Jas. R. Thompson
Jas. R. Thompson of Ashley, Indiana, who is visiting his old home at Crestline, claims he is the real, "candy kid" when it comes to cinching the pennant for the youngest soldier in the Civil War. Thompson, who was reared near Crestline, says he is now in his fifty-ninth year. His story is that he ran away from home and enlisted with the Indiana Scouts when he lacked just one month of being thirteen years old. After serving one year with the Scouts, he was transferred to the Kentucky Cavalry where he served fourteen months. Returning to Crestline, Thompson again enlisted, this time with Captain Parcher's company, after receiving the written consent of his parents, and was mustered out at Ashville, N.C., June 9, 1865. Thompson was wounded twice and lay in the hospital ill with small pox for a long time. He did not know he was the Civil War's youngest soldier until he read an account of another Indiana man who claimed the honor and on comparing records, found that the other claimant was fourteen months older than Thompson when he enlisted. Thompson draws a pension of $45 per month.
From The Mansfield Daily Shield, May 22, 1909