Gilbert Vanzant

79th Ohio Infantry

On many occasions following TYTD's publication I have referred to Gilbert as TYTD's poster child. Not only is the photograph of Little Gib one of the best representative drummer boy images, his service was remarkable as well. Fortunately Gilbert was interviewed by J. F. Orr for The Story of Little Gib, published in Xenia, Ohio's Gazette between February 28th and March 8th 1938. Below are a few selections from the interview.

"With a bunch of prisoners we had captured were several boys apparently no older than myself. They were crying, being badly frightened. They had been told by there officers that if captured by the Yankees they would have their ears cut off, and be otherwise mutilated. I told them they would be well treated by the Yanks, and not be afraid- which had a soothing effect."

"The first time I had a razor to my face was while in camp. Strolling down to the cook's tent one day, the cook, seeing me, called: 'Come in Gib, and let me shave you.' Setting me on a cracker box, he lathered one side of my face, when he saw my father walking down the company street toward the tent. Not wishing to be caught, the cook took his apron and wiped the lather from my face; I stepped down from my perch, and he went about his duty as if nothing unusual had happened."

~Gilbert Vanzant, 79th Ohio

In The News

Abraham J. Palmer

48th New York Infantry

For the July-August 2004 Timeline publication of the Ohio Historical Society, Russell Roberts

wrote a splendid article, Let Us Have Peace, Ulysses S. Grant's Final Appearance. The article chronicles Grant's August 2, 1884 appearance at the Christian Commission's Reunion at Ocean Grove, Connecticut. Grant on crutches and in a feeble state was to address the crowd. It was quite an event considering the visit was his first after the wall street scandal that ruined the hero financially as well as others who invested in the firm headed by his son Buck, Grant and Ward. Many wondered how the crowd would accept him. As he slowly gained the stage most were shocked at his failing health. George H. Stuart and the Reverend John Foster supported him as they directed Grant to his seat. The task of introducing the General that night fell upon Reverend Abraham J. Palmer. The Reverend as a 15 year-old musician in the 48th New York had survived brutal combat, capture, and the slaughter of his comrades at Fort Wagner during the war. Yet this night held a different type of fear, a crowd waiting for a voice. Palmer was a distinguished speaker, senator and author, however the undertaking was a heavy burden to carry. "When I saw the crowd," Palmer later said, "and him [Grant]-- and realized the whole breathless situation, I had a feeling that I was a sort of voice for all my comrades, living and dead. - the voice of the thousands of people who had followed this great soldier in his battles, speaking for him now the generous judgment of his countrymen." Palmer continued, "I had a sense that what Grant craved was the true sentiment of the Christian people of the country- to know if they still trusted him; and that what the people wanted was an opportunity to express that trust." The Reverend started his presentation by stirring sentiment with accolades and then pouring them upon the war's many heroes finally bestowing upon Grant the terms, "iron man, the peer of Wellington, Marlborough, or Hannibal." Throughout the ever rising crescendo of tributes Grant sat quietly on the platform behind him. Suddenly Palmer stopped, silence filled the room. He looked at Grant and Grant looked back at him. It became apparent that Palmer's notes and practice for this occasion were for naught as he shifted to words from his heart. Pure energy filled him with passion towards the man who he like so many others in the room had followed. He turned back to the crowd.

"And no combination of Wall Street sharpers shall tarnish the luster of my old commander's fame for me !" he roared.

The Ocean Grove audience exploded with cheers and screams. The thunder of hundreds of hands applauding and banging on chairs filled the hall. Hats floated down from where they were cast upward with excitement as handkerchiefs obstructed the platform by their waving above the crowd. Palmer had spoke of a grateful nation, and the unbridled sentiment in the room proved the one time drummer-boy had measured the audience perfectly.

Finally Grant rose, quieting the crowd with his movement to the stage front. With a shaky voice he addressed the quieted crowd, stating he was planning on addressing the Commission's valued service, and their kindness to the troops but before he went further he too stopped, pointed at Palmer and burst into tears. "But this young man has overcome me!" Composing himself he grasped Palmer's hand and left the stage allowing to a witness nearby that never before had he been unable to control his feelings. Within a year Grant was dead after a terrible ordeal with cancer. At the funeral was a special guest sitting in the families box: Reverend Abraham J. Palmer of Ocean Grove who had given the General his last memorable thrill.

For more on Abraham Palmer's wartime experiences see TYTD, pages 26,103,126,139,and 140. The photograph above is of the Reverend about 1910. Dennis Keesee Collection