Sergeant Johnny Clem in 1863, after the Battle
Sergeant Johnny Clem in 1863, after the Battle of Chickamauga. In 1861, he was too young to join the 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, but attached himself to the unit anyway, and was eventually allowed to enlist as a drummer boy in May 1863. At age 12, while in the Battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 1863, he shot a Confederate colonel who had demanded his surrender. He was promoted to sergeant, becoming the youngest noncommissioned officer in US Army history
Picture No
13123846
Media ID
45370881
Size
2159px x 3000px
(841KB)
Credit
Mary Evans / The Everett Collection
Source
Courtesy Everett Collection
