by Suzanne Marsh

Created on: December 24, 2009

    "Johnny Shiloh, Johnny Shiloh ran off to be in Mr. Lincoln's Army: Johnny Shiloh, Johnny Shiloh the youngest bravest Yankee Drummer Boy."  The verse of a song written for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, starring Kevin Corcoran.  The verse was written for "Johnny Shiloh" based upon the life of John Lincoln Clem.  He was born August 13, 1851 in Newark, Ohio.  In May of 1861 he attempted to join the Third Ohio Infantry only to be rejected because he was to small for his age: he was nine years old.  He then proceeded to attempt to join the Twenty Second Michigan, but was also rejected however with a great amount of fortitude he persisted and eventually became their mascot, then a drummer boy.  The Officers of the Twenty Second Michigan chipped in to pay his monthly salary of thirteen dollars a month until he was finally allowed to enlist.

    The ledgend of Johnny Shiloh was born when Johnny Clem came very close to losing his young life when a shrapnel shell crashed through his drum knocking him unconscious : when he was found on the battle field of Shiloh and rescued he had earned his nickname: Johnny Shiloh.  Historically it is debateable since the Twenty Second Michigan had not yet been formed when the battle of Shiloh took place.  However there was a song "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga" which Clem did participate in with the Twenty Second Michigan; the song was written with John Clem in mind.

    During the Battle of Chickamauga he rode an artillery caisson, carrying a musket trimmed down to his size.  During the coarse of the Union retreat, he shot a Confederate Colonel who had demanded his surrender.  Clem was promoted to Sergeant after Chicamauga, making him the youngest Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, he was twelve years old.

     October 1863 he was captured by Confederate Calvary in Georgia where he was detailed as a train guard.  After his capture his Confederate captors took away his uniform which was said to upset him a great deal.  His cap had three bullet holes in it.  He was exchanged a short time later however the Confederate Newspaper made quite a propaganda show out of his release stating:  "what sore straits the Yankees are driven when they have to send their babies out to fight us."  John Lincoln Clem fought in a great many other battles including Perrysville during his career with the Army of the Cumberland serving as a mounted orderly.  He was wounded twice in battle and discharged in 1864.

    By 1870 he had graduated from high school and attempted to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point however he did not qualify.  However hearing about his plight, his Commander at Shiloh President U. S. Grant appointed him a Second Lietenant in the Twenty Fourth .  He graduated from Artillery School at Fort Monroe in 1875.  After a seven year stint he transferred to the Quartermaster Corp stationed at Fort Sam Houston where he rose to the rank of Colonel.  He served in the Spanish American War and requested to fight during the beginning stages of World War I, the request was denied.

    John Lincoln Clem passed away 13 May 1917 at the age of eighty eighty and was accorded the privilege of burial in Arlington National Cemetary.

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