Albert Corydon White
Nov. 15, 1852 – Feb. 1, 1928
Part 1
The carte de visite of Albert Corydon White. Many soldiers had these and they were one of the most widely used photographic processes during the Civil War, produced well into the 1870’s. Courtesy photo
From the first, Albert liked the idea of becoming a drummer boy, of leaving behind his third grade studies, and of going uniformed out into the world to help preserve the United States of America. By springtime 1861, then 8, Albert was seriously into percussion, of his own volition. But that volition may well have been inspired by his overhearing adult war talk and by the yearning hope that he might soon be in a Buckeye regiment. That he succeeded in achieving his enlistment so early-Nov. 14, 1861-appears phenomenal. Could this juvenile dream-come-true have been an unusual ninth birthday concession gift?
Two pragmatic truths, at least, came to little Albert’s rescue: the 64th O.V.I. was short of drummers and one of the 64th’s officers happened to be First Lieutenant Cornelius C. White, the lad’s own father. After anxious weeks of waiting and wondering, word came home to Marion, Ohio, one day in a letter to his mother, Frances Electa White, that the 64th lacked two musicians. Should Albert be given his heart’s desire and a chance to earn real federal pay? The mother had supposed that her son’s service would lie months, at least, into the future. While we may be sure Frances had reservations (trepidation?) about Albert’s becoming a musician for the Army of the Ohio, especially so soon, evidently Cornelius and other officers of the 64th won her over with promises for his protection and assurances about his care. It was arranged that Albert should demonstrate a variety of drumbeats. [Simply to lay eyes upon such a child 4′ 6″, blue eyes, light hair, doing his stuff with gusto was to plead his cause.]
That 14th of November of ’61 when Albert took the oath to serve, that final day before he turned age nine, he was officially set down as age “18” a record in itself of at least nine full years of minority, the greatest “underage” recorded to the best of this writer’s knowledge. Just a month later Albert was formally enrolled or mustered-in Dec. 14, 1861, at Camp Buckingham in Mansfield, Ohio, where the 64th O.V.I. had been organizing since early November. Immediately they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and on Christmas they went to Bardstown. They were in the 20th Brigade and in the 6th Division, Army of the Ohio, at least until September. During February 7-March 13, after duty at Danville & Ball’s Gap for a month. the 64th marched to Munfordsville. thence to Nashville. Again, they marched to Savannah, Tennessee, during March 29-April 6, moving closer to combat with each step. At such times the pet of the regiment got little piggy-back rides across muddy runs or rivulets. Drummer Boy White’s baptism of fire and largest battle experience suddenly engulfed him as he with the 64th O.V.I. tried to make a difference at Shiloh. The acrid smoke of burned black powder, the roar of cannonades, the staccatos of thousands of rattling musketry, the impetuous shouting, the sighs of so many wounded tore away at the little fellow’s feelings. As the ground shook and the sunlight became obscured, thoughts of home began to redeem themselves. But evenings he and his fellow musicians often entertained their troops. Albert was a favorite even within the sphere of musicians alone. With his comrades he advanced on and helped lay siege at Corinth, Mississippi, all during May. Then for the first twelve days of June they pursued the Rebs to Booneville.
Musician White drew regimental guard duty along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad until early August, still beating out a variety of drum calls. Admittedly the army life was strenuous for a nine-year-old, even if he did enjoy being catered to by admiring comrades. For them, Albert was an ornament, a morale booster, a reminder of youngsters back home. But the harsh routine and coarse cuisine took their toll on this miniature martinet. Lt. Cornelius C. White of the Sixty Fourth Ohio was accompanied in December 1861 by his nine-year-old son, Albert, who served as a drummer for the regiment. After enduring the harsh winter and the carnage of the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, White sent his son home without procuring the proper discharge papers. The boy was first listed as a deserter, but company officers looked the other way. With mixed feelings on the part of all concerned and with nine months’ service completed, arrangements for Albert White’s (the name by which he enlisted) honorable discharge went forward. Saying heartfelt good-byes to scores of comrades, Albert, at 9 years 9 months, left the Army on Aug. 18, 1862, at Washington, D. C. and entrained directly for home.
In Marion, he resumed his schooling for a year before the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1863. Here Albert schooled further and matured into his early twenties. In 1876 he moved to College Hill and began training for the ministry in the next three years, living at Amesbury, Massachusetts, during 1880-81. From here he began his career in the ministry in and around Augusta, Maine.
Continued in Part 2
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