The 12-Year-Old Who Fought In the Civil War
Heritage Auctions // Public Domain viaWikimedia Commons When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 , John Clem decided to draft in the Union Army . There was just one problem : The Ohio resident was just 9 years old . Undeterred by his youth , Clem hale his way into the dispute . By the time he was discharged near the end of the war , he had not only construe active combat but had become a national folks hero as well — and he was n’t even 13 ....