The Drummer Boy and the Battle of Shiloh

by AvaMarcy15

This is a continuation of the story, "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh", which takes place the night before one of the most famous and detrimental battles of the civil war. It is told from the perspective of a young boy who ran away from home to be in the army. "Th e Drummer Boy and the Battle of Shiloh" is after the battle, still from the boy's perspective

The Drummer Boy and the Battle of Shiloh

By Ava Marcy

Bodies litter the once peaceful peach orchard. They float down the blood clouded river like leaves. Everywhere, I'm reminded of the short battle with a lifetime of consequences. I can still see the blazing flashes of lightning being shot from the bayonets, smell the death in the air, hear my fellowman crying out in pain and agony in their last moments. Although it lasted not but thirty minutes, I shall remember what occurred here for the rest of my life. It feels as though I am the only person left in the world, and the silence is choking me with its thick fingers. The images of the general those last moments are branded on my heart. How he looked at me as he lay dying on the ground beside me, after taking the shot meant for me. He handed me his rifle and told me that I am a man now. In a flare of anger, fury, confusion, I shot the man who had taken aim at me. I killed a man. I thought the general would be proud of me, but when I looked down, he was gone. I closed his lifeless eyes and hid myself from the world. I don't want to be a man.

This short tale is meant to be a continuation of the classic short story, "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh". "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" takes place the night before one of the most famous and detrimental battles of the American Civil War, and is a dialogue between a general and a young boy who has run away from home to be part of the army, to be the army's drummer boy. The general tells the boy about how wrong the war is, brother fighting brother, and such, and shows the frightened youth kindness in his time of fear. "The Drummer Boy and the Battle of Shiloh" is a journal entry by the drummer boy entered after the events of the Battle of Shiloh as he reminisces about what occurred. Thanks for reading!