The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

 

THE DRUMMER BOY OF SHILOH

By William Hodges

 

On Shiloh’s dark and bloody ground, the dead and wounded lay; Amongst them was a drummer boy, who beat the drum that day. A wounded soldier held him up, his drum was by his side, He clasped his hands, then raised his eyes,  and prayed before he died.“Oh Mother” said the dying boy, “Look down from heaven on me; Receive me to thy fond embrace. Oh take me home to thee.  I’ve loved my country and my God.  To serve them both I’ve tried.”  He smiled, shook hands.  Death seized the boy, Who prayed before he died.  Each soldier wept then like a child,  Stout hearts were they and brave;  The flag his winding sheet, God’s Book  The key into his grave.  They wrote upon a single board,  These words: “This is a guide  To those who mourn the drummer boy,  Who prayed before he died.”  Ye angels ‘round the throne of grace,  Look down upon the braves  Who fought and died on Shiloh’s plain,  Now slumbering in their graves. How many homes made desolate,  How many hearts have sighed, How many like the drummer boy, Who prayed before he died.

Drummer Boy by Nast

The snowball fight

Snowball fight at Fredericksburg

 

Regiments of Confederate soldiers relieve the tedium of their winter bivouac near Fredericksburg with a huge snowball fight that ultimately involved 9,000 officers and men.  The good-humored battle was touched off on January 29, 1863, by spirited Texas and Georgia troops, many of whom had never seen snow before.

John Isaacs

John and Ruth Isaacs at the grave of John Isaacs

 

JOHN R. ISAACS

 

            John Isaacs was born in 1843 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  He enlisted in Co K of the 11^th VA Inf., “The Valley Regulators,” three days after the 1^st Battle of Manassas on July 24, 1861.  He fought in all of the 11^th Virginia’s battles.  He is listed as present on the June rolls of the 11^th VA and as a part of Kemper’s Brigade, he took part in Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.  John’s younger brother, George enlisted in the 11^th VA, and joined Co. K. on October 16, 1863.  George was killed at Drury’s Bluff, VA on May 16, 1864.  After the War, John R. Isaacs moved to Parke County, Indiana where he bought a farm and began his new life.  The Isaacs family still owns the farm.  John passed away in 1909 and was buried at the Methodist Cemetery in Waveland.  After the Methodist Cemetery fell into disrepair, John’s son, William moved his father to Maple Ridge Cemetery just north of Waveland where he rests today.