Children On Stamps

Quote:
Throughout much of American history, drummer boys made a small but important contribution to American military units. These children, some as young as nine years old, courageously faced the enemy with little more than a drum and a pair of sticks. A few became
the first to fall in the line of duty.

Early American armies were largely volunteer affairs. Few formal age restrictions existed, and youngsters who lied about their age were often enlisted with little scrutiny. Those who were clearly underage sometimes became drummers. A typical drummer boy was between twelve and sixteen years old, although a few even younger boys managed to enlist.