Civil War drummer boys

Nine-year-old John Lincoln "Johnny" Clem fled his Newark, Ohio, home in May 1861 to enlist in the Union Army. Still, the Army was reluctant to draft a small youngster. He was turned down by the 3rd Ohio Regiment commander, who stated that they "weren't enlisting infants." Clem would not give up and tried his luck with the 22nd Michigan Regiment, but he was turned down again. Clem, unflinching, followed the regiment, adopted the persona of a drummer boy, and was granted permission to remain. He was not formally recruited, but he did camp work and was paid $13 a month [...]