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Many believed that Alexander H. Johnson was the first black musician to enlist in the army during the Civil War, however, he was not really the first. Technically, at least…

After the start of the war at Fort Sumter, people were lining up to enlist and join the army. The soldiers had multiple motivations for volunteering. Some did it to…

Born on February 13, 1847, Hamilton Wetherby was just 15 years old when he mustered into the US army on August 20, 1862, and became a drummer boy for the…

Felix Voltz was 18 years old (possibly younger) when he ran away from home on January 30, 1865 to enlist (to his family’s dismay). He mustered out with the company…

Felix Voltz was 18 years old (possibly younger) when he ran away from home on January 30, 1865 to enlist (to his family’s dismay). He mustered out with the company…

Felix Voltz was 18 years old (possibly younger) when he ran away from home on January 30, 1865 to enlist (to his family’s dismay). He mustered out with the company…

Felix Voltz was 18 years old (possibly younger) when he ran away from home on January 30, 1865 to enlist (to his family’s dismay). He mustered out with the company…

Felix Voltz was 18 years old (possibly younger) when he ran away from home on January 30, 1865 to enlist (to his family’s dismay). He mustered out with the company…

Flags of the 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Taken from Indiana University Department of History. Letters and diaries are often of more interest for the light they throw upon a way of life…

Flags of the 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Taken from Indiana University Department of History. Henry Lawson Bert was born at Jimstown, Ohio, on August 15, 1845, the son of Peter Bert and…

Before the American Civil War, Midshipmen studied for four years at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. They also trained aboard ships each summer. When the Civil War…

Born around 1847 in Millwood, Guernsey County, Ohio, Thomas Vance enlisted in the Union Army in the 69th OVI Company I in 1862. Lying about his age to get in…

Thomas Vance’s service record entry muster out Nine letters that Thomas wrote during the Civil War were preserved and sent to Bowling Green State University. The letters dating between April…

Thomas Vance’s wound record Nine letters that Thomas wrote during the Civil War were preserved and sent to Bowling Green State University. The letters dating between April 8, 1862 and…

a self-portrait sketch of Julian Scott a sketch by Julian of his home Julian Scott was 15 years old when he enlisted as drummer and fifer with the 3rd Vermont…

William Bircher lived in Minnesota when fighting began in the civil war. Like most 15 year-old boys William was excited by this war business. William wanted to become a solider…

William Horsfall was just 14 when he left home with three friends, without money, or a warning to his parents, and stealthily boarded the steamer, Annie Laurie, moored at the…

Aaron’s story told by a descendant Aaron’s grave with GAR marker Romaine Stauffer Aaron Stauffer  [1847-1869] enlisted in 1864 at age 17, trained in Harrisburg, assigned to infantry, wounded at…

              THE DRUMMER BOY OF SHILOH Among the many who fell on the Federal side was little Henry Burke, the 13-year-old drummer boy, who…