John Klem
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John Lincoln Klem (1851 - 1937)

Maj Gen John Lincoln "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga" Klem aka Clem
Born in Newark, Licking, Ohio, United Statesmap
Husband of — married 24 May 1875 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United Statesmap
Husband of — married 23 Sep 1903 in Bexar, Texas, United Statesmap
Died at age 85 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 26 Jul 2014
This page has been accessed 4,242 times.
Union and Confederate Service Badges
John Klem participated on the side of
the USA during the US Civil War.
Join: US Civil War Project
Discuss: us_civil_war

Biography

Maj Gen John Klem served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 1, 1863
Mustered out: September 19, 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
Major General John Klem served with the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: 21 April 1898
Unit(s): unknown
Service Ended:
John Klem was an Ohioan.

John Clem is the youngest noncommissioned officer in the history of the United States Army.

Father of John Clem 1882-1882, and John Clem 1885-1958

Image:Paula s Sources-115.jpg

Sargeant John Lincoln Clem, age 12

MILITARY RECORD

Units:

22nd Michigan Infantry
24th Infantry Regiment

Awards:

Civil War Campaign Medal
Indian Campaign Medal
Spanish War Service. Medal

Ranks held:

Musician and Lance Sergeant, 1 May 1863 to 19 September 1864
2nd Lieutenant - 18 December 1871
1st Lieutenant - 5 October 1874
Captain - 4 May 1882
Major - 16 May 1895
Lieutenant Colonel - 2 February 1901
Colonel - 15 August 1903
Brigadier General (Retired) - 13 August 1915
Major General (Retired) - 29 August 1916
Image:Klem-23-14.jpg
Major General JL Clem

John Lincoln Clem (August 13, 1851 – May 13, 1937) [1]was a General in the United States Army who served as a Drummer Boy in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He gained fame for his bravery on the battlefield, becoming the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. He retired from the Army in 1915, having attained the rank of Brigadier General in the Quartermaster Corps. When advised he should retire, he requested to be allowed to remain on active duty until he became the last Veteran of the Civil War still on duty in the Armed Forces. By special act of Congress on August 29, 1916, he was promoted to Major General one year after his retirement. Wikipedia: John Lincoln Clem.

John Clem is said to have run away from home at age 9 in May 1861, after the death of his mother in a train accident, to become a Union Army drummer boy. He attempted to enlist in two regiments who refused him for his age and size. He continued to follow the 22nd Michigan Infantry until they adopted him as a mascot and he became a drummer boy. [2]

Image:Klem-23-10.jpg

John was with the 22nd Michigan at the Battle of Chickamauga:

Image:Paula's Sources-15.jpg

Battle of Chickamauga

He is said to have ridden an artillery caisson to the front and wielded a musket trimmed to his size. In the course of a Union retreat, he shot a Confederate Colonel who had demanded his surrender. After the battle, the "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga" was promoted to sergeant, the youngest soldier ever to be a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army. [3]

Little John Clem had earned the nickname "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga".

Image:Klem-23-15.jpg

There is a myth that John Clem was the "Drummer boy of Shiloh" but since his unit had not been commissioned until after that battle, he was not there to play his drum. The 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed on August 29, 1862.[4] The Battle of Shiloh was fought on April 6–7, 1862, over four months prior to formation of John’s unit. [5]

John Clem was captured in Georgia and was part of a prisoner exchange. The Confederates, noting his age reported what "dire straits" the Yankees must be in. Little John was reported to be most upset over the taking of his uniform, especially his cap which had three bullet holes in it Janesville Gazette 12/18/1863, Page 3

John Clem graduated from high school in 1870. In 1871, he was elected Commander/Captain of the "Washington Rifles" a District of Columbia Army National Guard militia unit. He applied to the United States Military Academy but failed the entrance exam.

President Ulysses S. Grant appointed John Clem 2nd Lieutenant in the 24th U.S. Infantry. He served faithfully in the Indian Campaign and the Spanish Wars. John Clem graduated from artillery school at Fort Monroe in 1875. He went on to become a Colonel and Assistant Quartermaster General in 1903. John Clem reached the mandatory retirement age of 64 on Aug. 13, 1915, and retired. John Clem was reported to have been the last Civil War Soldier to leave the Army when he retired. John Clem was promoted to Major General one year after he retired by Special Act of Congress.

John Clem married Anna "Anita" Rosetta French in 1875. After Anita died in 1899, John Clem married Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Sullivan of San Antonio in 1903. He had one daughter with Bessie, Anna Elizabeth Clem born in 1906, died in 1997

John Clem died on May 13, 1937[6]in San Antonio, Texas. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. [7]

Sources

  1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XH-7ZR
  2. Keesee DM. 2001. Too Young to Die: Boy Soldiers of the Union Army 1861-1865. Blue Acorn Press. Huntington, Virginia. ISBN 1-885033-28-1. pp. 224-240.
  3. Robertson, Ellen (Fall 2013). "Major General John Lincoln Clem". On Point - The Journal of Army History 19 (2): 18–21.
  4. Wikipedia 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
  5. Wikipedia Battle of Shiloh
  6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XH-7ZR
  7. Find A Grave: Memorial #2284 for General John Lincoln Clem.
  • "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSMT-H3D : 4 December 2014), John Clem, Private, Company K, 94th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M552 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 19; FHL microfilm 882,232.
  • "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M31Z-5ZD : accessed 13 October 2019), John L Clem, Port of San Juan Commanding General and Staff Headquarters Dept., Puerto Rico; citing enumeration district (ED) 100, sheet 1A, family , NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,838.
  • 1910 United States Federal Census, John L Clem, Year: 1910; Census Place: San Antonio Ward 6, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T624_1531; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0063; FHL microfilm: 1375544, Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls).
  • "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8C-ZV8Y : 5 December 2018), John L Clem, 29 August 1916; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
  • "Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSF-JQS7 : 17 March 2018), Major General John L Or Johnny Shiloh Or The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh Or The Drummer Boy Of Chickamauga Clem, 18 June 1937; citing Davis County Clipper, 1932-1938, The University of Utah. J. Willard Marriott Library, Salt Lake City.
  • "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XH-7ZR : 5 December 2014), John Lincoln Clem, 13 May 1937; citing certificate number 24470, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,276.




Memories: 2
Enter a personal reminiscence or story.
Thanks Peggy,

Disney’s story is based on a myth. John’s unit wasn’t formed until after the Battle of Shiloh. He didn’t play his drum there. He did play at Chickamauga.

posted 14 Oct 2019 by Paula J   [thank Paula]
John Clem ran away at age 12 and joined the 22nd Michigan as a drummer boy. Quite a bit has been written about him, plus a Disney movie "Johnny Shiloh".
posted 24 Jun 2019 by Peggy Wilkins   [thank Peggy]
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Comments: 9

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Clem-903 and Klem-23 appear to represent the same person because: LNAB was not same when created but is same person after finding his LNAB as Klem
posted by Andrew Simpier
Nice profile! Shouldn't Clem-844 and Clem-845 be linked as children? The biography says they are his...
posted by Michelle Ketcham
If Klem-23 is the father of Clem-845 shouldn’t that link be established? Clem-845 has no father listed only mother. If there is no disagreement about who the father is then you should move forward and create the link.
posted by [Living Pombrio]
Clem-739 and Klem-23 appear to represent the same person because: Duplicate created. pls merge
posted by Teresa Downey
Clem-617 and Klem-23 appear to represent the same person because: Need to merge into the Project Protection version of this person's profile.
posted by Teresa Downey
The Delaware birth record posted on this profile is dated 1882.

John L. Clem was born in Newark, OH 13 Aug 1851 according to his death certificate.

posted on Clem-617 (merged) by Sue (Bateman) Matthews
Thank you Sue ! I am removing that link to birth record which is Not for this John Clem !!! Two different people !!!!
Klem-23 and Clem-576 appear to represent the same person because: same person
This is really a nice page, Paula. And, what a story it is! All the way from from a 9 year old wanna be drummer boy to a Major General! Gotta be proud of this even if I'm not related to him!
posted by Scott Lee

Rejected matches › John W. Cline (1870-1938)