Children, Inside Their War

JPK Huson 1863

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Location
Central Pennsylvania
The war was quite simply everywhere, permeating life's fabric, seeping through keyholes of doors determinedly shut against its intrusion. Visiting families in the form of sons and fathers and brothers or uncles missing in their midst away somewhere over distant horizons it was a rare household unaffected between the years 1861 and 1865. Children born in the late 1850's could not remember a world not at war, peers born a few years later would join them in one day having to learn how to adjust to a world at peace.

Here's how they coped. We see these photographs and imagine it is merely parents dressing children as tiny soldiers. Not so sure. Guessing it is also children identifying with the men of their world. It's all they knew, and for all they knew war was the whole world, which doesn't occur to us as outsiders looking in from a 150 year's distance.

Have to say, a couple look pretty 'real' . Please no one take that as an op to begin an argument. I said they look real.

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This says " Taken New Haven Ct. June 14-1861 ". Yes, there is a photographer's stand behind him. Does not mean post mortem, lots of posers had these behind them. This is surely just a child dressed up.

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Ok, well having given these two a fourth, fifth and 6th look there is something fishy here. Rats The boy on the right is frankly upset, not just camera shy. Boy on left has extremely awkward form on left hand and now, with photo larger, an odd eye. Thought it was just a nice, patriotic kids image, not so sure.

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We all know who was surrounded by soldiers and war. Tad Lincoln's photo also shows us how exact children's uniforms could be.

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She is too dear.

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These 2 are a riot. Could you imagine the boy really trying to cart that drum anywhere?

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So this-assuming a child with barrel of gun almost as long as his forearm

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The older one looks to be old enough to have been a drummer boy- no uniform. Both have stands behind them. Perhaps a father or brother was in a band? There's a genuine belt worn by the youngest boy, both drums look very real.

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Just a little military, brass buttoned jacket

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Popular theme, children being dressed as drummers.

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Or just in proximity, without the dress

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Now for the real thing? That's a real drum harness he's wearing. Maybe in some local band.

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I think maybe he's supposed to be zouave?

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Very fierce.
 
The boy in photo #7 above (holding the revolver) was David Wood, 6th Mo. Cavalry. He claimed he was 14 when he enlisted. However, he was born in 1851, and was actually 11. After the war, he moved to Colorado, became extremely wealthy, and died in 1944. A couple of his daughters (Frances and Dorothy) were involved in creating the "Dick and Jane" books that many of you may have suffered through while learning to read.

John Clem, pictured above, was a real C.W. drummer.

The two boys in photo #6 may have been real drummers. I am not sure about them = does anyone have any further info?

The others pictured above all are kids with photographers props, toy drums, etc.
 
Yes, Johnny was astonishing wasn't he? The children who really did go to war are a whole ' nother topic- sometimes a contentious one. It's funny. We'll celebrate Johnny Clem and yes, had heard of David Wood ( thank you! ), had not realized that's who it was ( thanks to Pinterest where photos and their ID's inevitably become parted ) but belief in other child participants tends to be pretty disbelieved. Bet they were out there, poor little guys.

Once in awhile I'll come across a book in archives, a nurse of the era speaking of a child dying in a hospital, an awfully young drummer boy we've never heard of- will go try to track him down with no luck. It's terrible because a 15 year old drummer boy seems old enough to be out there! You think " Oh well, 15, that's just fine! " We think one of my grgrgrandfathers was 15 when he joined ( He was hysterical for the rest of his life about his age- we never have been able to figure out his birthdate ). What I want to know is whose idea was it, that a small boy would take the job of drumming in battles? That is crazy. Who in blazes said " Well, we're going to need to let the men know what to do, OH let's use a drum- hey, Henry, go dig up a little kid for that job. "
 
James Marten's work, The Children's Civil War, speaks to the issue very well. It's a great read for anyone interested in this aspect.
 
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