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carpetbagger

(4,795 posts)

18. My grandfather went into the army at 15.

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Reply #16)

Thu Aug 3, 2023, 10:42 AM

Aug 2023

Got kicked out when they found out his age. The next week he enlisted in the Navy. When he died, we had to decide what to put on his grave marker, since he was army, navy, wartime merchantarine, and wartime coast guard.

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A wild Civil War story for you all [View all] AntivaxHunters Aug 2023 OP

Thank you for your service John. Hotler Aug 2023 #1

9 year old in the line of fire of artillery shells?? Child labor laws have advanced a tad, now the Alexander Of Assyria Aug 2023 #2

Different realities. In those days parents lacking means Hortensis Aug 2023 #17

Powder Monkeys Doc_Technical Aug 2023 #31

Right. Drummer boys accompanying infantry into battle. Hortensis Aug 2023 #32

"Life is hard" stuck in the middle Aug 2023 #22

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_soldiers_in_the_American_Civil_War FYI Playingmantis Aug 2023 #23

I had already known this, but thanks for posting facts. Article txwhitedove Aug 2023 #27

Some recent good news stuck in the middle Aug 2023 #24

160 years, plus or minus a few Warpy Aug 2023 #33

I know a descendant of another Shiloh drummer boy and have seen the drum. Liberty Belle Aug 2023 #3

I shared with my niece in Temecula/Hemet duhneece Aug 2023 #8

What an interesting find.Thanks. The Wielding Truth Aug 2023 #30

1+ keithbvadu2 Aug 2023 #4

That look says: "Yeah. You want to secede and keep your enslaved people? Aristus Aug 2023 #5

Interesting story. I don't think I have heard this one before. Thanks for posting. LoisB Aug 2023 #6

Wow! Faux pas Aug 2023 #7

Thank you for this fascinating information. niyad Aug 2023 #9

I'd heard of him before, for a library program I put together called Kid History. intheflow Aug 2023 #10

Yeah, his parents should have gone on the internet and... bif Aug 2023 #13

I read a little more and his mother was killed in a train accident. intheflow Aug 2023 #35

Johnny be good! Bluethroughu Aug 2023 #11

Child soldiers are an abomination. WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2023 #12

Damn, that brought a tear to my eye. CaptainTruth Aug 2023 #14

Then there is the movie about the 12 year old who enlisted in the navy during We2. 3Hotdogs Aug 2023 #16

My grandfather went into the army at 15. carpetbagger Aug 2023 #18

Wow! 3Hotdogs Aug 2023 #21

It was made into a movie! Staph Aug 2023 #25

The last Civil War widow died in 2020. We are probably down to a handful of people brewens Aug 2023 #15

Pretty crazy she married a 93 yr old Tree Lady Aug 2023 #19

Some vets also wanted to pass along their pension which could have been of help, just sayin. appalachiablue Aug 2023 #34

General Clem Kennah Aug 2023 #20

I really don't know whether a child should be in combat. Martin68 Aug 2023 #26

Nobody is saying children should be fighting in wars! robbob Aug 2023 #28

The Civil War was 40-50 years before anyone thought seriously about child labor laws. intheflow Aug 2023 #36

Shiloh and Chickamauga were two of the most savage battles Martin Eden Aug 2023 #29

An entire life... Snackshack Aug 2023 #37