Horsfall is the first boy whose experiences helped create Johnny’s great adventure. Horsfall was a young Kentuckian who felt the pull of patriotism and the call to war. He later wrote “I left home without money or a warning to my parents . . . stealthily boarded the steamer ‘Annie Laurie,’ moored at the Cincinnati wharf in Newport (Kentucky) . . . I kept in hiding until the boat was well underway and then made bold enough to venture on deck. I was accosted by the captain of the boat as to my destination . . .”

Although caught, the young stowaway was allowed to remain on board, and made it to a Federal regiment without further problems. Horsfall’s advertures continue to influence American Drummer Boy, in the fighting near Corinth, Mississippi, his brigade was in battle . . . He writes, “The regiment had just made a desperate charge across the ravine. Captain Williamson was wounded in the charge, and, in subsequent reversing of positions, was left between the lines . . . so I . . . in a stooping run, gained his side and dragged him to the stretcher bearers, who took him to the rear.”

This act of courage won him the Congressional Medal of Honor making him one of the nation’s youngest recipients and is depicted in this film.