Recollections Of A Drummer Boy, by Harry M. Kieffer
Henry "Harry" Martyn Kieffer was born October 5th 1845 in Mifflinburg Pa. His father, the Rev. Ephraim Kieffer, was a pastor at the Elias church. His mother was Margaret Linn.
A retired Episcopal Clergyman and Civil War Veteran, at 16 he had enlisted as a drummer boy in the 150th Pa Volunteers.
Kieffer published his story, Recollections Of A Drummer Boy, in serial form in St. Nicholas magazine. It was then published as a book in 1881. It can be downloaded, or read online here:
He went on to write additional books, including The Funny Bone, Laugh Again ,and Short Stories From The Hymns.
In 1870 Kieffer graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, with the highest mark ever given in that institution.
Rev. Henry M. Kieffer, D.D., is the pastor of the First Reformed Church of Easton. This church is the oldest of all the churches in that city, and is distinguished as preeminently a revolutionary church. It was built in 1776, was used as a hospital during the revolution, and within its walls treaties were made between the colonies and the Indians. Dr. Kieffer is of revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather, Abram Kieffer, having been a captain in the revolutionary army. He is doubly related to Governor James A. Beaver whose great-grandfather, George Beaver, was an army chum of Abram Kieffer‘s, and like him a captain. After the close of the war, the two married each the other’s sister — George Beaver marrying Abram Kieffer‘s sister and Abram Kieffer marrying George Beaver‘s sister. On his mother’s side also he has several “revolutionary sires.”
Dr. Kieffer is a veteran of the late Civil War, having enlisted at the age of 16 as a drummer boy in the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the “Bucktails.” He served his three years to the close of the war, and was in all the chief engagements of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to second Hatchers Run. His regiment belonged to the old 1st Corps, was amongst the first troops on the field in the first day’s fight at Gettysburg, and its losses there were amongst the heaviest of all the troops engaged. It had 397 men when it went into action; came out with 133, losing 264, of whom 58 were killed and 77 wounded. After the close of the war, Dr. Kieffer attended Franklin and Marshall College, graduated in 1870 in the same class with Hon. W. U. Hensel, attorney general, taking first honors. He then took a three years’ course in the theological seminary of the Reformed Church at Lancaster; served in the Church of the Ascension at Norristown, Pennsylvania, as pastor for eleven years; thence removed to Easton, where he has been pastor of the old First Church for thirteen years. He has served in the National Guard of the State for five years. as chaplain of the 6th Regiment.
Dr. Kieffer has given an account of his army experiences in a popular book entitled, The Recollections of a Drummer Boy, which appeared first as a serial in St. Nicholas about fifteen years ago; was afterward issued in book form by The Century Company, New York,. The book has become very popular, having passed through numerous editions, and now being issued by Houghton, Mifflin Company, New York. The book is said to have been the way-breaker for all the celebrated “war papers” afterward issued by The Century Company. He is the author of several other books, and is a frequent contributor to the newspaper and magazines.
Some years ago Dr. Kieffer made a special study of the road cut by the troops of General Sullivan from Easton to Wyoming, the year after the massacre, in the celebrated expedition of Sullivan against the Indians, in 1779. On this subject he will speak at the Wyoming anniversary – “The Old Sullivan Road.”
He died on April 21 1930, age 84.
In 2000, Michael Sanders published a reprint of Recollections Of A Drummer Boy
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