Imagine achieving something extraordinary at just 11 years old. For Willie Johnston, it wasn’t winning a spelling bee, but earning the Medal of Honor while serving as a drummer boy in the Union Army during the Civil War. His story is a remarkable tale of youthful bravery and resilience, forever linked to the iconic blue uniform of the Union forces.
Young Willie Johnston in his Union Army drummer uniform, circa 1861, holding his drum.
During the tumultuous era of the 1860s, joining the military at a young age, though unusual today, was a reality. When Willie’s father enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 from their Vermont home, young Willie was determined to stay by his side. He pleaded to join, and surprisingly, the commanding officer agreed. Thus, Willie, barely a teenager, found himself in D Company of the 3rd Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment, amongst the army musicians, proudly wearing his Union Army uniform. This uniform, typically a smaller version of the standard issue, symbolized his commitment to the Union cause, even at his tender age.
Willie’s moment of extraordinary courage came during the Seven Days Battles, a series of clashes near Richmond, Virginia, from June 25 to July 1, 1862. These battles were part of General McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, an attempt by the Union Army of the Potomac to capture Richmond. However, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s forces pushed back fiercely, forcing a Union retreat down the Virginia peninsula.
Map detailing the Union Army's retreat route near Richmond, Virginia, in July 1862 during the Seven Days Battles. In the chaos of the retreat, many Union soldiers, burdened and exhausted, discarded their weapons and equipment to move faster. Even the musicians were compelled to abandon their instruments. Yet, amidst this widespread abandonment, young Willie Johnston stood out. When the exhausted Union troops reached safety, it was discovered that Willie was the only drummer in his entire division who had managed to retain his drum, a bulky and cumbersome item, alongside his Union Army uniform. This act of resolve and dedication did not go unnoticed. Willie was asked to play for the regrouping division, a symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of defeat.
News of Willie’s remarkable act of fortitude reached President Abraham Lincoln. Impressed by the young drummer boy’s spirit, Lincoln recommended Willie for the Medal of Honor, a decoration established around the time of the Seven Days Battles to recognize exceptional bravery. On September 16, 1863, at the age of 13, Willie Johnston received the Medal of Honor from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. To this day, he remains the youngest person ever to be awarded this prestigious military honor. Willie Johnston’s legacy is a powerful reminder that bravery knows no age, and his image in his Civil War Union Army Uniform, drum in hand, continues to inspire awe and respect.
