Bio: Henry Plummer Brooks : Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 9, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893


Henry Plummer Brooks

Henry Plummer Brooks, a native of Pittsfield, was born February 28, 1849.
December 28, 1863, when only fourteen years old, he enlisted in Company H,
Third regiment New Hampshire volunteers, as a private. He was engaged in the
battles of Point of Rocks and Fort Fisher, where he conducted himself with
great bravery. He escaped the bullets of the enemy only to die of chronic
diarrhoea at Fort Fisher. The adjutant-general's report says he died, at
Wilmington, N. C., April 14, 1864, but several of his comrades who were
with him at the time say the report is incorrect.

He was a brother of John Brooks of the same company, and stood by the
latter's side when he received his death wound. He mourned his brother's
death, and without doubt the shock hastened his end.

It is a singular coincidence that Pittsfield should have the distinction of
not only furnishing the oldest man from the entire North (Israel Drew), but
also the youngest soldier. Plummer Brooks was but fourteen years and ten
months of age when mustered into service.

For two years the National Tribune of Washington has been publishing the age
of the youngest soldiers, as well as the oldest. The youngest claimant, out
of over 100 names furnished that paper, was fifteen years and eight months
old. To be sure, there were boys younger than that who were drummers, but
Brooks was the youngest by ten months of those who carried a gun.