THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY SHILOH
by Michael R. Clem
Speaking of Civil War fighters
I’m tied to one of them
a young soldier boy on the Yankee side
named John Lincoln Clem
most folks called him Johnny Shiloh
armed with a big old snare
a boy among men, fearless at ten
he sure didn’t easily scare
& he drummed for the Union side
He drummed for the Union side
Gave the troops a beat for their marching feet
Drummed for the Union Side
More on his bio, born in Ohio
ran away from home at age nine
Found himself fittin’ in the 22nd Michigan
drumming with the blue front line
When Rebel fire come, it busted through his drum
in Shiloh ’62
The Union won, the Grey outgunned
& the little drummer boy pulled through
& he fought for the Union side
He fought for the Union side
Rebel fire come, it busted through his drum
He fought for the Union Side
Caught in 63 by Georgia calvary
laughing at the little young chap
stripped him of his clothes and found bullet holes
Three alone in his cap
They heard about his song, but didn’t hold him long
Just enough to ridicule the North
In their propaganda asked what would stop a man to
hide behind and send the young babes forth?
& he took it for the Union side
He took it for the Union side
Stripped him of his clothes – found bullet holes
He took it for the Union Side
Below the Southern belt, he fought with Roosevelt
in San Juan to kick a little ass
The Army gave him thanks, and moved him up the ranks
In ’16, retired top brass
Known far and wide, and when he took a second bride
the daughter of one of “them”
If Lincoln only saw this rebel dad-in-law
of the drummer John Lincoln Clem
On Shiloh’s dark and bloody ground
The dead and wounded lay
Among them was a soldier boy
who banged the drum that day.
& he fought for the Union side
He took it for the Union side
Gave the troops a beat, helped em to defeat
He drummed for the Union Side
copyright 2026 J Fish Music