Boys to Men

    No one knows how many soldiers in the American Civil War were under the age of seventeen at enlistment. The majority of records do not list age or date of birth. From the information we do have it is safe to say that tens of thousands of soldiers were between the ages of 11 and 17.

    Many entered the service as musicians. Some of the drummers were so short that their regulation drums dragged the ground as they marched. Smaller drums had to be obtained for them to use. A large number of these young buglers, fifers and drummers became members of fighting units soon after being mustered in.

    William Horsfall was 14 years old when he ran away from his home in Kentucky to join the Confederate Army as a drummer. Just one year later he fought as a sharpshooter in Mississippi where he earned the Medal of Honor for dragging a wounded captain off the battlefield. It is interesting to note that he did so after being asked by a lieutenant who was probably older and stronger than William.

    As always, the photos on this blog are mine. The information is taken from the book "Babes in Arms. Boy Soldiers in the Civil War" by Anne Palagruto, published in 2010, pages 112-113.