John L. Clem photograph   Save
Ohio History Connection Archives/Library
Description: Carte de visite portrait of John L. "Johnny" Clem of Newark, Ohio. Born on August 13, 1851, he was one of the youngest soldiers to serve in the Civil War. John left home and began traveling with the 22nd Michigan Infantry sometime in 1862. However, he was not officially enrolled in the regiment until May 1, 1863. John became well known as the “Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” but he and his regiment were not in that battle. It was actually the battle of Chickamauga in which Clem distinguished himself and nearly got captured. At 12 years old he became the youngest person ever promoted to a non-commissioned officer rank. As an adult, Clem was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 24th Infantry by President Ulysses S. Grant and eventually attained the rank of general in the U.S. Army. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1857_001
Subjects: Clem, John Lincoln, 1851-1937; Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Children--Ohio; Military officers
Places: Newark (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)