John S. Kountz
Encyclopedia
John S. Kountz was a soldier in the United States Army
during the American Civil War
. He received a Medal of Honor
.
, until the age of fourteen, and in September 1861 enlisted as a drummer boy in the 37th Ohio Infantry
. At the battle of Missionary Ridge
, Tennessee
, 25 November 1863, when the drum corps was ordered to the rear, he threw away his drum, seized a musket, and was severely wounded in the first assault, being left in the field under the enemy's guns until he was rescued by his company. This episode was the subject of a poem by Kate B. Sherwood, entitled “The Drummer-Boy of Mission Ridge,” which attained a wide reputation. He remained in the hospital of Louisville
until he was honorably discharged from the service on 25 April 1864.
On his return to civil life he attended school for one year, after which he was treasurer of Lucas County, Ohio
, 1872–1874, and county recorder 1875-1878. He was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic
since its organization in 1866, and was elected its commander-in-chief on 25 July 1884. In the presidential contest that occurred during his official term, he issued an order to bar politics from this organization. He later became president of the Toledo Fire Underwriters' Association.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He received a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Biography
Kountz attended school in Maumee, OhioMaumee, Ohio
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo along the Maumee River. The population was 14,286 at the 2010 census. Maumee was also declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.-Geography:...
, until the age of fourteen, and in September 1861 enlisted as a drummer boy in the 37th Ohio Infantry
37th Ohio Infantry
The 37th Ohio Infantry was a Union Army regiment, composed of German-Americans, in the American Civil War. It was organized in the fall of 1861, under Colonel Edward Siber, and served in the Kanawha Valley until December, 1862. It joined the Union army operating against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in...
. At the battle of Missionary Ridge
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 25 November 1863, when the drum corps was ordered to the rear, he threw away his drum, seized a musket, and was severely wounded in the first assault, being left in the field under the enemy's guns until he was rescued by his company. This episode was the subject of a poem by Kate B. Sherwood, entitled “The Drummer-Boy of Mission Ridge,” which attained a wide reputation. He remained in the hospital of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
until he was honorably discharged from the service on 25 April 1864.
On his return to civil life he attended school for one year, after which he was treasurer of Lucas County, Ohio
Lucas County, Ohio
----...
, 1872–1874, and county recorder 1875-1878. He was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
since its organization in 1866, and was elected its commander-in-chief on 25 July 1884. In the presidential contest that occurred during his official term, he issued an order to bar politics from this organization. He later became president of the Toledo Fire Underwriters' Association.