Abram Furman Springsteen was only fourteen years old when he participated in the Battle of Franklin.

Abram Furman Springsteen was only fourteen years old when he participated in the Battle of Franklin.

 He was born to Jefferson and Anna Springsteen in Brooklyn, NY on July 5, 1850, but by June 1860, he and his family were living in Indianapolis, IN.

 On October 15, 1861, eleven-year-old Abram joined the United States army and mustered into Co. 

A, 35th Indiana Infantry. “When the regiment was ordered to the front, however, and was entertaining at the old Jefferson depot on South street, in Indianapolis, the parents kidnapped the boy and took him to a farm owned by relatives near Noblesville for hiding. 

Missing the drummer boy at Cincinnati the captain of the company wired back to Indianapolis threatening arrests…” In December 1861, Abram was discharged at his parents’ request.

However, in July 1862, Abram enlisted again, mustering into Co. I, 63rd Indiana Infantry. “He [Springsteen] beat the drum about the streets of Indianapolis when the 63rd regiment was being recruited. He was mustered into Co. I of the regiment, this time with his parents’ consent. He was then little more than 12 years old. 

The night the regiment was to entrain for actual service, the parents received permission to take the boy home for the night. Suspecting another attempt to keep him out of the fighting; the boy climbed out of an upstairs window and hurried back to camp.”

On November 29, 1864, Abram was captured in Spring Hill but managed to escape, though without his drum. By morning, he had regained his regiment and was present at the Battle of Franklin.

After the war, Abram worked as a brick mason in Indiana, then as a government clerk in Washington, D.C. He finally moved to Los Angeles, CA where he died in 1930.