The Boy Soldier
This boy soldier, who became a great general and American Patriot, was born in the Indian village of Yapeyu, in the district of Misiones, which is now a part of Argentina.
Misiones is a land of thousands of bright butterflies and brilliant flowers, of plantations and wide forests. In it are abandoned groves of wild oranges and lemons, once belonging to the Jesuit Missions, that gave the name of Misiones to the region.
Though he was born among Indians, the boy soldier was not an Indian. He was of pure Spanish blood. His father was an officer of the Spanish Crown, and was Governor of Misiones. Spain ruled all Spanish America in those days.
The boy soldier’s name was Jose de San Martin. Jose, is Spanish for Joseph.
It was an exciting life for Jose, with Indian boys to show him how to shoot wild game, and how to fish in the Uruguay River. Then, there were his father’s soldiers to tell him about military life.
Before Jose was eight years old, his father was transferred, and the boy was sent overseas to Spain to attend school in Madrid.
But such an active American boy, accustomed to Indians and frontier life, could not stay long contented in a school in old Madrid. Besides, he had soldiers’ blood in his veins. He grew restless. He was only eleven; but he petitioned the Spanish Government to be allowed to enlist in the army.
His petition was granted, and he became a boy soldier.
His uniform was white and blue. His first campaign was in Africa. His first battle was with the Moors.
During the next few years he served so gallantly, that at sixteen he was made a lieutenant. So he became a boy officer.