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Show The Drummer Boy of Shiloh. An interesting story is told of the way Colonel John L. Clem, the famous "drummer boy of Shiloh." and now assistant as-sistant quartermaster general, got into the regular army. In the early days of General Grant's first term as president, Clem, without aid, secured an audience. The president said, "What can I do L for vnn f" Clem said: "Mr. President. I wish to ask you for an order to admit me to West Point." "But why," said the president," do you not take the examination?" "I did, Air. President, but I failed to pass." "That was unfortunate." said the president. "How was that?" "Why, Air. President, you see, I was in the war, and while I was there those other boys of my age were in school." "What!" said the president, amazed. "You were in the Avar?" Clem was then scarcely IS, and boyish boy-ish looking. "Yes, Air. President, I was in the war four years." And he related his experience. ex-perience. The president then wrote something, sealed it, and, handing it to Clem, said: "Take this to. the secretary of war. I guess it will fix you all right." Clem went to the secretary, to whom he had already applied, and was received re-ceived somewhat coldly. He delivered the note. The secretary read it and said: "Do you know what this is?" "No," said Clem, "but I supposed it was an order to admit me to West Point." "Well, it ain't," said the secretary. "It's an order to commission you second lieutenant in the regular army." Leslie's Les-lie's Weekly. |