19th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry-- Part 1: Pettis or Pettys?

From Genealogy Trails.

The roster of the regiment shows  two Pettys as being members of the regiment.  This was probably a misspelling.  But the first names match up.

PETTYS, AMOS--  Reedsburg.  Enlisted Jan. 6, 1862.  Mustered Out Feb.22, 1865.

PETTYS, FRANK--  Reedsburg   Feb.. 22, 1862  Mustered Out August 9, 1865

This would be Frank and Amos Pettis.

The regiment enlisted for three years and was organized April 30, 1862, at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin (where the University of Wisconsin plays its home football games today, but during the Civil War it was a training camp for many Wisconsin regiments).

Those that agreed to stay on longer, mustered out on August 9, 1865, in Richmond, Virginia.  Frank's father Amos opted to muster out when his enlistment was over.  Frank stayed longer.

--Old Secesh

Wisconsin Drummer Boy-- Part 4: Lifelong Member of GAR

After the war, Frank Pettis (Shown as Pettys on the Company A and regimental rosters) returned to Reedsburg and went to work at his father's tailor shop. Later, at the age of 20, he became a miller.  He was a life-long member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Reedsburg Drum Corps.

He died in 1918 at age 68.

At the funeral, the Reedsburg Drum Corps, performed with muffled drums and preceded the hearse to Greenwood Cemetery where he is buried near his former captain.

A young Frank Pettis is depicted with his drum on Reedsburg's Military Memories in Nishan Park on the "Courage" panel.

--Old Secesh

Wisconsin Drummer Boy-- Part 3: Frank Pettis, 11 Years Old

Frank Pettis of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was 11 when he enlisted.  His father Amos played the fife and also enlisted.  Father and Son going to war together.

Frank began his military career at age 12 in Co. A, 19th Wisconsin, under Captain A.P. Ellinwood.  He served from February 22, 1862, to August 9, 1865.

He was at every battle the 19th Wisconsin fought in from Suffolk, Virginia, to New Berne, North Carolina to the siege at Petersburg and Richmond, where the regiment's colors were the first to fly over the Confederate Capitol after its capture.

--Old Secesh

Wisconsin Drummer Boy-- Part 1: Drummer Duty

From the May 21, 2016, Baraboo (Wisconsin) News Republic "Reedsburg youth is Civil War drummer boy" by Bill Schuette.

I sure would rather be doing this sort of an entry on this blog than the Confederacy Under Attack.  If certain people and their minions stop attacking my heritage I will be more than happy to stop my defense.

Drummers and buglers were allowed to enlist in the Union Army without meeting the minimum 18-years-of-age requirement.Some estimates say that 100,000 boys younger than 15 enlisted as musicians and that 300 of them were younger than 13.

Their duty was to signal when to eat, sleep and awaken.  During battle, they signaled attack or retreat.    Officers shouting orders were hard to hear during the roar of battle.  Instruments were much louder.

--Old Secesh