This Poem was Submitted By: kevin Dunn On Date: 2015-08-07 16:38:11 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!

Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!


Jonny Clem Dummer Boy

 JONNY CLEM AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA CREEK. On a cold September dawn just as the sun was rising a boy of eleven summers rubbed the sleep around his eyes. Crouched amid the willows with the Chickamauga sighing Captain Keeler whispered “When I raise my sabre high..... Beat your drum Jonny Clem, little Jonny Shiloh Play for old glory and the souls of all good men. Soon they'll come Jonny Clem, you'll see the bayonets gleaming Charging through the jaws of Hell to the sound of a Gatling gun. Here they come Jonny Clem, screaming like the Devils choir That awful rebel yell's enough to set cold steel afire. The battle raged around as the water stained with red The Chickamauga creek filled up with Reb and Yankee dead. Even the brave and the bold men had to fall from musket and from bayonet and from thundering cannon ball. When the battle was ore' and taps began to sound They sent the word to Thomas how young Jonny held his ground. How as the bullets whorled around they could hear the drum still sounding as he played for old glory and the souls of all of them. You beat your drum Jonny Clem, for the men of Chickamauga you played for old glory and the souls of all good men. Beat your drum Jonny Clem. Note. John Lincoln Clem was the last surviving soldier who fought in the American civil war. Died May 
th 1937. He also drummed at the battle of Shiloh 4 Months before Chickamauga. At the time he was age 10 years. A true American hero.

Copyright © August 2015 kevin Dunn

Additional Notes:
writing.com


This Poem was Critiqued By: Ashni Irey On Date: 2015-08-25 08:33:00
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.75000
Kevin, Thanks for putting in that note. I'd have been wondering where you got the idea for this poem. Now that I know the historical fact, I'd say that to write a poem about this young soldier, his story must have touched your heart. I actually looked him up on Wikipedia and found a picture of him at a young age. Great story and good read.


This Poem was Critiqued By: Joe Gustin On Date: 2015-08-14 10:52:08
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
A most interesting read. I am a history buff myself and know well the battle of Shiloh. CHICKAMAUGA CREEK is unknown to me. Also that they use soldiers as young as ten is incredible and unthinkable today. Thank you for so teaching me something new about the American Civil War. I enjoy how your work flows so easily.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Medard Louis Lefevre Jr. On Date: 2015-08-14 01:28:21
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Love it. Combination of poetry and history. An unassuming creek, the river of death. Rosencrans' miscalculation, Longstreet's advantage. Interestingly, Pres. Lincoln's brother-in-law, Confederate general Benjamin Helm was killed at Chickamauga and Jonny(Lincoln)Clem survived to be appointed a general in retirement. Wonderful poem! Thanks! Medard
Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

Click HERE to return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!