FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Drummer Boy Willie Johnston ~ May 6, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Drummer Boy Willie Johnston
Info from here and here.

           

William E. "Willie" Johnston, drummer boy of Company D, 3rd Vermont Infantry, has the distinction of being the youngest soldier to ever receive the Medal of Honor, presented to him at age 11 for gallantry on the battlefield in the Seven Day Battle Peninsula Campaign of 1862. Young Johnston is the subject of a book written, Mr. Lincoln's Drummer, written by G. Clifton Wisler.

In the Soldiers' Record of the town of St. Johnsonbury, Vermont, it is written:

Born in Warrentown, St. Lawrence County, N. Y. Son of William Johnson, member of Company B, 3d Regiment. Resided with his father in St. Johnsbury when he enlisted. Age twelve years. Enlisted in Company D, 3d Regiment, May 1, 1862. Mustered into United States service same day. Drummer. Re-enlisted at Brandy Station, Va., February 15, 1864. Transferred to Company H, February 15, 1864, and thence, as Drum Major, of 20th Regiment of Veteran Reserve Corps. Mustered out of service December 30, 1864.

Willie was with the 3d Regiment in the tedious and hazardous conflicts of the seven days campaign in the Peninsula, and received from the Secretary of War a star medal for heroic conduct during this time. This conduct was meritorious beyond that of other drummers, in so much as he retained his drum and brought it off on the retreat, while they, to lessen their burdens, threw theirs away. Upon reaching Harrison's Landing Willie's was the only drum to be found for use at the division parade.

 

William "Willie" Johnston (born July 1850), from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was a drummer boy in Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. His service during the Seven Days retreat in the Peninsula Campaign was exemplary. He was the only drummer in his division to come away with his instrument, by no means a trivial accomplishment. As a result, he received the Medal of Honor on the recommendation of his division commander, thereby becoming the youngest recipient of the highest decoration at 13 years of age.

Johnston was born in Morristown, New York in 1850. Apparently his family moved to Salem, Vermont (now Derby). When his father enlisted in December, 1861, young Willie begged to go with him. The commanding officer agreed. He was enlisted as a drummer boy on December 11, 1861 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He was 11 years old and five feet tall.

Johnston's first fight was at Lee's Mill, Virginia, on April 16, 1862.

During his next campaign, the Seven Days Battles from June 25 to July 1, 1862, Johnston was cited for bravery.

During that retreat many men threw away all their equipment so they would have less weight to carry. Johnston, however, retained his drum and brought it safely to Harrison's Landing. There, he had the honor of drumming for the division parade, he being the only drummer boy to bring his instrument off the battlefields. Johnston's division commander noted this fact and included them in his report. President Lincoln heard the story and wrote Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, suggesting the youth be given a medal. Stanton agreed, and Willie Johnston was presented his Medal of Honor September 16, 1863, at the age of 13, for a deed performed when he was but 11 years of age.

This was the second Medal of Honor ever awarded. Secretary Stanton presented the actual award.

There is no Medal of Honor Citation as the date and place of act are not on record in War Department. Until the establishment of the Medal of Honor there was only one medal a soldier could receive: a Purple Heart. However, since the Purple Heart had not been awarded since the Revolutionary War, and would not be used again until World War I, the Medal of Honor was effectively the only award available to U.S. military personnel at the time of the Civil War.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good for your Mom...

And your sacrifice for Linda’s enjoyment is admirable.

Have a good first day back at work.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...hope you had a nice weekend.

You and Bo have a great Monday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

Monday Morning Coffee Bump.

[beachn4fun]

well, look was waiting for me...

a

50

[beachn4fun]

well, look was waiting for me...

a

50

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. Austin broke another record with 44º morning. I slept in since I had to work until midnight.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.
Ok, as a mother whose son went into the Marine Corp. at 21,
and being a total wreck about it
I can't imagine how Willie's mother felt
when he went into battle zone at 11.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon.
High 66F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

~ Tonight... Cloudy with occasional rain showers.
Low 56F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Yeah, well, here we are back at Monday already.
Another busy weekend.
However, this weekend, except for Mother's Day on Sunday,
we don't have roads to run.
They're calling for rain this weekend
but if it doesn't I'll try to get some flowers planted.

Now I need to make my rounds and get to work.

But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

BELL, RICHARD WILLIAM
10/2/1969
KIA ~North Vietnam
Over water

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning dear ((HUGS))

Slacker! Sleeping in until, what, six?

LOL

[left that other site]

I am still pretty sick. Grrrr. I might have to cancel today too. (sigh)

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

All is well. Getting ready to start on work.

Howz it with you?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))) to you too.

I slept in until after 630 this morning for a change.

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!!

Whew, what a hot weekend, we were near 90 each day! Kept the AC on and laid low.

Cooler, but continued sunny weather this week, sure beats the rain!

My coffee cup runneth empty, better go...

Have a warmlicious day!

[beachn4fun]

Ouch! Sorry you’re sick.

[beachn4fun]

LOL

0630. That’s a good sleeping in time. I try to do 0600 when I’m off.

One day, not long ago I was suppose to work from home and my boss said he needed me come in and I said something like, shoot I was looking forward to sleeping in until 5:30. He wrote back that he had never, ever used those two words in the same sentence...sleep in...and...0530.

But for us early birds that is sleeping in, isn’t it?