On this day in 1862, Private George Sidman, a drummer boy from Owosso, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism on a Civil War battlefield. At 16, Sidman fought off the enemy and carried the 3rd Brigade’s new flag in a charge at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded.
TRANSCRIPT
On this day in 1862 Private George Sidman, a drummer boy from Owosso, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism displayed on a Civil War battlefield in June 1862. Sidman was the youngest man in Michigan to receive the commendation to date. It was said he was not particularly gifted on the drum, but was kept around in the hopes that he would become a soldier. At the age of 16, Sidman fought off the enemy and added encouragement to the battle until a small bullet struck his hip. Sidman continued to fight until he fainted. He was given the honor for carrying the 3rd Brigade’s new flag in a charge at Fredericksburg where Sidman was wounded again.