Johnny Shiloh Clem - Drummer Boy
Catagory: history
American Drumline Hero
1851-1937
John Lincoln Clem (Klem) was among the youngest soldiers ever to serve in the United States Armed Forces, he was just ten years old when he started.
Johnny wanted very much to be a part of the great war. He began cutting classes so he could drill as a drummer boy with a local unit—Company H, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Johnny’s first attempt to join a regiment in his home state of Ohio ended in failure. The Commander of the 3rd Ohio Regiment told Johnny that the unit “wasn’t enlisting infants” and turned the boy down. It wouldn’t be much of a story if this little drummer stopped there.
Unit after unit marched through the town of Newark, Ohio, and each time the commanders told Johnny to go home. In 1861, this soon to be hero’s life took an amazing turn. It was in 1861 that Johnny’s mother passed away. Shortly after this tragedy, Johnny ran away from home. He was determined to answer President Lincoln’s call to arms. He was determined to join the Federal Army.
When the next Federal unit (Co. C 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry) marched south through Newark, Ohio, Johnny simply tagged along and refused to go away. He pretended to be a drummer boy and soon became popular with the men of Company C. Eventually the men of the 22nd adopted him as their mascot and drummer boy.
A couple of years later Johnny officially enlisted with the unit and was paid thirteen dollars a month for his service.
It was April of 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, that fragments of cannon shell smashed the boy’s drum. This event earned him the nick name of “Johnny Shiloh.”
A year later, at the Battle Of Chickamauga – where he became known as “Drummer Boy of Chickamauga”, Johnny was given a musket cut down to his size. During a Union retreat, he hitched a ride on a caisson – four-wheeled military cart.
As the caisson was pulled away from the battle, a Confederate officer took notice and started after it. As the Confederate officer moved closer, Clem shouted out for him to surrender. Ignoring the boy, the Confederate officer came yet closer yelling, “Surrender you damned little Yankee!” Johnny fired his pint size weapon and shot dead the Confederate Colonel.
Johnny was later captured in the battle, but made a daring escape. Union General George H. Thomas promoted the boy to lance corporal for his efforts.
By 1893 Clem had risen to the rank of sergeant. In fact, he made the army his career and retired as a major general at age 65. Clem was the last man active in the armed forces who had fought in the Civil War. His battle résumé included Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Atlanta.
Johnny Clem’s life came to an end in 1937. He was honored with a final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and was buried with full military honors. Newark Ohio, his home town, honors this heroic drumline with a statue and an elementary school named in his honor.