THE LITTLE HERO (Johnny Clem at Chickamauga) Nicole Hernandez Links by Michele Schafer
It was September 20, 1863, and Johnny Clem's heart pounded as he gripped his musket, his knuckles turning white. Now on the infantry line, the two years he had been in the Union Army flashed before his mind. He first remembered the strong and yet kind face of the man he adorned most - his father - and how this indecent Civil War had taken him away forever. From the moment that he and his mother found out the dreaded news that he had fallen in battle, Johnny knew that he must take his place. He then recalled that chilly night when he snuck out of his bedroom window to quietly join the army camp, knowing that it may be his last chance to do so. Hiding behind trees and bushes, and weaving in and out of the tall soldiers, the men were well on their way to their destination before they even discovered Johnny, and were too concerned for the ten-year-old boy's safety to send him back home alone.
It seemed such a long time ago! Since then he had traveled with the Union, faithfully beating out cadences on the drum they had given him. He had walked many miles, been cold, exhausted, and painfully hungry, and had seen many men pass on. Johnny had experienced several close calls himself and would have many scars to prove it, yet he was never allowed to carry a musket, and he hated being shot at without being able to shoot back. Finally, when his drum was destroyed at the Battle of Shiloh, it was time. Now, as he clung to his shortened musket, it was his chance, and he proudly joined his comrades as they began the battle. As Johnny charged forward, he was greeted by a frenzied Confederate colonel on a majestic horse, galloping full speed ahead. His eyes aflame, the colonel bellowed and swore with hatred, "Surrender, you little Yankee!" Having only seconds to think, with trembling hands Johnny raised his musket, aimed, and shut his eyes as the deafening sound of the shot exploded in his ears. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the man had fallen from his horse.
Before he had time to take in the fact that he had slain a man, he felt a sudden, excruciatingly sharp jab in his side; he doubled over with pain as the wound in his hip throbbed, and moments later he was roughly dragged to a place where several of his comrades were being held as prisoners. As the prisoners of war were being led to the rear, anger mixed with fear began to raise up in Johnny's heart, "I will not let them have the victory!" With this thought he was struck with an idea. Promptly, Johnny swooned, fell to the ground, and held his breath. He felt several harsh nudges and kicks, and a strange voice pronounce him dead. With that, Johnny heard the footsteps of the company become softer and softer as they left him on the battlefield. When he was sure that they were gone, Johnny carefully lifted his head. Seeing no one close to him, he painfully began to crawl back in the opposite direction towards his own side. When men came closer, he would drop back to the ground quickly to deceive them. It seemed like hours passed as Johnny made his way, crawling inch by inch across the bloodied, smoke filled field, thick with the stench of battle, his wound still causing him to wince in pain. Yet he knew he could not give up, no matter what came to pass.
At last, he spied the familiar uniforms and voices of his men on the Union side. A man spotted Johnny, covered with dirt and bloodied scrapes and bruises, still crawling slowly towards them. Just as the astonished man reached the boy, he closed his eyes in relief and exhaustion. It seemed like only a few minutes later when Johnny opened his eyes and found himself in the hospital. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw an official looking man in a uniform sitting in a chair next to his bed, staring at him. As Johnny blinked several times, the man's surly voice chuckled and said, "I heard you had quite a day, young man! I am General George Thomas. And how old are you?" His throat being dry, Johnny managed in a hoarse whisper, "Twelve, sir." "Twelve, you say? I must say, you are the scrawniest lad I have ever made a lance sergeant! How would you like that?" Johnny smiled weakly, and nodded off back to sleep, thinking that he wished his father could see him now.
1. How old was Johnny when he joined the Union army? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
2. When did Johnny lose his drum? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
3. What strategy did Johnny use to return safely to the Union side? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
4. Give three possible reasons why Johnny wanted to join the Union army. _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
5. Why do you think that General Thomas visited Johnny and promoted him to lance sergeant? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
6. Do you think "The Little Hero" is a good title for this story? Why or not? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
"THE LITTLE HERO (Johnny Clem at Chickamauga)" Outline
I. Johnny at the Infantry Line
A. Remembers father
B. Remembers night he joined the Union
C. Remembers being drummer boy and then getting a musket
II. Johnny at Battle
A. Confederate colonel charges, Johnny shoots
B. Johnny receives wound and is led away by enemy
C. Johnny thinks to play dead and crawl back to own side
III.Johnny in the Hospital
A. Awakes and sees General George Thomas
B. Johnny is promoted to lance sergeant
Answers to Questions:
1. 10 years old
2. At the Battle of Shiloh
3. "Played dead" and crawled back to the Union side
4. Answers may vary
5. Answers may vary
6. Answers may vary
Sources Downey, Fairfax. Storming of the Gateway-Chattanooga,1863. New York: David McKay Company, Inc., 1960. Foster, Stephen T. "Johnny Clem - Drummer Boy of Chickamauga". Civil War Atlas Editions.