| quidveritas | 26 Aug 2008 12:26 p.m. PST |
Was reading a book about Billy Mitchell when I ran across this story about Adolphus Greeley. Thought you might enjoy it! At the beginning of the American Civil War Greeley repeatedly attempted to enlist. Each and every time he was sent home and told to come back when he was "over eighteen". Greeley was a young man of impressive integrity and honesty and would not lie about his age. After his third rejection he went home and chalked the number 1 on the bottom of his right shoe and the number 8 on the bottom of his left shoe. When he presented himself to the next recruiter he announced, "I am over 18". Greeley fought in the 19th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at Antietam and Fredericksburg rising in rank from private to sergeant. He was later commissioned and commanded the 81st Colored Troops. Later in life Greeley would be elected to the US Senate and mentor another U.S. Army icon, Billy Mitchell. |
| Man of Few Words | 26 Aug 2008 12:45 p.m. PST |
Writing "18" on your shoes or a piece of paper in them was a frequent recruiting "trick". Alas, not all such are purged from the system yet. I tell of a young man from Monmouth County NJ who lied off 5 monthes of his age, maybe that way, and managed to get to Second Cold Harbor on 3 Jun 1864, less than three weeks short of his real eighteenth birthday. He survived but minus his right arm. |
| Phil Walling | 26 Aug 2008 12:45 p.m. PST |
Later in life Greeley would be elected to the US Senate and mentor another U.S. Army icon, Billy Mitchell. Ok.. that made me laugh… my missus was just watching Eastenders on BBC i-player… You might have to be British to understand that one.. (I soooooooo need a life) |
| vtsaogames | 26 Aug 2008 1:54 p.m. PST |
"You might have to be British to understand that one.." Must be. I'm a Yank and have no clue where the joke is. |
| floating white bear | 26 Aug 2008 1:55 p.m. PST |
My great uncle was kicked out of the Canadian Army in the Great War for being under age. He went a little farther down the road and enlisted again. Got his foot shot off for his troubles and was back home before he was 19. Thanks, Rob. |
| Wolverine | 26 Aug 2008 4:34 p.m. PST |
Yes, this was a common ploy. It allowed the underage recruit to lie without technically lying. This was depicted in "The Blue and the Gray" when James Hale enlists in the Union Army after having been turned away once due to his age. |
 Extra Crispy  | 26 Aug 2008 9:03 p.m. PST |
Sorry, but in my book a really, really clever deception is still a lie…. |
| quidveritas | 26 Aug 2008 10:26 p.m. PST |
Extra Crispy, You must really hate those Aes Sendi in the Robert Jordan books ;-). mjc |
| highlandcatfrog | 26 Aug 2008 11:12 p.m. PST |
One of my relatives had to lie about his age to enlist during the ACW also. First time he tried, when they asked his age he answered honestly 52. Turned him down, said 42 was the maximum. A few months later he lied and said 42 and was accepted. A year later he had his lower jaw shot off at Gettysburg. Survived another 25 years without it. |
| Wolverine | 27 Aug 2008 6:35 a.m. PST |
"Sorry, but in my book a really, really clever deception is still a lie…." I argree. I'm just merely pointing out how the recruits justified it. |
| Extra Crispy | 27 Aug 2008 10:10 a.m. PST |
@mjc: Never read his stuff, but I'm glad to be forewarned. |
 miniMo  | 17 Sep 2008 10:46 a.m. PST |
I just saw the movie "Private Buckaroo", 1942 with Harry James and his band, and the Andrew Sisters (who smack around the drill sergeant -- Shemp Howard!). The 'Over 18' schtick was used in the recruiting scene when the band all go to enlist after Harry gets drafted. A pretty fun movie. |
| miniMo | 17 Sep 2008 8:27 p.m. PST |
And if a young Donald O'Conner gets away with it in a propaganda movie, it can't be dishonourable ^-^ |
adds artillery to his soft-plastic Union forces.
