Thanks to all 141 stations who took the time to work us on or around 7.190 ssb. The logs will soon be uploaded to LOTW and to the
www.cooken.org website where you can download and print your own handsome certificate.
Lots of civil war buffs out there!
Brief History:
John Clem, the "drummer boy of Chickamauga, was born in Newark, Ohio on Aug 13, 1851, When President Lincoln made a call for volunteers to join the Union Army to fight in the Civil War, Johnny ran away from home at age nine and tried to join the newly formed 3rd Ohio Infantry, in 1861. He was refused due to his young age, but he persisted and went to Michigan where he again tried to enlist , this time in the 22nd Michigan Infantry, where he was again refused. But his determination won over the officers who allowed him to join them as mascot and unofficial drummer boy. He was eventually allowed to enlist in 1863, at age 12.
Clem became famous for his actions at Chickamauga. For those actions, Clem was promoted to Sargent, and thus became the youngest NCO ever in the US Army history.
Clem went on to fight at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Kennesaw, and Atlanta, where he was wounded twice and was captured by the Conferate Army in 1863, reportedly with three bullet holes in his cap. The Confederte newspapers made fun of his youth and small size, saying it showed how depleted the Union Army was, for sending such a babe to fight. Clem was later exchanged for a Confedrate soldier and returned to the Union Army.
Clem was discharged from the Army in 1864, at age 13, and returned to school, graduating in 1870. Clem then reenlisted, and was granted the commission of 2nd Lieutenant, by President U.S. Grant, recognizing his fame and notoriety. Clem rose to the rank of Colonel, and Assistant Quartermaster General by 1906, and retired from the Army as Brigadier General in 1915.
Clem died in Texas in 1937, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
His home town of Newark, Ohio mounted a 6 ft bronze statue depicting the young Johnny Clem. Also a public school bears his name, and a WW I troop transport ship was named The John. L. Clem.
