of a child, nor a childrens book for matter. Without the foreword explaining the purpose of drummer boys during wars such as the civil war, i suspect that readers would be lost since the rhyming text plunges readers right into the heat of the action as war is waged across the land. Recognizing the role of the drummer in the war, walt whitman, when he published a book of war poems, titled it drum. And the character of a drummer boy was often featured in works of fiction, including a number of childrens books. In a war in which more than 250,000 participants were underage children and youth, the history of the battlefields and military life of the civil war is written in the journals and letters of charles william bardeen, william bircher, elisha stockwell, johnnie wickersham, and other boys.