Aug 20, 2018
Encyclopedia of Badassery - Entry #789: Meet Johnny Clem of Ohio, who in 1862 - at age 10 - ran away from home to join the Union Army. He served as a drummer boy until the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863, when, using a sawed-off rifle cut down to fit his small stature, he shot a Confederate colonel who demanded his surrender. For this, Clem was promoted to sergeant, making him the youngest non-commissioned officer ever in the US Army, and he went on to fight - and be wounded - in several more battles. He was discharged in 1864 at age 13, but rejoined in 1870 after finishing high school and served for another 45yrs. #encyclopediaofbadassery #johnclem #drummerboyofchickamauga #unionftw