American Drummer Boy

At 7:00 PM on October 30, 2009 the Auburn Historical Society presented a showing of the movie “American Drummer Boy” at the American Legion Hall in Auburn.

The independent film by Writer/Director C. Dorian Walker and Producer, Elain Nogay Walker, was shot in Logan, Warren and Simpson counties in Kentucky and in Memphis, Tennessee.

The story takes place in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and chronicles the coming-of-age of young Johnny Boone who runs away from his Kentucky farm in hopes of joining his hometown unit, Company A of the 11^th Kentucky Infantry, U.S. His adventures take him behind Confederate lines where he is captured and accused of being a spy. With the help of a shady English minstrel, he escapes but is forced to masquerade as a Rebel drummer with the 24^th Mississippi Regiment. He experiences battle on the other side before eventually escaping to the North and finding his unit. There while serving as a drummer boy, he demonstrates valor under fire and is awarded the Medal of Honor. 

American Drummer Boy is based on a compilation of true events. There are three real-life characters upon whose life the story is based. 

 William Horsfall, of Newport, Ky. (March, 3 1847 –October 22, 1922) age 14, who became one of the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor. The medal was awarded for saving the life of a wounded officer during the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi on May 21, 1862. 

Johnny Clem (August 13, 1851-May 13, 1937) born in Newark, Ohio, he ran away from home at age 11, to become a Union Army drummer boy. Twice he tried to enlist and was rejected because of his age and size. He tagged along anyway, and eventually the 22^nd. Michigan, adopted him as mascot and drummer boy. Officer’s chipped in to pay him the regular soldier’s pay of $13.00 a month, and finally allowed him to enlist two years later. He gained fame for his bravery on the battlefield, becoming the youngest noncommissioned officer in Army history. By special act of congress on August 29, 1916, he was promoted to Major General upon his retirement. 

Asa Lewis, born 1843, in Barren County, Kentucky, was a member of Company E, 6^th. Ky. Infantry Regiment of the “Orphan Brigade” of the Confederate States Army who, although serving with distinction, was sentenced to death December 26, 1862 at Murfreesboro, Tenn. by orders of General Bragg to shore up military discipline. He was killed by a firing squad of his own unit because he went home to help his recently widowed mother put a crop in to save her and his sisters from starvation.  

The Auburn Historical Society is proud to honor the memory of these brave Drummer Boys and thousands of others like them. American Drummer Boy is a movie that the whole family can watch. It is a great example to young people about love of country and family. 

Admission is free.