There are many legends from the Civil War surrounding drummer boys on the battlefield. Arguably, the most famous of these is about Johnny Shiloh, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee. The problem with this legend is that it is probably based on a boy named John Clem, who not only didn't in battle, he wasn't even at Shiloh. He did make a name for himself at Chickamauga, though.
Through a series of fortunate events, Clem not only survived the war, but was able to continue his service and become an officer after the war.
Clem ended up service in the Army for more than fifty years, and when all was said and done, he attained the rank of major general.
When he died at age 85, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 2, Grave 993 and despite his senior rank, he chose to highlight his exploits are a drummer boy on a civil war battlefield.
While John Clem was the youngest sergeant in US Army history, bugler John Cook hold the distinction as the youngest soldier to earn the medal of honor for actions on the battlefield, by single-handedly manning a cannon at Antietam after its crew was all killed or wounded. At least, single-handedly until a general rode by, hopped off his horse, and helped man the gun.
Unlike Clem, after the war, Cook returned to civilian life but was awarded the medal of honor 30 years later. His military service and his medal qualified Cook for burial at Arlington and when he passed away at age 67, he was interred in Section 17, Grave 18613.
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