Boy soldiers. From the N. O. Picayune, September 15, 1907.
Captain Dinkins Asks each State to count her young Heroes—Lads who went from schoolroom and Playground to the Grim work of war.
Having read a statement recently that one county in Virginia gave nine boys under seventeen years of age to the Confederate cause, I am induced by every feeling of pride and patriotism for my native (Madison) County, State of Mississippi, to make record, as well as comparison of the boys who volunteered from that county, and I tender my thanks to the Canton Picket and Canton Times for kindly aiding in the matter.
It will be noted that six entered the service at fifteen, twenty-nine at sixteen, and five at seventeen years of age.
It is almost certain the list is incomplete, but I am only able to give the following:
Richard Courtney, fifteen; Landon C. Cheek, fifteen; Mat Chambers, fifteen; W. L. McKee, fifteen; Joseph Tucker, fifteen; Charles Vanhouten, fifteen; Leon Bailey, sixteen; A. B. Coleman, sixteen; Horace Coleman, sixteen; W. F. Dancy, sixteen; Addison Dancy, sixteen; James Dancy, sixteen; James Dinkins, sixteen; W. Scott Field, sixteen; Wesley Drane, sixteen; Richard Denson, sixteen; David Galtney, sixteen; J. M. Grafton, sixteen; W, H. Howcott, sixteen; J. P. Hickman, sixteen; Charles Handy, sixteen; Junius Mahoon, sixteen; Robert M. Mosby, sixteen; H. D. Priestley, sixteen; Wm. Priestley, sixteen; John H. Rogers, sixteen; Winter Shipp, sixteen; Samuel Shipp, sixteen; P. R. Sutherland, sixteen; Ludlow Smith, sixteen; Alonzo Sims, sixteen; Theophrastus Sims, sixteen; Jacob Troutman, sixteen; John Willis, sixteen; Wallace Wood, sixteen; James L. Finley, seventeen; Harry Field, seventeen; George Harvey, seventeen; V. H. Kyle, seventeen; David Sadler, seventeen.
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Doubtless there are counties or parishes which can show as good a record, and I beg to suggest that it would be a graceful act on the part of each State historian to compile the names of the boys and file them in their State rooms, Confederate Museum, at Richmond, and in Memorial Hall, New Orleans, where it is my purpose to place this paper.
I would like to see as much truthful history written as can be done, and full credit should be given to the boys for their courage, endurance, patriotism and soldiery qualities.
No matter from what county or State he hails, his record is a proud heritage for the South and should be preserved.
As time passes, people, even in the North, begin to wonder at the character of those boys, and I believe the time is not far distant when all the people will join in doing justice to their virtues.
I urge every newspaper in the South, and those of Mississippi in particular, to record the names of the boys, and let the banner county have the glory and distinction of having furnished the greatest number in proportion to population.
