Picture of Edward Black

Description:	Edward Black (1853-1871) of Indianapolis is believed to have been the youngest Civil War soldier. He enlisted as a drummer boy on July 24, 1861 in the 1st Regiment, 21st Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was eight years and almost two months old. About a year after he enlisted President Lincoln abolished the regimental bands. During his service, Edward was reportedly held at Ship Island, Mississippi after being taken prisoner at the battle of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Edward also reportedly reenlisted in 1862 when his father, George H. Black, joined the army and both served until the wars end. Edward presumably never fully recovered from the injuries and trauma he suffered, and he died a few years later shortly after his eighteenth birthday. He is buried in Crown Hill cemetery in Indianapolis.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/156
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Geography:	Indiana
Subjects:	Black, Edward, 1853-1871 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Drum Indiana Indiana--Biography Crown Hill Cemetery (Marion County, Ind.) United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 21st (1861-1863) Portraits

Further information on this record can be found at its source.