Figure 1.-- Here we here a very young drummer boy as patriotic as you can get. The CDV shows 11-12 year old Abram Furman Springsteen, signed in period ink on the back. Abram was born in Brooklyn, New York (1850), but grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. The family traveled west through the Erie Canal rather than rail. They survived a ship wreck in Lake Erie (1852). We do not know much about his childhood, but we know his father was a town marshal. That may be a factor in Abram' burning patriotism.

Here we here a very young drummer boy as patriotic as you can get. The CDV shows 11-12 year old Abram Furman Springsteen, signed in period ink on the back. Abram was born in Brooklyn, New York (1850), but grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. The family traveled west through the Erie Canal rather than rail. They survived a ship wreck in Lake Erie (1852). We do not know much about his childhood, but we know his father was a town marshal. That may be a factor in Abram' burning patriotism. Thus we know that Abram was not a farm boy. The American population was still largely rural at the time. We are not sure about Abram's motivation, but it was likely to save the Union. The War began when the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor (April 1861). The Federal Government relied on the states to form regiments, the basic unit of the Civil War. Patriotic men rushed to he colors and Abram wanted to be part of it. Abram enlisted in the Army at age 11 in Co. A., 25th Ind. Reg. (October 1861). Interesting that an 11-year old boy was accepted on his own. That did not last long. His parents complained and he was discharged Just before Christmas when his parents complained (December 1861). Abram re-enlisted Co. I of the Ind. 63rd reg. with consent of his parents at age 12 years as a drummer boy. He had drummed the regiment through the city. Before being transported south, his parents got permission for him to spend one night day at home. Thinking this was a ruse to prevent him from going off to war, he claimed out of his second story bedroom window to join the regiment. He served throughout 1862-64. He was captured by he Confederates at the battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee (November 1864). He escaped and managed to rejoin Federal units. The War essentially ended with Lee's surrender in Virginia (April 1865). The United States very rapidly began returning its huge army to civilian life. Abram was discharged (July 1865). As an adult, Abram worked in the U.S. Pension Department in Washington D.C, and Los Angeles, California (c1915).

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Created: 2:43 PM 2/16/2025
Last updated: 2:43 PM 2/16/2025