Drummer Boy: The Civil War Diary of Edwin Hale Lincoln

Edited by Karl Marty and Lee C. Drickamer
Illustrated, maps, bibliography, index, softcover, 80 pp., 2005. Ivy House Publishing Group, 5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612, $12.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Blake A. Magner
Blake A. Magner is the Book Review Editor of Civil War News. He makes his living as an editor, writer, cartographer and photographer of Civil War history. He is author of At Peace With Honor: The Civil War Burials of Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Review:
Edwin Hale Lincoln hailed from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In August 1862 he enlisted in the nine-month 5th Massachusetts as a 14-year-old drummer boy.

The regiment was shipped to North Carolina where it spent its enlistment in the New Bern, Washington and Morehead City area. After spending part of his enlistment as a drummer boy he transferred to the medical department.

Following the war Lincoln was married twice and was active in the GAR, eventually becoming the Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

He was known nationally for his skill in photography, not only of individuals but especially in the horticultural field. At the age of 90 Lincoln was killed when he was hit by a car while crossing the street.

Lincoln's diary is well written and covers the movements of the regiment as well as his personal duties. It is not just a remembrance of bad food, foul weather and drill.

The diary is nicely edited with occasional footnotes identifying individuals and incidents. There are a number of typos with footnotes being repeated verbatim, misspelled words and the months of April and May in the regimental chronology being identified as 1862. The regiment was not even mustered into service until August 1862.

For the most part, however, Drummer Boy is a nicely put together volume providing a general view of a nine-month regiment in North Carolina. Being short, at only 80 pages, it is a quick interesting read.