FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Drummer Boy Willie Johnston ~ 25 September 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In the World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

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---

~ 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! 

[luvie]

I’m glad it was the kind of weather that you and the kitties could enjoy comfortably! Cooler weather certainly gives me more energy, for sure!

Did you get any interest paid to Baby when you took her to the Cruise-In? I would be drooling all over her finish. LOL! But could never afford to buy her...not even her grill. :)

[radu]

It was only enjoyable late in the afternoon once the sun was behind trees to give us shade. It was still a bit warm in the sunshine. The weather report just ended and it’s going to be a roaster all week until the front comes through Thurs. We won’t be as cool as y’all are but we’ll have temps in the mid to upper 70s. That works!

There’s always interest in Baby but coming up with the money is the key. I’ve told Hubby he’s set the asking price a little too high for a 4-door but he won’t listen to me.
There’s a cruise-in on the mountain next Sat. and we’ll just try again. Hubby might go this time since they’re having a chili cook-off and he always enjoys that.

[luvie]

Mmmm...a chili cook-off sounds really good. But only if the weather is cooler. Chili is NOT a warm weather food to me. I hope he can find a buyer. And you may be right about it being high for a 4-door. The ultimate is the 2-door hardtop. But hope someone really wants that beautiful car!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Good evening Ma and gang!
*Group hug*

Howz everybody tonight?

[radu]

It’s supposed to be fairly cool Sat. and it’s always a little cooler on the mountain. A lot of folks show up for this cruise-in for the chili as well as the cars.
There’s another cruise-in/chili cook-off closer by in a couple of weeks, provided it doesn’t rain.

4-doors are getting more popular as time goes by though 2-doors will always be THE ultimate. I wanted a 4-door because it was SUPPOSED to be a daily driver but Hubby fixed it up too nice for that. GRRRRR!

[radu]

Howdy there, MS.B! *HUG*

How are things with you this evening?
Things are going well enough here. Nothing exciting but that can be a good thing sometimes. LOL

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hi!
Same here, mostly house work and laundry.
Had a tough day keeping my Oxygen levels up (on my own)
so had to get back on my concentrater for a while.
I am trying not to be discouraged, it is early yet and
I need to keep doing my breathing exercises!

[luvie]

Heeeey, Sis! (((hugs)))

It’s good to see you! Did you have a nice Sunday?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
It was pretty good, Sis.
(see post 47)
*sigh*
LOL

[radu]

Housework and laundry. That sounds familiar. LOL
Got a load of stuff in the washer now.

Just keep doing those breathing exercises, frustrating as it is. You’ll get to put that concentrator to the wayside eventually. :-)

[luvie]

I know it’s annoying to have to use this contraption and you want to be better NOW, but try to be patient and do everything they’ve asked you to. Those exercises are done to build up your lung capacity.

But you know all this better than I do. LOL! Just DO it, ok? :)

We want you well, doggone it!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. Charming bio.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country and thanks Star for this morning's thread.

How's it going for you this morning?

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here...it’s cooler and I’m lovin’ it!

Hope you and Bo had a great weekend! Did he find many critters? Is it nearly time for them to go into hiding for winter?

[luvie]

It's Fall, Y'all!
How 'bout joining me...
...for some Pumpkin Spice tea?
It's yummy AND sooo seasonal!
Hope all of you had a good weekend!
Mine was very nice.
We had rain and cooler weather!
Kathy, this Night Owl is so sad
with you at the loss of your sweet mom!
May she rest in peace....
(((((hugs)))))

Eva Cassidy~Autumn Leaves

[E.G.C.]

It’s getting close. I think as we get closer to winter we may be focusing on moles and gophers.

[luvie]

He will miss his turtle buddies! :)