Youngest Recipient of the Nation’s Highest Military Honor

Following the Battle of Malvern Hill, Drummer Boy Willie Johnston joined throngs of soldiers in a rain-soaked, 12-mile trek to the safety of the Union army base at Harrison's Landing. Willie managed to do something no other drummer boy did during the march—he kept his drum. What happened next resulted in him being awarded the Medal of Honor. He remains the nation's youngest recipient. Here's the story.

Image: Ronald S. Coddington Collection.

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[LrngMn]

I think it's tough because people hear 'Medal of Honor' and think qualifications are the same as today without realizing that before WW1, the 'Medal of Honor' was the only decoration the War Department bestowed upon soldiers.
Love your stuff.

[dresqueda]

It is always amazing to think of the variety of people who cared enough to serve in the civil war. It was a defining moment in US history, and this channel and the magazine are testaments to how incredibly momentous the civil war was. Thank you for all your work!

[curtgomes]

Great story. Little Willie Johnston, 11 years old, and a drummer boy in the US Army. That alone is hard to imagine. Just looking at this particular photo, I think it would be a very good one for colorization. His uniform and accoutrements, including the drum, must be very pretty and colorful indeed.

[hdrvman]

And they wouldn't accept a Metal of Honor recipient into West Point ?? What a shame !!!

[doncook]

Good kid! i note, however, that this 13 year-old has a thousand yard stare ... a fearful thousand yard stare.

[donwild]

A lot Medals of Honor awarded during the Civil War were later revoked, 911 Army awards and multiple Navy awards. Over 40% of all Medals of Honor were awarded during the Civil War, but for reasons which would not pass muster under the current rules. Several Medals were awarded to civilians, including Buffalo Bill and Mary Walker. These were revoked because the Medal was specifically restricted to members of the military, enlisted and officers, and neither Cody nor Walker were military..they were civilian employees. There was a Union raid in 1862 where Union soldiers under the command of James Andrews stole a Confederate train and used it to disable railway lines. Most of the raiders were captured and seven, including Andrews were hanged as spies. The raiders who escaped were the first recipients of the new Medal of Honor. Those who were executed were later awarded the medal posthumously, but not Andrews or his assistant Campbell, because these were technically civilian scouts...who were not members of the military. 864 medals were revoked because they were given to members of the 27th Maine Infantry Regiment for accepting extensions of their enlistments. Again...the MoH was the only medal at the time, but later restrictions mandated the revokation of medals which were held to be unacceptable under the review.