Greenwood Heights in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Our Drummer Boy
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
1. Our Drummer Boy Marker
Erected by the Drum and Bugle Corps of the 13th Regt. N.G., S.N.Y., in memory of Clarence D. MacKenzie, born Feb. 8, 1849, Died at Annapolis, MD., June 11, 1861, aged 12 yrs 4 mos 3 dys
Back of Monument:
This young life was the first offering from Kings County in the War of the Rebellion
Erected 1886 by Drum and Bugle Corps of the 13th Regt. N.G., S.N.Y.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil.
Location. 40° 39.266′ N, 73° 59.303′ W. Memorial is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Greenwood Heights. It is on Linden Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in Green-Wood Cemetery on Linden Avenue (Section 115, Lot 13536). Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11232, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, the Western Hemisphere, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Civic Virtue" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Altar to Liberty (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Battle of Brooklyn (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Brooklyn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Huntingtons Regiment (approx. 0.2 miles away); Triumph on Battle Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
More about this memorial. The left of the monument contains a military decoration with the words Our Drummer Boy and the date of MacKenzie's death, 1861. The right of the monument features crossed flags under the monument erection date of 1886, and the inscription Our Drummer Boy.
Regarding Our Drummer Boy. Brooklyns little drummer boy, from Ephemeral New York:
In June 1861 at Annapolis, he was accidentally shot and killed by another member of his regiment. He was 12 years old and the first Brooklyn resident to die in the Civil War.
Link at https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/brooklyns-little-drummer-boy/
Also see . . . The Green-Wood Cemetery.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
2. Left Side of Monument
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
3. Back of Monument
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
4. Right Side of Monument
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
5. Our Drummer Boy Monument
12 year old Clarence MacKenzie was a member of 13th Regiment of the New York State Militia. Before seeing any action, he was accidentally shot and killed in Annapolis during drill practice by another member of his regiment. He was the first Brooklyn resident to die in the Civil War.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
6. Closeup of Drummer Boy
This life size statue, cast in white zinc, depicts the Drummer Boy dressed in his uniform, standing at parade rest with his drum. His monument is surrounded by the graves of other Civil War casualties.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,419 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 4, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
