Mr. Purcell, born November 14, 1851, enlisted with his parent’s consent, and listing Madison as his residence (although his family actually lived in Verona), on March 1, 1962, as a “musician” (drummer) in Company 1, 19^th Wisconsin Infantry. His age was given as fifteen, he was actually ten years, three months old. He served with Company 1 for approximately 10 months, the 19^th Wisconsin being on garrison duty in Virginia and North Carolina,  and returned (or possibly was sent) home. In February of 1864, Col. Frank Haskell was organizing the 36^th Wisconsin Infantry in Madison. Mr. Purcell’s experience as a drummer was known, he was recruited and enlisted again on March 1, 1864, this time listing his residence as Verona. His enlistment was as a “musician” in Company A, 36^th Wisconsin Infantry.

This time he was thirteen and his actual age would have been known when he enlisted. The 36^th Wisconsin Infantry had a distinguished combat record. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor (where Col. Haskell was killed), the Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Station, Ream’s Station, Hatcher’s Run and the pursuit of the Army of Virginia to Appomattox. By Reams’ Station, August, 1864, the 36^th Wisconsin was down to 309 men and came out of that battle with only 43 men unwounded and able to answer the roll. Mr. Purcell marched in the Grand Review in Washington D.C., beating time for the surviving men of the 36^th Wisconsin as they marched past President Johnson and General Grant.

Following his release from service, Mr. Purcell joined his family in Beloit, where they had moved in the later part of 1864. He found work at A.A. Green’s Shoe Store on School Street and in 1873 became a partner in Moody & Purcell Shoe Store. He married, lost his wife to tuberculosis, remarried and had two sons. In later years he was a commercial shoe salesman. Walter Purcell was a life-long member of the L.D.H. Crane Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and active in State GAR activities, at one time the “Drum Major” of the Wisconsin District of the GAR. After the war, the veterans of the 36^th Wisconsin were reported to have presented Mr. Purcell with a silver shell drum and after his death this drum and his original drum sticks used by him during the Civil War, were again, reportedly, given to the Wisconsin Historical Society by his family. William H. Purcell is listed as “Musician, Co. A. 36^th Regt.” In the Wisconsin 1895 Military Census, as living in Beloit.

There is also a story about Purcell and General Grant. It deals with William H. Purcell being introduced to General Grant at the 1880 Reunion held in Milwaukee and General Grant remarking, “Why here’s the Boy Drummer of the Army of the Potomac.” There was published a Reunion Roster for the 1880 GAR Reunion. It listed each Wisconsin regiment and who from that regiment attended, with a “regimental roster” for the staff and field officers and “company roster” for each company of each regiment. Each of the old veterans was listed, by name, where they lived (a surprising number from out of state) and what their occupation or profession.

This Regimental Reunion Roster has been found to be very accurate and specifically notes that it lists only those men who attended the Re-union, not all of the veterans of the Civil War living in Wisconsin and Mr. Purcell is not listed as having been in attendance. A great deal of research has been done on the “Boy Soldiers” of our Civil War and several authorities, and authors, count William H. “Marty” Purcell, as being one of the ten youngest serving soldiers of that War.