Musician William "Willie" Johnston, though only age 11, served as a Musician with the 3d Vermont Infantry. He became the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor in its history for his gallantry during the Seven Day Battle and Peninsula Campaign in Virginia during the period from June 26 to July 1, 1862.[1][2]
MILITARY RECORD
Read the Regimental History of the 3rd Vermont Infantry,
Willie was born in Morristown, New York in 1850. His family had moved to Salem, Vermont. His father returned to Vermont to serve in the Civil War. When Willie's father enlisted in December, 1861, he begged to go with him. The commanding officer agreed and Willie was enlisted as a drummer boy on December 11, 1861 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He was 11 years old and five feet tall.[4]Willie would have weighed about 65 pounds. [5]
In June 1862, overpowered by Confederate forces, his unit retreated down the Virginia Peninsula under orders from General George McClellan. Along the way, the men discarded their equipment to hasten their pace. Willie clung to his drum throughout the march, refusing to abandon it. His superiors considered this a meritorious feat, when fellow soldiers had even thrown away their guns.[6][7]
As the troops were regrouping after their retreat, a Divisional Review was set for July 4th at Harrison's Landing, and young Willie Johnston was selected by General William F. (Baldy) Smith to play for the whole division in recognition of his service in keeping his drum while others threw away their equipment. Smith also noted that fact in his report; President Lincoln learned of the story and suggested to Secretary of War Stanton that the boy be decorated. Some have speculated whether the death of his son Willie, also eleven years of age, only five months earlier influenced the President's response to the story. Willie was awarded the Medal of Honor by Stanton personally on September 16, 1863.[8]
Willie was the youngest recipient of this highest decoration at 13 years of age for actions performed when he was 11 (almost 12) years old. [9]
Even though often held by the youngest soldiers, the responsibilities of a drummer boy were critical to success in battle:
in the noise and confusion of battle, it was often impossible to hear the officers’ orders, so each order was given a series of drumbeats to represent it. Both soldiers and drummers had to learn which drumroll meant “meet here” and which meant “attack now” and which meant “retreat” and all the other commands of battlefield and camp. (The most exciting drum call was “the long roll,” which was the signal to attack. The drummer would just beat-beat-beat — and every other drummer in hearing distance would beat-beat-beat — until all that could be heard was an overwhelming thunder pushing the army forward.)[10]
Music was also considered very important to the morale of the troops. Drummer Boys had many other important tasks in the Civil War besides drumming. They collected the wounded and dead from the battlefield after battle. Drummer Boys were employed to serve in field hospitals providing pain relief to amputee patients after it was discovered that vibrations produced by drumming on the still interrupted pain signals.[11]
Willie's unit mustered out July 11, 1865 when he would have been about 15. Willie would have spent a good part of his childhood, up to that point, at war. His unit fought in the fiercest battles including Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse and of course the Seven Days' Battle during which Willie earned his commendation. [12]His Congressional Medal of Honor is a historical record of something that would otherwise be difficult to believe.
Details of Willie's death and burial are unknown.[13] His death is sometimes reported as having occurred on 16 Sep 1941, but the source of that date is unknown.[9]
Drummer Boys of the. Civil War
Patriot's Point National Medal of Honor Museum
Interesting Fact: The Medal of Honor Museum is on the USS Yorktown, now docked at Patriot's Point, South Carolina.
J > Johnston > Willie Johnston
Categories: Roll of Honor Military Showcase Profile | Vermont | Seven Days' Battles | Nominated Profiles | Roll of Honor Military Showcase Profile Winner | 3rd Regiment, Vermont Infantry, United States Civil War | Medal of Honor
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