"The Infant Drummer"
One of the youngest members of the 69th Pa "Irish Volunteers" was a boy who had
gained fame throughout the country and in Europe as "The Infant drummer" - George
Sanders. Trained from an early age by his father to play drum, fife and a variety of wind
instruments, young George became, at age 13, the drum instructor to all of the regiment's
drummers. He and his father had joined the Paddy Owen's Regular's in August 1861.
Young George would grow sick and die from typhoid fever in January 1862 while at
Camp Observation. He was given a large public funeral in Philadelphia and news
articles on him appeared in newspapers all over the world. He would be buried in
Glenside, Pennsylvania. The 69th Pa regiment would honor his grave years later.
gained fame throughout the country and in Europe as "The Infant drummer" - George
Sanders. Trained from an early age by his father to play drum, fife and a variety of wind
instruments, young George became, at age 13, the drum instructor to all of the regiment's
drummers. He and his father had joined the Paddy Owen's Regular's in August 1861.
Young George would grow sick and die from typhoid fever in January 1862 while at
Camp Observation. He was given a large public funeral in Philadelphia and news
articles on him appeared in newspapers all over the world. He would be buried in
Glenside, Pennsylvania. The 69th Pa regiment would honor his grave years later.
